Pulmonary complications in patients who underwent abdominal aortic surgery

Grzegorz Oszkinis; Tomasz Synowiec; Fryderyk Pukacki; Jacek Kamiński; Krzysztof Waliszewski; Maciej Micker; Halina Batura-Gabryel; Barbara Kamińska

Vol 5, No 3 (2003)

Published online: 2003-10-07

View PDF (Polish)

Download PDF file

Get Citation

Pulmonary complications in patients who underwent abdominal aortic surgery

Grzegorz Oszkinis, Tomasz Synowiec, Fryderyk Pukacki, Jacek Kamiński, Krzysztof Waliszewski, Maciej Micker, Halina Batura-Gabryel, Barbara Kamińska

Chirurgia Polska 2003;5(3):165-171.

Vol 5, No 3 (2003)

Published online: 2003-10-07

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was the prospective evaluation of the occurrence of pulmonary risk factors and functional changes of lungs in patients who had undergone abdominal aortic surgery.
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.