title: Postoperative pneumonia in the intensive care unit.
abstract: Postoperative pneumonia in the surgical patient may occur from atelectasis and inadequate postoperative TV, from ventilator-associated pathophysiology and from aspiration. Each process ultimately elicits the proinflammatory responses from the lung in the effort to eradicate the infectious pathogens. Postoperative pneumonia is best prevented by maintaining a clear understanding of the biologic basis for infection in the lung. Therapy requires aggressive tracheobronchial drainage strategies and antibiotic therapy directed toward the pathogens that are producing the pulmonary inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fry
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology