Respiratory failure & ventilation
Impact of high versus low fraction of inspired oxygen for anaesthetic washout and extubation on postoperative pulmonary atelectasis formation and oxygenation: a randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Avoiding pure oxygen before extubation preserved end-expiratory lung volume with more dorsal distribution of ventilation. Postextubation oxygenation was optimal with 70% Fio2.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing elective surgery under GA
- Participants
- 48 adults
- Comparison
- Pure oxygen vs lower FiO2 for anaesthetic washout before extubation
- Pure oxygenn = 24
- Lower FiO2n = 24reference
- Primary endpoint
- Atelectasis: changes in centre of ventilation and end-expiratory lung volume by electrical impedance tomography
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Pure oxygen
−0.3%
median · IQR −2.2–1.3
Lower FiO2
1.3%
median · IQR 0.0–2.8
Pure oxygen
−1067
median · IQR −1839–-589 · ml
Lower FiO2
−423
median · IQR −873–-53 · ml
Pure oxygen vs Lower FiO2: P = 0.041 · Pure oxygen vs Lower FiO2: P = 0.006
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| End-expiratory lung volume, 70% vs 40% FiO2 (subgroup)No difference | P = 0.39 |
SpO2 after extubation · 10 min after extubation
- Higher with 70% FiO2
- Interaction P=0.028
Original publication
Impact of high versus low fraction of inspired oxygen for anaesthetic washout and extubation on postoperative pulmonary atelectasis formation and oxygenation: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. Published 15 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →