| Atelectasis is one of the most common postoperative respiratory complications following
general anesthesia. It occurs mainly in 85% to 90% of patients who undergo general anesthesia.
Postoperative atelectasis occurs due to diaphragmatic dysfunction, impaired surfactant activity, coughing
at the end of anesthesia, and disturbance in (A-a) GO2 (alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure gradient).
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and duration of coughing on impaired oxygenation and
atelectasis after emergence from general anesthesia under mechanical ventilation in post-anesthetic care
unit.
In this prospective study, 97 patients undergoing general anesthesia and mechanical
ventilation were enrolled. Quantitative and qualitative demographic data were collected through
questionnaires. Arterial blood samples were taken 30 minutes before the end of the surgery and one hour
after the completion of operation to measure the alveolar -arterial gradient. Data analysis was performed
using SPSS-16 software, t-test and qui square test. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The number of coughs before extubation or after extubation and increased duration of coughing
could result in significantly increased arterial alveolar gradient.
Increased frequency of coughing during emergence from anesthesia and extubation results
in increased Arterial - alveolar oxygen partial pressure gradient (A-a) GO2 and also the prevalence of
atelectasis in post-anesthesia care unit. |