Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

Emine Arıcı Parlak; Neslihan Ilkaz; Hatice Ayhan; Emine İyigün

doi:10.18621/eurj.1849232

Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the incidence of desaturation (SpO₂ ≤94%) during the transfer of postoperative patients from the operating room to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) without oxygen support and to identify factors associated with desaturation.

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2023 and July 2024 in the operating room and PACU of a training and research hospital. The sample consisted of 164 patients. Data were collected using the Oxygen Saturation Assessment Form. Post-extubation oxygen saturation levels were continuously monitored with a pulse oximeter during transfer to the PACU and until discharge.

Results: During transfer from the operating room to the PACU, 43.3% of patients had SpO₂ ≤94%, and 8.4% of these patients had SpO₂ <90%. Patients who developed desaturation had significantly higher mean age and body mass index (BMI) and lower preoperative SpO₂ values (P<0.001). Desaturation was significantly associated with female sex and the presence of chronic disease (P=0.032), whereas no significant association was found with smoking history or ASA score (P>0.05). In addition, desaturation was associated with general surgical procedures, the supine position, upper abdominal and thyroid surgeries, and the use of neuromuscular blocking agents (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Approximately half of postoperative patients experienced SpO₂ ≤ 94% in the early postoperative period. Advanced age, higher BMI, lower preoperative SpO₂ values, comorbidities, upper abdominal and thyroid surgical incisions, and the use of respiratory-depressant neuromuscular agents were identified as key factors negatively affecting postoperative oxygen saturation.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Ankara Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision no.: 84, date: 11.07.2023). All procedures performed during data collection, review of patient records, and study implementation complied with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments. Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. In addition, institutional permission was obtained from the relevant clinic and the hospital where the study was conducted.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the all participating patiens involved.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Anaesthesiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emine Arıcı Parlak ^*
0000-0003-4416-7075
Türkiye

Neslihan Ilkaz
0000-0003-2255-8171
Türkiye

Hatice Ayhan
0000-0002-3022-9389
Türkiye

Emine İyigün
0000-0002-2276-615X
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

January 28, 2026

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Submission Date

December 25, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1849232

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA38RZ72DA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Arıcı Parlak, E., Ilkaz, N., Ayhan, H., & İyigün, E. (2026). Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. The European Research Journal, 12(3), 347-357. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1849232

AMA

1.Arıcı Parlak E, Ilkaz N, Ayhan H, İyigün E. Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Eur Res J. 2026;12(3):347-357. doi:10.18621/eurj.1849232

Chicago

Arıcı Parlak, Emine, Neslihan Ilkaz, Hatice Ayhan, and Emine İyigün. 2026. “Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit”. The European Research Journal 12 (3): 347-57. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1849232.

EndNote

Arıcı Parlak E, Ilkaz N, Ayhan H, İyigün E (March 1, 2026) Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. The European Research Journal 12 3 347–357.

IEEE

[1]E. Arıcı Parlak, N. Ilkaz, H. Ayhan, and E. İyigün, “Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit”, Eur Res J, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 347–357, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.18621/eurj.1849232.

ISNAD

Arıcı Parlak, Emine - Ilkaz, Neslihan - Ayhan, Hatice - İyigün, Emine. “Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit”. The European Research Journal 12/3 (March 1, 2026): 347-357. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1849232.

JAMA

1.Arıcı Parlak E, Ilkaz N, Ayhan H, İyigün E. Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Eur Res J. 2026;12:347–357.

MLA

Arıcı Parlak, Emine, et al. “Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit”. The European Research Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Mar. 2026, pp. 347-5, doi:10.18621/eurj.1849232.

Vancouver

1.Emine Arıcı Parlak, Neslihan Ilkaz, Hatice Ayhan, Emine İyigün. Determination of Factors Affecting Oxygen Saturation During Transfer From the Operating Room to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Eur Res J. 2026 Mar. 1;12(3):347-5. doi:10.18621/eurj.1849232