Incidence of Hypoxaemia in the Recovery room following upper abdominal surgery

Abstract

To determine hypoaemic epidodes of those patients who underwent upper abdominal surgery (UAS). Hundred postoperative adult patients were observed during their stay in the recovery room. They were continuously monitored for peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) by pulse oxymeter (bpm - 200). The alarms were preset at SpO2 < 90%. These patients also recieved supplemental O2 therapy (40%) by fixed performance (Hudson's) mask. All these patients had SpO2 > 97% before transfer to the recovery room. The number and frequency of un-noticed hypoxaemic events were noted. Our study concludes that hypoxaemic events are common following upper abdominal surgery even in patients otherwise considered healthy. hence continuous pulse oximetry should be employed routinely during recovery, as it remains undetected without its use.