title: The clinical significance of postoperative chest X-ray abnormalities, arterial hypoxemia and clinically recorded respiratory complications.
abstract: The clinical consequences of postoperative complications as defined by signs and symptoms, chest radiography and measurements of the arterial oxygen tension were studied in 53 men, aged 40-75, who were electively operated for peptic ulcer or gallbladder disease. Clinical signs of a respiratory complication were detected in 4 patients. Of the 28 patients with chest X-ray abnormalities and 23 with arterial hypoxemia only 2 had clinical signs of a disordered pulmonary function. None of the remaining patients with arterial hypoxemia and/or chest X-ray abnormalities required any specific treatment. Hospital stay was not prolonged in patients with respiratory complications. Arterial hypoxemia and chest X-ray abnormalities in patients without clinical signs of a disordered pulmonary function had no influence on postoperative course or rehabilitation and were in all cases reversible without treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology