[Exercise test to predict postoperative complications in patients with impairment of pulmonary function]

We studied the prediction of postoperative complications in patients whose predicted postoperative FEV1.0% and/or %VC were below fifty. Preoperative exercise tests were performed in 88 cases mainly old patients of age or with impaired pulmonary function; 57 were lobectomies, 10 were bilobectomies and 21 were pneumonectomies. Predicted postoperative FEV1.0% and/or %VC were below fifty in 29 cases consisting of 12 lobectomies, one bilobectomy and 16 pneumonectomies. Among these 29 patients, thirteen suffered postoperative complications (A group) and sixteen did not (B group). All five cases of operative death (death within 30 days after operation) were included in the A group. The prediction of postoperative complications in cases of which pred. postope, FEV1.0% and %VC were fifty or over (C group) was also studied. The results were as follows; (1) The percentage of complications among A and B groups was higher than that among C group but no statistical difference could be found. (2) In the A group, the number of pred. postope. FEV1.0% and/or %VC had little correlation to complications. (3) Statistical differences between A and B group were found in submax VO2 (p < 0.05), VO2/VE at AT (p < 0.001) and VCO2/VE at submaximal exercise (p < 0.001). (4) Cardiac output ratio of maximal exercise to rest had marked correlation to complications (p < 0.001) in C group but had no correlation in the A and B groups. (5) The three items of A and B groups, submax VO2 < 500 ml/min/m2, VO2/VE at AT < 40 ml/l and submax VCO2/VE < 25 ml/l, showed high correlation to operative death (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)