Table 4.
Postoperative parameters
| PEEP group (n = 31) | ZEEP group (n = 29) | Difference in means, 95% CI | P value | |
| Cough score (0–3) | ||||
| Before extubationa | ||||
| 0–1 | 17 (63) | 16 (59) | 0.780 | |
| 2–3 | 10 (37) | 11 (41) | ||
| After extubation | ||||
| 0–1 | 30 (97) | 26 (90) | 0.346 | |
| 2–3 | 1 (3) | 3 (10) | ||
| SpO2 (%) | ||||
| Leaving operating room | 96.9 ± 2.8 | 96.6 ± 2.3 | 0.3 (−1.0 to 1.8) | 0.617 |
| On arrival in PACU | 94.3 ± 3.4 | 94.5 ± 2.0 | −0.2 (−1.6 to 1.2) | 0.788 |
| On room air at postoperative blood gas | 94.4 ± 2.8 | 95.4 ± 1.9 | −0.5 (−1.7 to 0.6) | 0.319 |
| Supplemental oxygenb | ||||
| Leaving operating room | 9 (29) | 7 (24) | 0.668 | |
| Any, started in PACU | 18 (58) | 17 (58) | 0.965 | |
| Still at 35 min postoperatively in PACUc | 14 (45) | 16 (55) | 0.438 | |
| I.v. opioids adm. before postop. blood gas | ||||
| Any | 17 (55) | 10 (34) | ||
| Alfentanil (mg) | 0.4 ± 0.2 | 0.6 ± 0,2 | −0.2 (−0.5 to 0.1) | 0.145 |
| Morphine (mg) | 5.3 ± 3.7 | 4.6 ± 2.8 | 0.7 (−2.7 to 4.2) | 0.643 |
| Vital signs at postoperative blood gas | ||||
| Respiratory rate (breaths min−1) | 16 ± 3 | 15 ± 3 | 0.8 (−0.6 to 2.3) | 0.259 |
| NRS score (0–10) | 5 [3.0 to 7.5] | 4 [3.0 to 5.0] | 0.288 | |
Data are presented as mean ± SD, median [IQR] or number (%).
NRS, numeric pain rating scale; PACU, postanaesthesia care unit; SpO2, peripheral oxygen saturation.
a
n = 27 in both groups, four missing values in the PEEP group, and two missing values in the ZEEP group.
b
Supplemental oxygen was administered by nasal cannula, 1 to 2 l min−1.
c
Any supplemental oxygen at 35 min postoperatively was turned off to allow 10 min of air breathing before sampling the postoperative blood gas at 45 min.