• J Rosenberg, P Oturai, C J Erichsen, M H Pedersen, and H Kehlet.
• Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
• J Clin Anesth. 1994 May 1;6(3):212-6.

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the relative contribution of general anesthesia alone and in combination with the surgical procedure to the pathogenesis of late postoperative hypoxemia.DesignOpen, controlled study.SettingUniversity hospital.Patients60 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and 16 patients undergoing middle ear surgery, both with comparable general anesthesia.Measurements And Main ResultsPatients were monitored with continuous pulse oximetry on one preoperative night and the second postoperative night. Significant episodic or constant hypoxemia did not occur on the second postoperative night following middle ear surgery and general anesthesia, but severe episodic and constant hypoxemia did occur on the second postoperative after major abdominal surgery and general anesthesia.ConclusionsGeneral anesthesia in itself is not an important factor in the development of late postoperative constant and episodic hypoxemia, which instead may be related to the magnitude of trauma and/or opioid administration.

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