Optimal oxygen concentration during induction of general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND

The use of 100% oxygen during induction of anesthesia may produce atelectasis. The authors investigated how different oxygen concentrations affect the formation of atelectasis and the fall in arterial oxygen saturation during apnea.

METHODS

Thirty-six healthy, nonsmoking women were randomized to breathe 100, 80, or 60% oxygen for 5 min during the induction of general anesthesia. Ventilation was then withheld until the oxygen saturation, assessed by pulse oximetry, decreased to 90%. Atelectasis formation was studied with computed tomography.

RESULTS

Atelectasis in a transverse scan near the diaphragm after induction of anesthesia and apnea was 9.8 +/- 5.2 cm2 (5.6 +/- 3.4% of the total lung area; mean +/- SD), 1.3 +/- 1.2 cm2 (0.6 +/- 0.7%), and 0.3 +/- 0.3 cm2 (0.2 +/- 0.2%) in the groups breathing 100, 80, and 60% oxygen, respectively (P < 0.01). The corresponding times to reach 90% oxygen saturation were 411 +/- 84, 303 +/- 59, and 213 +/- 69 s, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

During routine induction of general anesthesia, 80% oxygen for oxygenation caused minimal atelectasis, but the time margin before unacceptable desaturation occurred was significantly shortened compared with 100% oxygen.