title: Role of spirometric and arterial gas data in predicting pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative spirometric and arterial gas data on severe pulmonary complications (PC) after elective abdominal surgery. We retrospectively studied 480 patients, 254 males and 226 females, mean (SD) age 63 (11) years, at risk for PC according to standardized criteria, who underwent laparotomy for resection of gallbladder for gallstones (44% of patients), resection of colon, rectum or stomach for malignant tumours (37%), and other abdominal surgery (19%). The overall incidence of postoperative PC was 18%. In a logistic regression analysis adjusted for smoking habit and clinical history of chronic bronchitis, FEV1<61% of predicted [odds ratio (OR)=16.86, 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=5.62-50.58] and PaO2<9.33 kPa (OR=6.42, 95%CI=2.48-16.61) were the main determinants of PC. Ischaemic heart disease (OR=3.44, 95%CI=1.08-10.93), operation for malignant tumours (OR=3.24, 95%CI=1.75-6.00) and age (OR=1.04, 95%CI=1.00-1.08) were also independent predictors of PC. Patients with moderate-to-severe airway obstruction combined with hypoxaemia had a significant higher risk of PC in comparison with patients with a normal respiratory pattern. Taking into account age, type of operation, and comorbidity, a preoperative respiratory functional assessment could be useful in identifying an increased risk of major PC in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Physiology Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. leofuso@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cisternino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Napoli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Cosmo
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tramaglino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pistelli
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013147:Spirometry