Postoperative pulmonary ventilation after cholecystectomy with and without peritoneal drain.
Postoperative lung function, chest X-ray and diaphragmatic movements were measured in 38 patients operated on with elective cholecystectomy with and without drain. 21 patients were drained and 17 were not drained. The results showed that there was a marked decrease of vital capacity (VC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and diaphragmatic movements postoperatively in all patients. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with and without intraperitoneal drain. Postoperative chest X-ray changes were found in seven patients with drain and in two patients without drain. Patients with postoperative chest X-ray changes showed a much slower recovery of the measured variables. The difference in VC and PEF between patients with and without postoperative pulmonary complications was statistically significant from the third day postoperatively. It is postulated that pre- and postoperative monitoring of simple lung function tests can be helpful in early detection of postoperative pulmonary complications.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial