Duration of anaesthesia and post-operative hypoxaemia.

Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE study was designed to investigate the relationship between post-operative hypoxaemia and duration of anaesthesia. The Po2 was monitored pre-operatively, 4 hours postoperatively, and daily thereafter for 2 days in 33 female patients undergoing elective biliary tract surgery. A significantly greater fall in Po2 occurred in these patients who had prolonged anaesthetics suggesting that this group of patients should be carefully monitored during the post-operative period and oxygen administered if necessary.