Routine oxygen administration in the PACU: should everybody receive it?

Abstract

Aim: To determine which group/s of patients should receive supplemental oxygen in the PACU. Methods: Sixty-six patients were involved in this observational study. Without altering PACU care, oxygen saturations were noted from arrival to discharge from PACU.Patients were assigned to two groups i.e. those that had supplemental oxygen and those who did not. Results: Incidence of hypoxaemia on arrival to PACU was 12 %, mean oxygen saturation in the hypoxaemic group was 92.25 ±1.39 % and mean oxygen saturation for all patients arriving in the PACU was 97.12 ± 2.46 %. More patients that had general anaesthesia and procedures of the head and neck received supplemental oxygen. Mean oxygen saturation values were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Postoperative oxygen therapy should be reserved for patients with SpO2 of less than 94 % on arrival in the PACU. In this time of economic pressure on medicine, this will allow significant cost savings.