TITLE:
Incidence and Management of Early Postoperative Hypoxemia after Abdominal Surgery at Teaching Hospital
AUTHORS:
Nga Nomo Serge Vivier, Mpeyou Sani Mohamed, Kuitchet Aristide, Binam Bikoi Charles, Maiwong Betila Venloah, Dominique Djomo Tamchom, Iroume Bifouna Cristella Raissa, Ngouatna Serge, Jemea Bonaventure, Metogo Mbengono Junette, Fidèle Binam
KEYWORDS:
Abdominal Surgery, Postoperative Hypoxemia, Incidence, Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
16,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Oxygen saturation refers to the quantity of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood, that is to say the level of oxygen measurable in the red blood cells when they have passed through the lungs. The aim of this study was to describe the management of early postoperative hypoxemia after abdominal surgery at the Yaounde General Hospital (YGH). Method: This is a quantitative, observational study, with a descriptive aim, which took place in the anesthesiology department of the YGH, over a period of 2 months from August 1st to October 1st, 2023. The study included all the patients ≥18 years, of both sexes who had abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and were willing to participate during the time of data collection. The variables studied were the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, risk factors for oxygen desaturation, postoperative variations in SPO2 and therapeutic tools. Results: We collected 30 patients among whom 11 presented with early postoperative hypoxemia i.e. a frequency of 36.7%. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 63 years and the mean was 42.47 ± 13.5 years on average. The sex ratio was 0.5. Hysterectomy was the most commonly performed surgery (23.3%). The most common comorbidity was high blood pressure (30%). Half of the patients had midline incision. Supra-umbilical surgery predominated (56.7%), intraoperative blood loss ≥500 ml in 46.7% of cases. Upper abdominal surgery with, subcostal incision and blood loss ≥500 ml are statistically significant risk factors for the occurrence of early postoperative hypoxemia (P Conclusion: Hypoxemia is the result of impaired respiratory function favored by the conditions encountered during the early postoperative period.