title: Nurse-led preoperative screening and targeted optimization of pulmonary dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
abstract: Postoperative pulmonary dysfunction prolonging intensive care treatment after cardiac surgery most commonly occurs in patients with a background of pre-existing pulmonary dysfunction. However, many patients have occult dysfunction and present primarily after surgery. We describe and discuss the results of a respiratory optimization program utilizing a peak expiratory flow rate below 400 L/min as a screening test to identify patients in a nurse-directed preoperative clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sivakumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivalingam
authors.forename: Sridhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rathinam
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajis
authors.forename: Christopher M R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Satur
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome