FREQUENCY OF HYPERCAPNY WITH NORMAL PULSE OXYMETRY, DURING THE POSTANESTHETIC PERIOD, IN PATIENTS SUBJECTED TO SURGERY UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Objective: To determine the frequency of hypercapnia with normal pulse oximetry during the post-anesthetic period in patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia. Material and methods: A longitudinal, prospective, observational and analytical study was conducted in patients under informed consent, not obstetric, undergoing general anesthesia in the HGEJBO, using non-invasive methods to measure carbon dioxide at the end of expiration (EtCO2) and determine the frequency of hypercapnia in the post-anesthetic period. Results: The study was performed with a total of 44 patients whose minimum age was 15 years, maximum of 84 and average of 43.2 ? 18 years. Of these, 36.4% (n = 16) were males and 63.6% (n = 28) females. Of the total sample, 13.6% (n = 6) presented hypercapnia in the postoperative period. No statistically significant correlations were found between the variables. Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients undergoing general anesthesia presented hypercapnia with normal pulse oximetry in the postoperative period. This scenario of perioperative risk is not specifically considered in conventional postoperative management, and there are even possibly precipitating conditions derived precisely from such management. It is suggested to seriously consider the inclusion of carbon dioxide monitoring in procedures performed under general anesthesia.