Postoperative pulmonary complications after gynecologic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the frequency of, and risks for postoperative pulmonary complications after surgery for non-malignant gynecologic disorders.


METHODS
A retrospective component included medical record data for one year. A prospective component enrolled 300 patients consecutively who were scheduled for gynecologic surgeries.


RESULTS
Postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 1.22% of 328 open abdominal procedures in the retrospective study, and 2.16% of 232 in the prospective study. Pooling the data yielded a frequency estimate of 1.61%. Mean hospital length of stay (pooled data) increased 1.75 days in those with postoperative pulmonary complications. Smoking was the only significant risk factor (relative risk=3.9 using pooled data).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative pulmonary complications after surgery for non-malignant gynecologic disorders are infrequent but increase hospital length of stay. Smokers are at increased risk.
Pappachen
S
S
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Smith
P R
PR
Shah
S
S
Brito
V
V
Bader
F
F
Khoury
B
B
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects