title: Stair climbing, pre- and post-exercise arterial blood gases, and pulmonary function for pre-operative evaluation.
abstract: In order to determine the relationship between pulmonary function, performance on stair climbing, pre- and post-exercise arterial blood gases and post thoracotomy complications, we performed a prospective study on 19 patients. Sixteen of seventeen patients could accomplish a five flight stair climb. All of the seventeen patients survived and could be weaned off the respirator. Four developed postoperative complications. MMEFP (per cent mid maximum expiratory flow) showed statistically significant differences between patients with and without complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saenghirunvattana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vangkanon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boonkasem
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charoenpan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vongsvivat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013908:Thoracotomy