title: Respiratory insufficiency after abdominal surgery.
abstract: The objective of this study was to define the relationship between respiratory insufficiency (RI) and various putative risk factors for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. A review of 1332 adults undergoing abdominal surgery was undertaken. Information was collected in a unbiased, prospective and uniform manner with regard to baseline characteristics, perioperative events and adverse outcomes after surgery. Respiratory Insufficiency was defined as either: a PO2 < 60 mm Hg, the performance of a tracheotomy, or endotracheal intubation for more than 24 h. The incidence of RI was 3% (40/1332). A logistic regression analysis only identified an American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) classification > 2 (P < 0.001) and the presence of chronic bronchitis (P (P < 0.05) as significant risk factors. In addition, 33% (8/24) of the patients who developed postoperative intraperitoneal sepsis and 30% (14/47) of the patients who underwent a reoperation developed RI. It was concluded that patients with a significant systemic disease (ASA > 2), as well as patients with chronic bronchitis, should be the recipients of intense efforts to prevent pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tarala
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000150:complications; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors