[Preoperative evaluation of patients with disturbed respiratory functions (II)]

We analyzed correlation between postoperative pulmonary complications and pre-operative pulmonary functions. In patients with severely disturbed respiratory functions; i.e. % VC of under 30% or % FEV1 of under 30%, for the past 6 years. Pulmonary complications developed in 6 of the 18 patients studied (33.3%). Of the 9 patients with preoperative PaO2 of under 70 mmHg, pulmonary complications developed in 6 patients (66.7%). Of the 7 patients with preoperative PaCO2 over 50 mmHg, pulmonary complications developed in 5 patients (71.4%). We found that postoperative pulmonary complications correlate well with preoperative PaO2 and PaCO2, in patients with severely disturbed respiratory functions.