[Transportation of patients to the post-anesthetic recovery room without supplemental oxygen: repercutions on oxygen saturation and risk factors associated with hypoxemia.].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transportation of patients from the operating room to the post-anesthetic recovery room without supplemental oxygen is a common practice, since oxygen supplementation is used only in patients at high risk of developing hypoxemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of changes in oxygen saturation during this transportation and to identify the risk factors associated to the development of hypoxemia.

METHODS: A cohort of 882 patients of both genders, physical status ASA I, II, and III, who underwent elective surgeries of several subspecialties using four different anesthetic techniques, was evaluated. Oxygen saturation was measured and recorded just before the patients left the operating room and as soon as they arrived in the recovery room.

RESULTS: There was a greater incidence of moderate to severe hypoxia during the transport of female patients (14.47%), patients with physical status ASA II and III (14.74% and 16.46%, respectively), and those who underwent cardiothoracic (28.21%), gastroproctologic (14.18%), and head and neck (18.18%) surgeries. Among the anesthetic techniques used, general anesthesia was a risk factor associated with the development of hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONS: There are factors associated with the development of hypoxia during the transportation of patients from the operating room to the post-anesthetic recovery room. The selective use of supplemental oxygen should be guided by the presence of those risk factors or by the use of a pulse oxymeter, in order to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and the incidence of hypoxemia early in the post-operatory period.