The Journal of international medical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effect of supplemental oxygen in sedated and unsedated patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
A total of 212 patients undergoing elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were prospectively studied. They were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (I) sedation with no supplemental oxygen; (II) no sedation and no oxygen supplementation; (III) sedation and supplemental oxygen; and (IV) no sedation but supplemental oxygen. ⋯ The duration of the endoscopy procedure was shortest in patients who were sedated and given supplemental oxygen. It can be concluded that during conscious sedation for upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, supplemental oxygen should be given and continued during the postendoscopy period to prevent oxygen desaturation.