[Loss of cardiopulmonary function in lung-resection surgery and post-operative complications]

The items, mentioned as postoperative complications in lung-resection surgery in the newest reports, are much the same to those in patients undergone general surgery. Dealing with perioperative complications in lung-resection surgery, it must be taken into account that lung resection always results in, more or less, loss of cardiopulmonary function and that most perioperative complications are caused by accidental circumstances. Perioperative risk must be assessed based upon the predicted postoperative cardio-pulmonary function, but not the frequency of perioperative complications. The role of unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test and exercise test in lung-resection surgery, and their pathophysiological implications are discussed.