Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pulmonary complications of patients undergoing operations in 10 different surgery clinics between November 2002 and June 2003. A total of 158 patients, 66 (41.8%) females and 92 males (58.2%), whose mean age was 53±18 (20-102) were included in the study. The study was mainly based on the postoperative consultations requested by these clinics. The most common causes of consultation requests were dyspnea (31% [49/158]) and abnormal radiological findings (17.7% [28/158]). Hypoxemia was detected in 36.1% (57) of the patients. Chest X rays of 38% (60) of patients were found as normal. Pleural effusion was the most common radiological abnormality (17.1% [27/158]). Thoracic computed tomography was performed in 28 (17.7%) patients, ventilation perfusion lung scan was performed in 16 (10.1%) patients. Respiratory system examination was normal in 13.3% (21) of patients while postoperative pulmonary complications were detected in 64.6% (102) of patients. The most common respiratory complications observed postoperatively were diaphragmatic dysfunction 20.6% (21/102), worsening of obstructive lung disease (bronchospasm) 18.6% (19), atelectasis 17.6% (18) and pneumonia 14.7% (15) respectively. Upper abdominal and thoracic surgeries had significantly higher rates of prolonged mechanical ventilation and pleural effusion complications than other surgeries (p<0.05).