PULSE OXIMETRY MONITORING AND LATE POSTOPERATIVE HYPOXEMIA ON THE GENERAL CARE FLOOR

Hypoxemia has long been recognized as a risk to patients in the operat ing room and postanesthesia care unit, and hemoglobin oxygen saturatio n (HbO(2)) monitoring with pulse oximetry has become a standard of car e in these areas. There is growing evidence, however, suggesting that later postoperative hypoxemia also may play a role in organ dysfunctio n leading to morbidity and mortality. Economic pressures to move patie nts earlier from expensive postanethesia recovery and intensive care a reas to the general care floor where nurse-to-patient ratios are lower and lines of sight and sound may be impaired by walls and curtains - may lead to inadequate surveillance of at-risk patients. These patient management trends underscore the importance of improved monitoring of respiratory status on the general care floor. In this environment, te lemetric pulse oximetry monitoring may represent a cost-effective appr oach to maximizing quality of care while enhancing risk management. Th is review discusses lace postoperative hypoxemia and identifies areas for further investigation.