Before induction of general anaesthesia pre-oxygenation is a recommended procedure to enhance the time available for solving a problem with the airway or intubation during induction. This can be accomplished by letting the patient breath normal tidal volumes with 100% oxygen for 3 to 5 minutes during pre-oxygenation. If there is airway closure during tidal volume breathing, pre-oxygenation needs longer time to achieve a maximum effect. Airway closure increases with advanced age and a few earlier studies has also shown a correlation between older age and longer time for the rise in the end-tidal O2 concentration during pre-oxygenation.~Pre-oxygenation is a strongly recommended safety procedure before starting anaesthesia but has at least one major side affect: it is the main reason for the development of atelectasis in the lungs during anaesthesia. Atelectasis impairs oxygenation during anaesthesia and probably increase the risk for postoperative pulmonary complications.~Postoperative complications are more common with advanced age and it is important to understand the mechanisms and risk factors involved.~In this study, the investigators hypothesise that the PaO2 as measured before the start of pre-oxygenation, with the patient breathing air, is a better predictor than age for estimating the time necessary for achieving the goal of pre-oxygenation. If this assumption is correct it might have implication for how pre-oxygenation should be adjusted with advancing age.
Earlier studies has shown a correlation between older age and longer time for the rise in the end-tidal O2 concentration during pre-oxygenation. In this study the investigators aim to analyse this correlation more closely and investigate if the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) as measured before the start of pre-oxygenation, with the patient breathing air, is a better predictor than age for estimating the time necessary for achieving the goal of pre-oxygenation.