A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF EARLY POSTOPERATIVE HYPOXEMIA IN INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADULTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE PLASTIC-SURGERY

To determine the influence of age on postoperative hypoxemia, we studi ed postoperative hypoxemia in 1152 patients, from infants to adults, A SA physical status I, undergoing elective plastic surgery. Subjects we re divided into four groups on the basis of age: Group 1, infants aged 1 yr or less (n = 108); Group 2, children aged 1-3 yr (n = 240); Grou p 3, children aged 3-14 yr (n = 482); and Group 4, adults aged 14-58 y r (n = 322). Arterial oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) levels were recorded while patients were breathing room air in the postanesthesia recovery room shortly after arrival (0 min), and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120, and 180 min thereafter. Younger patients showed lower Spo(2) lev els and a higher incidence of hypoxemia during the early postoperative period. The incidences of hypoxemia (Spo(2) = 86%-90%) and severe hyp oxemia (Spo(2) less than or equal to 85%) in the recovery room were 30 .6% and 16.7%, respectively, in Group 1,20.0% and 10.0% in Group 2, 14 .1% and 3.3% in Group 3, and 7.8% and 0.6% in Group 4. Hypoxemia occur red most commonly within 1 h after anesthesia, particularly during the first 40 min in infants and during the first 15 min in older children and adults. A significant correlation was found by Linear regression analysis between low Spo(2) levels on admission to the recovery room a nd children's age. Thereafter, Spo(2) levels and the incidence of hypo xemia during the early postoperative period were related only to infan ts' recovery scores.