THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN IN SEDATED AND UNSEDATED PATIENTS UNDERGOING UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY

A total of 212 patients undergoing elective upper gastrointestinal end oscopy were prospectively studied. They were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (I) sedation with no supplemental oxygen; (I I;) no sedation and no oxygen supplementation; (III) sedation and supp lemental oxygen, and (IV) no sedation but supplemental oxygen. Oxygen desaturation occurred in all the groups except group IV and was worsen ed by sedation. Supplemental oxygen corrected the desaturation in the sedated patients and minimized the associated haemodynamic changes. Th e duration of the endoscopy procedure was shortest in patients who wer e sedated and given supplemental oxygen. It can be concluded that duri ng conscious sedation for upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, supplemen tal oxygen should be given and continued during the postendoscopy peri od to prevent oxygen desaturation.