title: Postoperative care of the thoracotomy patient.
abstract: Pulmonary complications represent the leading cause of postoperative morbidity. Thoracic surgical procedures carry the highest risk of such complications. Prevention of pulmonary morbidity in thoracic surgical patients depends on an understanding of expected pulmonary pathophysiologic changes, preoperative assessment of patient risk, and specific interventions aimed at minimizing the incidence and severity of these complications. This article reviews these strategies and gives recommendations concerning the use of preoperative evaluation and postoperative lung expansion techniques.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Forshag
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*