J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  1994 Feb;1(1):69-76.

The Effectiveness of VAS for Evaluation of Pulmonary Condition in Postoperative Patients

• Lee YR
• KIm MJ

Abstract

This study was designed and undertaken to find out the effectiveness of VAS for evaluation of general anesthetic postoperative pulmonary function. We compared the degree of perceived pulmonary function recovery with peak expiratory flow at postoperative 72 hours of subjects. The subjects of this study were collected 38 patients who had received upper abdominal operation in St, Paul Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, and Kangnam Scared Heart Hospital and Kangdong Scared Heart Hospital, Hallym University. Data collection period was from June 15th, to August 7th, 1992. The degree of pulmonary recovery function was measured with peak expiratory at 72 hours postoperatively. The degree of perceived pulmonary function of the patient was measured with ten points visual analog scale at 72 hours postoperatively. Peak expiratory flow and visual analog score was analyzed with Pearson correlation. Peak expiratory flow was expressed as a ratio of preoperative value. The result was as follows : The recovery of pulmonary function and the degree of perceived pulmonary function of the patient at 72 hours postoperatively was revealed high correlation(r=.84). The above result suggested that patients with general anesthetic upper abdominal surgery should evaluate recovery of pulmonary function making use of VAS. We know that VAS is very useful in postoperative patients. We perceived that VAS is to take up a positive attitude of patients. Nurse should furnish the nursing care objectively and scientifically to patients. As VAS was economic and simple, VAS should be advised for wider application.

MeSH Terms

Data Collection
Heart
Humans
Nursing Care
Recovery of Function
Visual Analog Scale