Observation of the correlation of postanaesthesia recovery scores with early postoperative hypoxaemia in children.

To observe the correlation of the postanaesthesia recovery score (PARS) with the incidence, and severity of early postoperative hypoxaemia in children, 1213 infants and children, ASA physical status I, aged three months to 14 years, scheduled for elective plastic surgery were included in this study. Arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2) levels were recorded while children were breathing room air shortly after arrival in the recovery room (0 min), and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120 and 180 min thereafter. The PARS was also determined on all patients when Spo2 levels were recorded in the recovery room. On the basis of different PARS, children were divided into the three groups: Group 1-children having the PARS of < or = 6; Group 2-children having the PARS of 7-9; and Group 3-children having a PARS of 10. The results showed that during the early postoperative period, the incidence and severity of hypoxaemia correlated closely with the PARS. The lower the children's PARS, the higher the incidences of hypoxaemia (Spo2 = 86-90%) and severe hypoxaemia (Spo2 < or = 85%). The incidences of hypoxaemia and severe hypoxaemia were 12.9% and 15.8%, respectively, in Group 1, 20.9% and 2.9% in Group 2, 0.8% and 0% in Group 3. There were significant differences among the three groups. Of the 91 children who required O2 supplementation in the recovery room because of low measured Spo2, 69 had the PARS of < or = 6, and 22 had the PARS of 7-8. It is concluded that if a patient has a PARS of 10, the patient will not need routine oxygen supplement because hypoxaemia will not occur.