International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2021
Hypoxaemia during tracheal intubation in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: analysis of data from an obstetric airway management registry.
In South Africa, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading cause of maternal mortality. More than 50% of anaesthesia-related maternal deaths are attributed to complications of airway management. We compared the prevalence and risk factors for hypoxaemia during induction of general anaesthesia in parturients with and without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We hypothesised that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with desaturation during tracheal intubation. ⋯ Clinically significant oxygen desaturation during airway management occurred twice as often in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, compounded by increasing body mass index. Intermediary factors in the pathway from hypertension to hypoxaemia were also identified.