text: what evidence suggsts that oxygen delivery to tissues has been compromised after total hip replacement?   to answer your question i really need to know more specifically what you are asking.   do you mean compromise acutely during the operation or chronically in the post-op setting? do you mean compromise to all the tissues of the body or only those tissues at or distal to the operative site.  in general signs of inadequate oxygen (hypoxia) under anesthesia depend on the severity of the hypoxia. lactic acidosis would be evident via blood gas analysis. as the hypoxia progressed changes in the ekg would begin to manifest ultimately leading to cardiac arrest. signs of severe hypoxia that had occured in the operative setting include possible changes (temporary or permanent) to every organ system including:  neuro:loss of mental capacity, seizures,blindness pulmonary: post hypoxic syndrome  gi: bowel ischemia  gu: renal failure, atn hepatic: failure, elevated transaminases cardiac: ekg changes, muscle necrosis  ongoing compromise of oxygen delivery in the post-op setting (in the absense of pulmonary disease) is of course a function of blood flow. the signs and symptoms of inadequate blood flow also depend on the severity of the same. if mild- delayed healing might manifest. if severe- changes in color, temperature, cap refill, and pulse volume would manifest as well as possible numbness or tingling distal to the site.   the problem is that most hip replacements occur in the senior population. the same population that may already have some level of cardiopulmonary impairment to begin with. most noteably if they have copd, or they smoke, or they are overweight, or have poor diets or genes that have left them with partially clogged blood vessels.