title: Evaluation of lung volumes, vital capacity and respiratory muscle strength after cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown that physiopathological changes to the respiratory system can occur following thoracic and abdominal surgery. Laminectomy is considered to be a peripheral surgical procedure, but it is possible that thoracic spinal surgery exerts a greater influence on lung function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulmonary volumes and maximum respiratory pressures of patients undergoing cervical, thoracic or lumbar spinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study in a tertiary-level university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients undergoing laminectomy due to diagnoses of tumors or herniated discs were evaluated. Vital capacity, tidal volume, minute ventilation and maximum respiratory pressures were evaluated preoperatively and on the first and second postoperative days. Possible associations between the respiratory variables and the duration of the operation, surgical diagnosis and smoking status were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vital capacity and maximum inspiratory pressure presented reductions on the first postoperative day (20.9% and 91.6%, respectively) for thoracic surgery (P = 0.01), and maximum expiratory pressure showed reductions on the first postoperative day in cervical surgery patients (15.3%; P = 0.004). The incidence of pulmonary complications was 3.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were reductions in vital capacity and maximum respiratory pressures during the postoperative period in patients undergoing laminectomy. Surgery in the thoracic region was associated with greater reductions in vital capacity and maximum inspiratory pressure, compared with cervical and lumbar surgery. Thus, surgical manipulation of the thoracic region appears to have more influence on pulmonary function and respiratory muscle action.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Aparecido
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena Carlos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vidotto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oliver Augusto
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ilka Lopes
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evandro Fornias
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Sperandio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jardim
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gazzotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity