Korean J Anesthesiol.  1971 Jan;4(1):35-40.

Comparision of Oxygenation by Nasopharyngeal Catheter and Nasal Catheter With a Sponge in Patients Recovering from General Anesthesia

• Pyeun DS
• Oh HK

Abstract

Arterial hypoxemia is a frequent occurence in the immediate postoperative period. For this reason many patients are given supplemental oxygen after operation. A common method of delivering oxygen is with a catheter placed through one nostril and extended into the oropharynx. An alternative method is the use of a nasal cathetn inserted 2~3cm into one nostril and wedged in place with a small sponge. We have compared these two methods in two groups of post-surgical patients. Eight patients in each group were selected at random for study during the immediate postoperative period. Each .patient received O2 at 6L/min. flow by both methods. In the first group of patients the nasopharyngeal catheter was placed first, and in the other group the nasal catheter with a sponge was placed first. Previously blood from the femoral artery was drawn into aheparinized syringe after 15 to 20 minutes of breathing room air. Two subsequent samples of arterial blood were obtained from each patient. In the first group one sample was drawn after 15-20 minutes of oxygen administration via the nasopharyngel catheter and the other sample after 15-20 minutes of oxygen administration via the nasal catheter with a sponge. In the second group similar samples were taken with the order reversed. Arterial gas tensions were measured with a radiometer apparatus. A majority of patients did have low arterial oxygen tensions when breathing air in the immediate postoperative period. The average PaO2 during breathing of room air was 73.7mmHg. With the 6L/min. O2 flow via the nasopharyngeal catheter, the average PaO2 was 155. 9mmHg while the catheter with a sponge resulted in an average PaO2 of 144. 8mmHg in both groups. Thus the PaO2 of the former is slightly higher than the that of later. However both gave adequate PaO2 values with 6L/min O2 flow. Therefore, the nasal catheter with a sponge compares favorably with the nesopharyngeal catheter because of comfort, convenience, natural humidifying effect and elemination of the possibility of gastric distension or mediasinal emphysema.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General*
Anoxia
Catheters*
Emphysema
Femoral Artery
Humans
Oropharynx
Oxygen*
Porifera*
Postoperative Period
Respiration
Syringes
Oxygen