Magnitude and Associated Factors of Immediate Postoperative Hypoxemia among Elective Surgical Procedures at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Definition of Hypoxemia is insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood. There are different contributing risk factors for occurrence of post-operative hypoxemia which may lead to myocardial ischemia, organ dysfunction, wound infection, hospital stay and increase cost for the hospital and patient. Objectives: To assess the magnitude and associated factors of immediate post-operative hypoxemia in elective surgical procedures at Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital from January 30, 2017 to March 31, 2017 G.C. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Using Systemic random sampling technique and structured questioners data was collected from sampled elective surgical patients’ age ≥ 18 that came during the 2 months period. Data was entered into Epi info version 7 computer software by investigators and transported to SPSS version 20 computer program for analysis. Variables that demonstrated a significant relationship on bivariate analysis (p-value<0.2) were included Multivariate regression analysis was applied to evaluate independent variable relationships with a dependent variable that was continuous. A p-value<0.05 was considered to represent a statistically significant relationship. Results: Among sampled 238 elective surgical patients magnitude of hypoxemia was 54 (22.7%).Frequency of hypoxemia was high in first 10 min after admission to post anesthesia care unit. The independent predictors of hypoxemia were who had Respiratory co morbidity [(AOR=8.8; CI 2.264, 34.117)] (p=0.002) and cardiothoracic surgery [AOR=4.904; CI1.385, 17.368] (p=0.014). Conclusion and recommendation: Magnitude of hypoxemia was high and so specials consideration should give co morbid diseases patients by pre-operative optimization of patient that has other factors additional to the surgical procedure.