Evaluation of the Risk of Hyperoxia-induced Hypercapnia in Obese Cardiac Surgery Patients

This study aims to evaluate the risk of hyperoxia-induced hypercapnia in post-op obese cardiac surgery patients. It will compare two oxygenation modes in terms of their effect on the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) : manual titration of oxygen delivery for a peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) target of \> or = 95 % versus automatic titration by a closed-loop system for a SpO2 target of 90%. 15 post-op obese cardiac surgery patients will be recruited and each will receive both interventions (cross-over design). The main outcome will be the PaCO2, which will be compared after each study period. The research hypothesis is that the usual SpO2 target of \> or = 95 % is associated with a greater PaCO2 compared with a lesser SpO2 target of 90%.