The effect of pleural drainage on pulse oximetry in a post-operative thoracic surgery population.

Publication Title

Respiratory medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2024

Keywords

swedish; swedish cancer; washington

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusions in post-operative thoracic surgery patients are common. Effusions can result in prolonged hospitalizations or readmissions, with prior studies suggesting mixed effects of pleural drainage on hypoxia. We aimed to define the impact of pleural drainage on pulse oximetry (SpO2) in post-thoracic surgery patients.

METHODS: A retrospective study of post-operative thoracic surgery patients undergoing pleural drainage was performed. SpO2 and supplemental oxygen (FiO2) values were recorded at pre- and post-procedure. The primary outcome was difference in pre-procedural and post-procedural SpO2.

RESULTS: We identified 95 patients with a mean age of 65 (SD - 13.8) years undergoing 122 pleural drainage procedures. Mean drainage volume was 619 (SD-423) mL and the majority of procedures (88.5 %) included a drainage of% (SD-2.6) to 97.3 % (SD-2.0) at 24-h (p < 0.0001). FiO2 was associated with a decrease from 0.31 (SD-0.15) to 0.29 (SD-0.12) at 24-h (p = 0.0081). SpO2/FiO2 was associated with an increase from 344.5 (SD-99.0) to 371.9 (SD-94.7) at 24-h post-procedure (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Pleural drainage within post-operative thoracic surgery patients offers statistically significant improvements in oxygen saturation by peripheral pulse oximetry and oxygen supplementation; however the clinical significance of these changes remains unclear. Pleural drainage itself may be requested for numerous reasons, including diagnostic (fevers, leukocytosis, etc.) or therapeutic (worsening dyspnea) evaluation. However, pleural drainage may offer minimal clinical impact on pulse oximetry in post-operative thoracic surgery patients.

Clinical Institute

Cancer

Specialty

Swedish Thoracic Surgery

Specialty

Pulmonary Medicine

Specialty

Surgery

DOI

10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107727

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