Increased Oximetry Monitoring for Postsurgical Patients

One perception was that patients who receive patient-controlled narcotic analgesics alone following surgery are at less risk for respiratory depression and postoperative hypoxemia than patients who receive intrathecal morphine or both strategies simultaneously. The other perception was that patients with major peripheral surgery treated with either patient-controlled narcotics or intrathecal morphine are less at risk for hypoxemia compared with midline abdominal surgery patients receiving similar analgesics.

After continuous pulse oximetry monitoring of patients on the general care floor for the 24 hours following surgery, the researchers concluded that all types of narcotic analgesic strategies used, regardless of the type of surgery performed, have a significant impact on a patient's risk for postoperative hypoxemia. The prevalence of postoperative hypoxemia was extremely high across all patient groups due to the use of narcotic analgesics. The oximetry monitoring system used in the study was the Oxinet II Central Station Network from Nellcor (Pleasanton, CA, USA).

"Through our research, we have found that any use of narcotics in postoperative pain management places patients at increased risk for hypoxemia and significant respiratory depression,” said J. Paul Curry, M.D., department of anesthesiology, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach (CA, USA).





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oag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian