Surgery often leads to temporary changes in physiological functions, including oxygen levels. While medical professionals closely monitor patients, understanding factors that decrease oxygen and practical strategies to improve it can benefit patients and caregivers, supporting a smoother recovery.
Why Oxygen Levels Decrease After Surgery
Anesthesia is a key factor in temporary post-surgery oxygen reduction. General anesthesia depresses the body’s respiratory drive, the natural impulse to breathe. This can cause shallow breathing and a decreased cough reflex, leading to mucus accumulation and collapsed lung tissue, known as atelectasis. Atelectasis, common in nearly all general anesthesia patients, impairs oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs.
Pain following surgery also contributes to shallow breathing patterns. To avoid discomfort, especially with chest or abdominal incisions, individuals may take smaller breaths. This prevents full lung expansion, leading to secretion buildup and reduced air intake. Immobility, a common surgical consequence, further reduces chest wall movement and lung ventilation, increasing the risk of atelectasis and respiratory complications like pneumonia.
The body’s stress response to surgery impacts oxygenation. Surgical trauma can cause inflammation and injury to lung tissue, affecting its ability to oxygenate blood effectively. Certain surgical positions can also restrict lung expansion, increasing the risk of low blood oxygen levels. Pre-existing lung conditions, obesity, and smoking further elevate the risk of low oxygen levels and respiratory complications after surgery.
Practical Strategies for Boosting Oxygen Levels
Deep breathing exercises are a key strategy for improving oxygen levels after surgery. Diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, involves placing one hand on the chest and the other on the abdomen. Inhale slowly through the nose, allowing the stomach to expand fully while the chest remains relatively still. This technique uses the diaphragm effectively for better lung expansion.
After a brief hold of 2 to 5 seconds, exhale gently through pursed lips, as if blowing out a candle, to prolong exhalation and keep airways open. Perform these exercises regularly, 10 to 15 times every hour while awake, to prevent fluid accumulation and expand lung sacs.
An incentive spirometer is a handheld device that encourages slow, deep breaths, functioning as exercise equipment for the lungs. To use it, sit upright and hold the spirometer at eye level. After exhaling normally, seal your lips tightly around the mouthpiece and inhale slowly and deeply, aiming to raise a piston or ball to a pre-set target zone.
Hold your breath for 3 to 5 seconds at the peak of inhalation before slowly exhaling to inflate the lungs and clear airways. Healthcare providers recommend using it 10 times every hour while awake. If a surgical incision is in the chest or abdomen, hold a pillow firmly against it for support and to ease discomfort during these exercises and when coughing.
Early mobility and movement are beneficial for enhancing oxygenation. Getting up and walking as soon as medically advised helps to expand lung capacity, improve circulation, and prevent complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. Even small movements, like changing positions in bed or sitting upright, can aid in improving breathing and clearing lung secretions. Early ambulation, even within two hours after abdominal surgery, can improve blood oxygen saturation, shorten hospital stays, reduce pain, and lower complication rates.
Effective pain management is important for maintaining healthy oxygen levels. Adequate pain control allows patients to take deeper breaths and participate more comfortably in breathing exercises and early mobilization. When pain is well-managed, it reduces the tendency to breathe shallowly, which can lead to lung issues. Staying well-hydrated also helps to keep respiratory secretions thin, making them easier to clear from the lungs through coughing. Avoiding irritants like smoke is important, as smoking significantly reduces the amount of oxygen available to the body for healing and increases the risk of lung complications.
Recognizing and Responding to Low Oxygen Symptoms
Be aware of signs that might indicate low oxygen levels. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. Some individuals may experience confusion, dizziness, or excessive fatigue. A bluish tint to the lips or fingernails, known as cyanosis, is a more severe indicator of low blood oxygen.
If these symptoms appear, or if a pulse oximeter consistently shows low readings (typically below 90-92%), seek medical attention promptly. While feeling groggy after surgery is common, persistent or worsening symptoms should not be ignored. Contact a healthcare provider immediately for concerning symptoms, as self-treatment should not delay professional evaluation and intervention.