Incidence and associated factors of postoperative hypoxemia among adult elective surgical patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: An observational study

Background: Hypoxemia is one of the feared critical events intraoperatively and postoperatively. Undetected postoperative oxygen hypoxemia may lead to pulmonary hypertension, hyperkalemia, respiratory and cardiac failure even brain ischemia, and lastly, it may end up with multiorgan failure. The main purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and associated factors for postoperative hypoxemia among elective surgical patients received anesthesia in Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted in Dessie comprehensive Specialized Hospital from March to June 2021. The study included elective surgical patients. The data was collected with structured questionnaires, and direct measurement of oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry. Statistical analysis was done by using the Statistical Package of Social Science version 23. Results: A total of 298 patients enrolled with a response rate of 94% in the study. Among the study participants, 167 (56%) were females and 131 (44%) were males. The Mean (+/- Standard Deviation) age was 37.62 +/- 15.75 years. The incidence of hypoxemia was 24.5% (95% of Confidence Interval 19.34, 30.62) among 298 post-operative patients. Associated factors with postoperative hypoxemia were age greater than 55 years, preoper-ative saturation below 95%, type of anesthesia, postoperative pain score, and postoperative muscular strength, The patient age below 55 years had 84% less likely to develop hypoxemic episodes postoperatively when we compare age above 55-year-old. A patient who received general anesthesia had a chance of developing hypoxia eight times than those who received regional anesthesia. A patient who can keep grip for 15 s had 60% less likely to develop hypoxemia than those who can keep a grip for 15 s postoperatively. Conclusion: This study showed that there was a high incidence of postoperative hypoxemia among elective surgical patients in the study area. The high-risk patients should be identified and postoperative oxygen therapy should be initiated for those high-risk patients.