Oxygenation Impairment during Anesthesia Influence of Age and Body Weight

Conclusions 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 low, likely caused by airway closure, was more important in elderly patients. Shunt but not low increased with increasing body mass index. Thus, increasing age and body mass index impaired gas exchange by different mechanisms during anesthesia.
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research