Oxygen during surgery reduces risk of wound infection

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

If a patient is given supplemental oxygen during surgery for colorectal cancer, they are less likely to develop a wound infection.
If a patient is given supplemental oxygen during surgery for colorectal cancer, they are less likely to develop a wound infection. It is already known that wound infections are the major complication of surgery. The effects of giving supplemental oxygen during and after surgery has been controversial. A new study from researchers in Spain seems to suggest that supplemental oxygen could be beneficial.

They gave a group of 300 patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer either 30 per cent or 80 per cent oxygen in an inspired mixture of oxygen and air during and after surgery. Having 80 per cent oxygen reduced the risk of postoperative wound infection by 39 per cent compared to having 30 per cent oxygen. Therefore, an oxygen-rich mix should be considered as part of the care of patients undergoing surgery - it does not appear to have any serious side effects and may reduce post-operative complications.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 26th October 2005 Volume 294 pages 2035-2042