Abstract
The effect of cigarette smoking on postoperative arterial oxygen saturation was evaluated in 45 adult patients using pulse oximetry. Patients were divided into a smoking group (n = 20) and a non-smoking group (n = 25) based on current smoking habits up until the time of surgery. The two groups were similar with respect to sex, ASA physical status, surgical procedure, duration of anaesthesia, narcotic and anaesthetic use and recovery characteristics. The non-smoking group was, however, significantly (P < 0.05) older than the smoking group. Postoperative oxygen saturation (SaO2) decreased (P < 0.001) during transport of both groups of patients from the Operating Room to the Recovery Room; a decrease which was significantly greater in the smoking group. The severity of hypoxaemia was also significantly greater in the smoking group than in the non-smoking group. This study suggests that cigarette smoking contributes to postoperative arterial oxygen desaturation following general anaesthesia and that supplemental oxygen should be administered to these patients during postoperative transport.
Résumé
A l’aide d’un saturomètre digital, nous avons évalué l’effet du tabagisme sur la saturation artérielle en oxygène (SaO2) post-opératoire. Vingtcinq fumeurs de cigarette constituaient un groupe tandis que l’autre groupe était composé de vingt non-fumeurs. Les deux groupes étaient comparables quant au sexe, la classe ASA, le type d’intervention, la durée et le type d’anesthésie, les morphiniques utilisés et la récupération en salle de réveil. Toutefois, les non-fumeurs étaient plus agés que les fumeurs (P < 0,05). Chez les deux groupes, la SaO2 diminuait (P < 0,001) pendant le transport entre la salle d’opération et la salle de réveil quoique de façon significativement plus marquée chez les fumeurs. Le degré d’hypoxémie atteint était aussi plus sérieux chez les fumeurs. Il semble donc que la consommation de cigarettes contribue à l’hypoxémie post-opératoire observé après une anesthésie générate et que les fumeurs devraient respirer un mélange enrichi d’oxygène pendant leur transport vers la salle de réveil.
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Tait, A.R., Kyff, J.V., Crider, B. et al. Changes in arterial oxygen saturation in cigarette smokers following general anaesthesia. Can J Anaesth 37, 423–428 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03005619
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03005619