Pulmonary Function Testing in Geriatric Surgical Patients

¹ Pulmonary Laboratory, Beth Israel Hospital

1. Fifty-two patients older than 65 years were studied prior to elective general surgery in an effort to predict postoperative pulmonary complications.

2. Simple pulmonary function testing proved superior to clinical and roentgen evaluation in differentiating 23 patients who developed postoperative pneumonia, atelectasis, or both from the remaining 29 patients who had an uneventful course.

3. More prolonged, complicated operative procedures employing endotracheal anesthesia were performed in the group with postoperative pulmonary complications than in the others.

4. Chest x-ray films should be obtained routinely in the immediate postoperative period in elderly patients since some pulmonary complications are not readily detected clinically.

5. It is recommended that pulmonary function be restored to an optimal level in elderly patients by appropriate therapy prior to elective surgery. Further, patients with abnormal lung function should have intensive postoperative care in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.