PULSE RATE AND OXYGEN SATURTION CHANGES IN OESOPHAGIOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY

Abstract

Context: Endoscope is important diagnostic and therapeutic method for the investigation and management of many upper GIT diseases and the use of the pulse oximeter during this procedure are useful in monitoring any abnormal changes in pulse rate and O2 saturation and nowadays it is mandatory to use pulse oximeter during upper gastrointestinal endoscope. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the significant changes in the pulse rate and O2 saturation during endoscope and the safety of the endoscope in non-sedated patients. DESIGN: Prospective study done by examination of seventy patients by upper gastrointestinal endoscope and recording their pulse rate and O2 saturation before and after the introduction of endoscope by the use of pulse oximeter. Settings and Patients: All patients aged from (20 -80) year old, underwent upper GIT endoscope between February and October 2007 in the endoscope department in AL-Najaf teaching hospital .with use of the pulse oximeter by one examiner in a randomized pattern, significant pulse rate changes considered >10 beats, and significant oxygen saturation changes >5%. Results: Fifty patients show significant increase in pulse rate when the endoscope passed to the esophagus, twenty-six  patients were young ,sixteen patients  were middle age, and eight were elderly patients,  their increase in pulse rate was from (10 -19) beat/min. the main increasing was in young age group. No significant changes occurred in O2 saturation except in two patients there were decrease in O2 saturation one of them was suffering from severe anemia before endoscope and the other was suffering from severe chronic obstructive airway disease. Conclusion:  Maximum pulse rate changes occur in young people at the introduction of the endoscope into the esophagus, then after the patient have no significant variation in the pulse rate. The saturation of O2 shows no affection by the procedure per se.