Oxygen measurement during transport to the recovery room
Møller, J.T.; Johannessen, N.W.; Lybecker, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 150(24): 1459-1461
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3388544 Document Number: 322378
It is now possible to undertake non-invasive and continuous measurements of oxygen saturation in the arterial blood with great accuracy employing the new pulsoximeters. During a period of four weeks, the authors have observed the oxygen saturations in 100 patients chosen at random, employing a pulsoximeter. These patients underwent elective surgery under general anaesthesia. Oxygen saturation was registered from the time the patient was ready for transport and until arrival in the recovery room. All of the patients were in good general health. It was found that 52% of the patients had oxygen saturtion levels of under or equal to 90%. In 15% of the patients values of under or equal to 85% were registered. The mean value of the lowest recorded oxygen saturations in each individual patients was 88%, corresponding to PaO2 of approximately 7.3 kpa. Oxygen saturation rose in all of the patients to more than 90% of an administration of 3 litres oxygen per minute via a nasal catheter on arrival in the recovery room. No groups of patients were found in which supplementary oxygen was not necessary during transport. In this department, all patients who have received general anaesthesia will, in future, receive supplementary oxygen during transport to the recovery room.