open access
Pulmonary complications in patients who underwent abdominal aortic surgery
open access
Abstract
Material and methods: The study was conducted in a total of 80 individuals who were diagnosed with both aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and arteriosclerosis. Risk factors such as cigarette smoking, coexisting pulmonary disorders, sex and age were evaluated during the pre-operative period. Spirometry was used to evaluate FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, TLC, FRC and RV before and after surgery.
Results: It was observed that 17 patients had suffered from pulmonary complications, after abdominal aortic surgery, which constitutes 21.3% of subjects in the examined population. It appeared that aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, age (especially patients over 70 years of age), and cigarette smoking (p < 0.05) predispose an individual to pulmonary complications. A spirometric examination of the studied population revealed that there was a decrease in FEV1 below 2.0 L/s, decrease in FEV1/FVC below 70% and increase in RV (p < 0.05). In this particular group of patients pulmonary complications were diagnosed in 15 individuals (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: A pre-operative examination of the pulmonary system, especially spirometric examination, is of the utmost importance in the evaluation of one’s health before reconstructive surgery of the abdominal aorta. Moreover, it appears that educating a patient about proper respiration, giving up smoking, physiotherapy and adequate pharmacotherapy may significantly decrease the risk of pulmonary complications.
Abstract
Material and methods: The study was conducted in a total of 80 individuals who were diagnosed with both aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and arteriosclerosis. Risk factors such as cigarette smoking, coexisting pulmonary disorders, sex and age were evaluated during the pre-operative period. Spirometry was used to evaluate FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, TLC, FRC and RV before and after surgery.
Results: It was observed that 17 patients had suffered from pulmonary complications, after abdominal aortic surgery, which constitutes 21.3% of subjects in the examined population. It appeared that aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, age (especially patients over 70 years of age), and cigarette smoking (p < 0.05) predispose an individual to pulmonary complications. A spirometric examination of the studied population revealed that there was a decrease in FEV1 below 2.0 L/s, decrease in FEV1/FVC below 70% and increase in RV (p < 0.05). In this particular group of patients pulmonary complications were diagnosed in 15 individuals (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: A pre-operative examination of the pulmonary system, especially spirometric examination, is of the utmost importance in the evaluation of one’s health before reconstructive surgery of the abdominal aorta. Moreover, it appears that educating a patient about proper respiration, giving up smoking, physiotherapy and adequate pharmacotherapy may significantly decrease the risk of pulmonary complications.
Keywords
spirometry; abdominal aorta; pulmonary dysfunction


Title
Pulmonary complications in patients who underwent abdominal aortic surgery
Journal
Chirurgia Polska (Polish Surgery)
Issue
Pages
165-171
Published online
2003-10-07
Bibliographic record
Chirurgia Polska 2003;5(3):165-171.
Keywords
spirometry
abdominal aorta
pulmonary dysfunction
Authors
Grzegorz Oszkinis
Tomasz Synowiec
Fryderyk Pukacki
Jacek Kamiński
Krzysztof Waliszewski
Maciej Micker
Halina Batura-Gabryel
Barbara Kamińska