Hypoxaemia during induction of anaesthesia—an audit of children who underwent general anaesthesia for routine elective surgery

Summary Arterial oxygen saturation was measured using pulse oximetry during induction of anaesthesia in 108 children aged 10 days-14 years. No restriction was placed on the method of induction. Oxygen saturation decreased to less than 90% in 29 children (26.8%) and less than 80% in seven children (6.4%). There was a significantly increased incidence of desaturation (to less than 90%) in children under one year of age, in those who had no premedication, in those who received only atropine as a premidicant and in children who were anxious or crying before intravenous induction. Oxygen saturation did not decrease below 90% in any child who received inhalational induction.