ABSTRACT
To investigate the effect of deep breathing and encouraged coughing on the arterial oxygenation in patients following upper abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, 80 patients were chosen and divided into 4 groups according to the therapy modalities given during the recovery mom care ; group 1: spontaneous recovery, group 2: oxygen, group 3: cough with deep breathing, and group 4: oxygen plus cough with deep breathing. Oxygen saturation (SpO2 by pulse oximeter) was monitored before anesthesia (control) and over a 24 hour period after operation. S values decreased on arrival in the recovery room after anesthesia in all groups (p<0.05). As patients awakened from anesthesia in the recovery room, SpO2 values were progressively increased to near preanesthetic values in the non-oxygen groups (Group 1, 3) and increased even above preanesthtic values in the oxygen groups (Group 2, 4) SpO2 values at 24-hours after operation were 97.0% in Group 1, 96.9% in Group 2, 97.8% in Group 3, and 97.5% in GRoup 4; therefore Group 3 had the highest value of SpO2 (p<0.05), In conclusion, deep breathing with cough encouragement in the recovery room seemed to be associated with better oxygenation 24 hours postanesthetically than supplemental oxygen or natural recovery groups.