'Correlation Between Lung Ultrasound Findings and Clinical Consequences of High Intraoperative Inspired Oxygen Fraction During Elective Surgery in Mechanically Ventilated Children''

The WHO and United States centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) recently recommended the administration of 80% inspired oxygen fraction (Fio2) during and immediately after surgery performed with general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation.

The recommendation was based on some data suggesting that intra-operative high Fio2 reduces incidence of surgical site infections.

The dilemma of applying high or low perioperative FiO2 arises in daily practice of pediatric anesthesia because children are at increased risk of developing hypoxemia due to their physiological characteristics including smaller functional residual capacity and increased metabolic requirement compared with adult.

However, considering that atelectasis occurs in most pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia, it is important to titrate perioperative level of FiO2 to minimize the risk of developing atelectasis and hypoxemia.

The use of FiO2 80% at induction and emergence, whilst limiting FiO2 to 35% during maintenance of anesthesia, may prevent the occurrence of atelectasis and ensure sufficient oxygenation.