[Change in cardiopulmonary function following surgery]

45 patients were subjected to pre- and postoperative radio-cardiographic examinations and 52 patients to respiratory function tests. Vital capacity, one-second capacity, maximum breathing capacity and peak flow decreased significantly, the oscillatory resistance increased significantly. During extra-abdominal interventions, the difference to the initial value appeared to be essentially lower. These findings are to be related to bronchial irritation and concurrent anaesthesia-induced bronchospasm as well to pain-dependent restriction of lung function due to elevation and relieving posture of the diaphragm. Not significant was the change in cardiac function which was determined by age and predigitalization of the test persons rather than by the site of the surgical intervention.