3 Minutes Tidal Breathing – A Gold Standard Technique Of Pre-Oxygenation For Elective Surgeries.

Abstract

Pre-oxygenation is a time honoured ritual carried out in a variety of circumstances. Various methods of pre-oxygenation have been proposed and followed world wide with vaviable success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the need for pre-oxygenation prior to the induction of general anaesthesia and also compare the effects of two techniques of pre-oxygenation, on peripheral oxygen saturation. Hundred ASA grade I and II patients in the age group of 20 – 40 years were studied under two equal groups. Group I received pre-oxygenation for three minutes and in Group II patients were assigned for four maximal breaths pre-oxygenation techniques. The lengths of time interval of apnoeic period i.e; the time taken for oxygen saturation to decrease to 90% level on pulse oximeter were compared using unpaired ‘t’ test. In our study, after comparing the times for desaturation to oxygen saturation level of 90% during apnoea in both the methods, it was found that the mean time to desaturation in four maximal breaths method was 110.40 ± 30.27 seconds. The mean time to desaturation the three minutes method was 281.70 ± 18 seconds.The difference between the two methods was significant statistically. ( P less than 0.05 ).Pre-oxygenation for three minutes prior to induction of general anaesthesia with normal breathing is an effective and safe method of pre-oxygenation.Â