Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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Volume 26

October - December 2010

Number  4


 

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Risk of hypoxia during flexible upper GI endoscopy in
unsedated patients of a tertiary care public sector
hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Asad Usman 1, Qaiser Jamal 2, Adeel-ur-Rehman Siddiqui 3,
Shahzaib Pervez 4, Jahanzaib Pervez 5, Arfeen Durrani 6

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To measure the changes in oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry during flexible upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in unsedated patients.

Methodology: This is an observational study conducted on 356 patients undergoing unsedated upper gastrointestinal Endoscopy, during April 2009 to January 2010. Complete demographic data, systemic history, smoking history, laboratory evaluation and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) were recorded in all patients. Patients with severe systemic disease (ASA-PS III–VI), those who needed emergency endoscopy and with anemia of hemoglobin <8gm/dl were excluded from the study.

Results: Out of 356 patients 186 (52.2%) were male and 170 (47%.8) were female. All the patients tolerated the procedure well at the start and at the end and had no oxygen desaturation. At mid of the procedure 21 (5.9%) patients showed mild oxygen desaturation and 4 (1.1%) showed moderate oxygen desaturation while 331 (93%) showed no oxygen desaturation. No patient at any stage showed severe oxygen desaturation. Relationship of smoking, co-morbidity and clinical signs with mid procedure oxygen saturation is insignificant in both genders.

Conclusion: It is concluded that mild to moderate hypoxia is some what common during therapeutic endoscopic procedure and of no serious consequence. However, severe hypoxia is not recorded in our study. The unsedated gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe procedure for the diagnostic purpose, as it does not produce hypoxia during this; therefore pulse oximetry is not a precondition in patients undergoing unsedated diagnostic endoscopy without severe systemic disease. We recommend monitoring through pulse oximetry in patients with age greater than 45 years and procedure longer than 8 minutes.

KEY WORDS: Endoscopy, Oxygen desaturation, Pulse oximetry.

Pak J Med Sci    October - December 2010    Vol. 26 No. 4    909-913

How to cite this article:

Usman A, Jamal Q, Siddiqui AR, Pervez S, Pervez J, Durrani A.Risk of hypoxia during flexible upper GI endoscopy in unsedated patients of a tertiary care public sector hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci 2010;26(4):909-913


1. Dr. Asad Usman FCPS,
Senior Registrar,
2. Dr. Qaiser Jamal FCPS,
Assistant Professor,
3. Dr. Adeel-ur-Rehman Siddiqui,
Postgraduate student,
4. Shahzaib Pervez,
Final year Student,
5. Dr. Jahanzaib Pervez,
Postgradaute Student,
6. Dr. Arfeen Durrani,
Postgraduate Student
1-3,5,6: Department of Medicine,
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital,
Karachi, Pakistan.
4: Karachi Medical & Dental College,
Karachi, Pakistan.

Correspondence:

Dr. Qaiser Jamal,
Assistant Professor,
Medical Unit-III, Department of Medicine,
AbbasiShaheed Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Home Address: E-266, Kausar Town Society,
Malir, Karachi - Pakistan.
E-mail: docterqjam@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: June 29, 2010 *

* Revision Received: August 30, 2010

* Revision Accepted: September 1, 2010



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