LATE POSTOPERATIVE HYPOXEMIA AND ORGAN DYSFUNCTION

Constant and episodic hypoxaemia are common after major operations in the late post-operative period in the surgical ward. Recent studies ha ve shown that hypoxaemia may be related to the development of myocardi al ischaemia and cardiac arrhythmias. Experimental and clinical studie s have demonstrated an adverse effect of tissue hypoxia on wound heali ng and on resistance to bacterial wound infections. Finally, mental co nfusion and surgical delirium may be related to inadequate arterial ox ygenation during the late post-operative period. Late post-operative c onstant and episodic hypoxaemia may therefore be important surgical ri sk factors, and further studies on the pathogenesis, prophylaxis and t reatment are warranted.