Use of apneic oxygenation for the performance of pan-endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of apneic oxygenation for the performance of pan-endoscopy. STUDY DESIGN Clinical retrospective study. SETTING A university teaching hospital in Wuppertal, Germany. SUBJECTS Forty-seven patients who underwent pan-endoscopy under apneic oxygenation during a period of 1 year. METHODS After preoxygenation and induction of anesthesia, an 8 French catheter was introduced into the trachea for oxygen supply. Pan-endoscopy was carried out, as long as there were no signs of desaturation. The data were collected retrospectively from the anesthesia charts. RESULTS Apnea was well tolerated up to 45 minutes in most of the patients. In 2 patients, the method was carried out incorrectly, and in 1 obese patient, it was not possible to get an acceptable oxygenation. CONCLUSION With appropriate monitoring, sufficient nitrogen elution, and proper patient selection, we believe that this technique is superior to jet ventilation and intubation for pan-endoscopy, allowing unimpeded operative visualization.