Postoperative pulmonary complications are still a major cause of postoperative mortality, especially in elderly patients. We performed pulmonary rehabilitation in 98 patients who had undergone surgery under general anesthesia. Lung function (%VC and FEV
1.0%) was measured with a spirometer preoperatively and weekly until 3 weeks after operation. We divided patients into 4 groups according to operation types; thoracotomy incision with lung lobectomy, thoracotomy incision without lung lobectomy, upper abdominal incision and lower abdominal incision. The changes in %VC relative to preoperative values were significantly reduced within 7 days after surgery in all groups. This tendency was most remarkable in the group of lung lobectomy. The second most remarkable response was in thoracotomy, the third was in upper abdominal incision, the fourth was in lower abdominal incision. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication were 13.8% in lobectomy, 4.0% in thoracotomy, 3.0% in upper abdomen, 0% in lower abdomen. This study demonstrates the decrease in vital capacity relates to the clinical pulmonary complication and suggestes the importance of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in acute phase after surgery.
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