• K Stausholm, H Kehlet, and J Rosenberg.
• Kirurgisk gastroenterologisk afdeling, Hvidovre Hospital, København.
• Ugeskr. Laeg. 1994 Nov 7;156(45):6675-9.

AbstractLate postoperative hypoxaemia is a common phenomenon, and is probably an important pathogenetic factor in the development of cardiac, cerebral and wound complications after major surgery. Thus, oxygen therapy may play an important role in the postoperative care of the surgical patient. Diagnosis of hypoxaemia is most cheaply and easily performed with pulse oximetry. The data available does not prefer one method of administering oxygen therapy to another, but patient compliance and comfort is probably greatest with the binasal cannula. There are no indications in published medical journals for scientifically based limits for hypoxaemia that requires treatment concerning the late postoperative period. Further studies of pathogenesis, treatment and clinical implications of late postoperative hypoxaemia are therefore warranted. It is our opinion, until further data is available, that monitoring of oxygenation is indicated in all patients after major surgery, and that hypoxaemia should indicate supplementary oxygen therapy. Proposed guidelines for monitoring and oxygen therapy are provided.

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