The effect of overweight and patient position changes on perfusion index after anesthesia induction

Aim: The relative variability in the perfusion index (PI) observed after anesthesia induction, due to the effect of surgical positions, is influenced by multiple factors. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in PI in patients undergoing surgery in the supine, prone, and sitting positions, and to assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the relative change in PI (ΔPI). Material and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional observational study. A total of 82 patients were enrolled between June 2023 and December 2023, including individuals over 18 years of age. The study investigated the effects of different patient positions (supine, sitting, and prone) and BMI on the relative change in perfusion index. Results: Of the patients, 52.4% were male (n = 43). It was found that 43.9% of the patients had a BMI greater than 25 kg/m² (n = 36). The operations were performed in the prone position in 32.9% of cases (n = 27), supine position in 32.9% (n = 27), and sitting position in 34.1% (n = 28). No statistically significant difference was observed in the PI value at 0 minutes across all groups. The PI values at 10, 20, and 30 minutes were highest in Group 1 patients. It was found that the PI values were statistically higher in patients with a BMI