Arterial Oxygen Desaturation during Non-sedated Diagnostic Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Yi, Sun Young

Abstract

We studied arterial oxygen desaturation, using a pulse oximeter, in 132 patients undergoing diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to obtain predictive factors of the change. The baseline arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level was 98.8+/- 1.2%. During the procedure, oxygen desaturation (SaO2>95%) was found in 90.2% of the patients, Mild oxygen desaturation (95>SaO2>90%) was found in 9.8% of the patients, and there was no severe oxygen desaturation(SaO2<90%). Age(P=0.52), gender(P =0.48), smoking(P =0.71), body mass index(P =0.32), and endoscopy time(P = 0.68) was not related to the degree of oxygen desaturation. These results suggest that oxygen desaturation, which may rarely induce serious cardiopulmonary events, is not frequently observed during non-sedated diagnostic upper endoscopy.