The Prediction of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in the Elderly Patients

Suh, Kyong Duk; Jeong, Yu Seong; Kam, Bok Kyoo; Lee, Jong Myeong; Huh, Dong; Kim, Jin Do; Lee, Ju Hong; Koo, Dae Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND: we have evaluated the association of age, smoking, type of anesthesia, type of operation, duration of surgery, previous history of chronic pulmonary diseases with postoperative pulmonary complications and identified which parameter of preoperative spirometry was a predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications. METHOD: In 270 patients older than 60 years, the postoperative pulmonary complications were evaluated according to age, smoking, type of anesthesia, type of operation, duration of surgery, previous history of chronic pulmonary diseases and the parameters of preoperative spirometry were analyzed.
RESULTS
The postoperative pulmonary complications rates were significant higher among patients older than 70 years, and among those with previous chronic pulmonary diseases or their smoking history. The pulmonary complications were increased among patients with general anesthesia or duration of surgery more than 2 hours. The pulmonary complications rates did not differ according to sex, type of operation. The patients with hypercarbia(PaCO2> 45mmHg) have more increased postoperative complications. The preoperative FEVl less than 1 liter, FVC, MMEFR & MVV less than 50% of predicted respectively were predictive of complications.
CONCLUSION
Age 70, history of smoking,duration of operation more than 2 hours, general anesthesia, previous chronic pulmonary disease and hypercarbia (> or=45mmHg) on preoperative arterial blood gas analysis were predictivd of pulmonary complications. Among the parameters of spirometry, FEV1, FVC, MMEFR and MVV were indicator of predicting postoperative pulmonary complications.