Background: During muscular exercise, a negative correlation has been demonstrated between the value of mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) and the level of muscular work, expressed at each level as the ratio of oxygen uptake (VO2) to each subject's maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Because the immediate postoperative period is associated with an increase in whole body oxygen demand, and in this regard resembles the effects of muscular exercise, a similar correlation may exist during this period.
Methods: VO2max was determined in 11 patients 3-5 days before coronary artery bypass surgery. During the first 2 postoperative h, VO2 and SvO2 were monitored. VO2 was measured by indirect calorimetry and SvO2 by a fiberoptic pulmonary arterial catheter.
Results: The highest postoperative value of VO2 was most often associated with visible shivering and ranged among patients from 19% to 53% of preoperatively measured VO2max. There was a highly significant negative correlation between SvO2 and the ratio VO2/VO2max. This correlation was observed when data were examined collectively (136 simultaneous determinations of the two variables) and at the individual level (10-18 determinations for each patient). The slopes and the y intercepts of individual lines of correlation were within a narrow range.
Conclusions: During the first 2 postoperative h after coronary artery bypass surgery, VO2 rarely exceeds 50% of preoperative VO2max. Assuming a stable state of myocardial function, SvO2 measurement may provide an indirect means of assessment of the "exercise test" imposed on patients recovering from general anesthesia.