Hypoxemia

All pts undergoing anesthesia and surgery (7–35% in large series have Pa o ₂ <60 mm Hg in OR or PACU).

Pts with pulm disease, difficult airway management, severe hemodynamic instability.

Hypoxemia may lead to hypoxia and eventual severe neurologic/cardiac sequelae or death.

Inadequate delivery of O ₂ to lungs and blood is the greatest concern to the anesthesiologist because it will lead to tissue hypoxia.

Differential Dx is critical for successful causal treatment.

Misinterpretation of certain clinical manifestations of hypoxemia (anxiety, tachycardia, dysrhythmias).