Assessment and Rehabilitation of the Compromised Patient Prior to Thoracotomy

Patients for whom pulmonary resection is anticipated often have compromised pulmonary function and decreased exercise tolerance. To avoid major morbidity and reduce mortality, identification of the high-risk patient becomes extremely important. The means of identification include rather simple testing modalities as well as those that are more complex, which report specific physiologic data. This article develops a schematic for a logical progression through the assessment of prethoracotomy patients in order that those facing a significant surgical risk might undergo pulmonary rehabilitation to improve exercise performance followed by reassessment prior to surgery.