Ewha Med J.  1996 Dec;19(4):517-520. 10.12771/emj.1996.19.4.517.

Evaluation of Preoperative Pulmonary Gas Exchanges in the Elderly Patients Over the Age of 65

• Lee GY

• KMID: 1964742
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.1996.19.4.517

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
As the number of elderly people rises, the incidence of surgery in elderly patients would become higher. This study was undertaken to examine the changes in pulmonary gas exchange that occurs with advancing age.
METHODS
Arterial blood gases were analysed in 106 elderly patients over the age of 65 and 40 adult patients(control group) during breathing of room air preoperatively. Alveolar oxygen partial pressure(PAO2), alveolar-arterial partial pressure gradient for oxygen(AaDO2), arterial/alveolar oxygen partial pressure(a/A) ratio were calculated using PaO2 and PaCO2 and PAO2 and measured the relationship between the PaO2 and age.
RESULTS
PaO2 declined as age increased significantly and the regression equation was PaO2=103.6-0/332 x age(r=0.55). There was no significant difference in PaCO2 and PAO2 but AaDO2 increased and a/A ratio decreased significantly.
CONCLUSIONS
As the AaDO2 and a/A ratio were changed significantly, it is necessary for monitoring of oxygenation during perioperative periods in elderly patients.

Keyword

Elderly; Gas exchange; Oxygen

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged*
Gases
Humans
Incidence
Oxygen
Partial Pressure
Perioperative Period
Pulmonary Gas Exchange
Respiration
Gases
Oxygen