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. 2005 Jun-Jul;15(6):813-9.
doi: 10.1381/0960892054222867.

Tissue oxygenation in obese and non-obese patients during laparoscopy

Edith Fleischmann  1 , Andrea Kurz, Monika Niedermayr, Karl Schebesta, Oliver Kimberger, Daniel I Sessler, Barbara Kabon, Gerhard Prager
Affiliations

Tissue oxygenation in obese and non-obese patients during laparoscopy

Edith Fleischmann et al. Obes Surg. 2005 Jun-Jul.

Abstract

Background: Wound infection risk is inversely related to subcutaneous tissue oxygenation, which is reduced in obese patients and may be reduced even more during laparoscopic procedures.

Methods: We evaluated subcutaneous tissue oxygenation (PsqO(2)) in 20 patients with a body mass index (BMI) > or=40 kg/m(2) (obese group) and 15 patients with BMI <30 kg/m(2) (non-obese group) undergoing laparoscopic surgery with standardized anaesthesia technique and fluid administration. Arterial oxygen tension was maintained near 150 mmHg. PsqO(2) was measured from a surrogate wound on the upper arm.

Results: A mean FIO(2) of 51% (13%) was required in obese patients to reach an arterial oxygen tension of 150 mmHg; however, a mean FIO(2) of only 40% (7%) was required to reach the same oxygen tension in non-obese patients (P=0.007). PsqO(2) was significantly less in obese patients: 41 (10) vs 57 (15) mmHg (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Obese patients having laparoscopic surgery require a significantly greater FIO(2) to reach an arterial oxygen tension of about 150 mmHg than non-obese patients; they also have significantly lower subcutaneous oxygen tensions. Both factors probably contribute to an increased infection risk in obese patients.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Subcutaneous oxygen partial pressure in the upper arm during surgery in 20 obese and 15 non-obese patients. The open circles represent the value in each patient. The squares show the group means and 95% confidence intervals; the means differed significantly (P = 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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