[Effects of laparotomy on respiratory function in patients without and with pre-existing respiratory compromise]

The direct effect of the upper laparotomy on the ventilation were examined in 23 patients without and in 22 patients with preexisting disorders of breathing. During the first 3 postoperative days the parameters FVC and FEV1 were decreased for 50-20% in an inverse relation to the preexisting degree of respiratory dysfunction and the arterial PO2 decreased about 2 kPa (15 mm Hg). Clear hypoxaemia (without hypercapnia) were only found in the group with a high degree of preexisting respiratory dysfunction (FEV1 less than 1.4 l). Especially pretreatment and aftercare are recommended for this patients in the case of laparotomy.