Postoperative Monitoring

Appropriate monitoring is necessary for early detection of respiratory impairment and reducing the risk of PRF.

1. Patients undergoing surgery are at the highest risk for PPCs during the first 72 hours after surgery. One half of unanticipated endotracheal intubations occur during the first 3 postoperative days.
2. The risk of respiratory failure due to opioid use is the highest during the first 24 hours after surgery.
3. The incidence of significant hypoxemia and sleep-disordered breathing peaks on postoperative day 3.