Incidence of hypoxemia in the postanesthetic recovery room in patients having undergone intravenous sedation for outpatient oral surgery.

This study prospectively quantitated the incidence of hypoxia in outpatients in a postanesthetic recovery unit following intravenous (IV) sedation. After identifying the high incidence of hypoxia by the use of pulse oximetry, supplemental oxygen was given to another group of patients and the incidence of the hypoxia was again monitored. Twenty of 100 patients experienced hypoxic episodes in the postanesthetic recovery unit when no supplemental oxygen was administered; only 3 of an additional 100 patients who received supplemental oxygen had episodes of hypoxia. The difference between the groups receiving and not receiving supplemental oxygen was both clinically and statistically significant. As result of this study, the use of supplemental oxygen is recommended for all patients undergoing IV sedation for outpatient oral surgery.