Oxygénothérapie postopératoire : quand est-ce utile et comment faire ?

Postoperative hypoxaemia is very common. It is an integral part of postoperative morbidity. Hypoxaemia is due to the combined effects of anaesthesia and postoperative diaphragmatic dysfunction, leading to pulmonary condensation and intrapulmonary shunting. Episodes of obstructive apnea may result from a residual anaesthetic effect or more lately from sleep disturbances. Patients should be systematically monitored postoperatively by pulse oxymetry especially during their transportation from the operating to the recovery room. Oxygen supplementation by nasal canula or through a facial mask at medium of high concentration should be performed systematically after major surgery.