Respiratory complications in the postanesthesia period are an important area of concern because they are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. A critical respiratory event in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is the complex of major unanticipated ventilation problems, including hypoxemia, hypoventilation or upper-airway obstruction that require a physical or pharmacological intervention. Multiple factors, including surgical, anesthetic and patient variables, contribute to the etiology of postoperative respiratory complications.
Anesthetic causes include the use of opioids, neuromuscular blocking drugs, and general anesthesia. Patient risk factors include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, obesity and non-modifiable risk factors such as advanced age and gender. Complications of arterial hypoxemia in PACU There are several factors that can contribute to arterial…
