OXYGENATION IMPAIRMENT DURING ANESTHESIA
: Influence of Age and Body Weight
#EXCERPT
"CONCLUSION
Pao2/Fio2 ratio was impaired during anesthesia, and the impairment increased with age and body mass index.
Shunt was related to atelectasis and was a more important cause of oxygenation impairment in middle-aged patients, whereas V/Q, likely caused by airway closure, was more important in elderly patients. Shunt but not V/Q not available increased with increasing body mass index.
Thus, increasing age and body mass index impaired gas exchange by different mechanisms during anesthesia.
