title: Preoperative spirometry before abdominal operations. A critical appraisal of its predictive value.
abstract: Preoperative spirometry is commonly ordered before abdominal surgery, with the goal of predicting and preventing postoperative pulmonary complications. We assessed the evidence for this practice with a systematic literature search and critical appraisal of published studies. The search identified 135 clinical articles, of which 22 (16%) were actual investigations of the use and predictive value of preoperative spirometry. All 22 studies had important methodological flaws that preclude valid conclusions about the value of screening preoperative spirometry. The available evidence indicates that spirometry's predictive value is unproved. Unanswered questions involve (1) the yield of spirometry, in addition to history and physical examination, in patients with clinically apparent lung disease; (2) spirometry's yield in detecting surgically important occult disease; and (3) its utility, or beneficial effect on patient outcome. Spirometry's full potential for risk assessment in the individual patient has not yet been realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7879.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013147:Spirometry