Arterial oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and pulse rate during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy--influence of sedation and age.

We studied the effect of sedation by I.V. meperidine on blood pressure, pulse rate, and arterial oxygen saturation during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Meperidine increased the tolerance of the patients and attenuated the endoscopy-induced rise in blood pressure and pulse rate. Arterial oxygen saturation was transiently depressed in the first few minutes of the endoscopic procedure even without sedation, and meperidine administration did not aggravate this oxygen desaturation. Therefore, meperidine may be a favorable sedative for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because its treatment increases the tolerance of patients and decreases cardiac oxygen demand without decreasing arterial oxygen saturation.