title: Postoperative complications after abdominal surgery in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a well-known independent risk factor for the development of postoperative pulmonary and cardiac complications after thoracic or nonthoracic surgery. We aimed to determine the risk factors and complications of abdominal surgery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease out of 89 patients who underwent abdominal surgery at Zonguldak Karaelmas University Medical School Hospital enrolled in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary and cardiac complication ratios were found high in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Postoperative pulmonary and cardiac complications were documented in 21.8% and 28.1% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients respectively. There were no differences in terms of complications, according to the severity of the disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. While smoking and age did not effect the postoperative complications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, bronchodilator use increased postoperative cardiac risks. We found that laparoscopic surgery reduced the risk for postoperative pulmonary complications compared with open surgical procedures. No differences were found in terms of complication regarding to the type of incision and the duration of surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had high ratio of the pulmonary and cardiac complications. The complication rate was higher for surgical sites closer to the diaphragm such as the upper abdomen. Laparoscopy will reduce the risk for postoperative pulmonary complications compared with open surgical procedures. Based on our preliminary data and considering the lack of controlled trials, bronchodilators should be used with great caution particularly in the individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Zonguldak Karaelmas University, School of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Zonguldak, Turkey. figendr@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: Fırat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cömert
authors.forename: Işıl
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Özkoçak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents