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Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in the Geriatric Age Group *
Author(s) -
GRODSINSKY C.,
BRUSH B. E.,
PONKA J. L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb05409.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atelectasis , pneumonia , pneumothorax , surgery , chest radiograph , sputum , respiratory failure , hypoventilation , lung , respiratory system , radiography , tuberculosis , pathology
Postoperative pulmonary complications are a serious danger to any patient who undergoes surgery. The increase in geriatric surgery has brought into focus certain marginal factors that can spell the difference between success and failure. In a series of 300 elderly patients who underwent major surgery at the Henry Ford Hospital, there were 34 in whom clinical and radiologic evidence of atelectasis developed. In 19 others, x‐ray examination of the chest showed various infiltrates suggesting pneumonitis, and sputum cultures grew coliform bacteria. Despite appropriate treatment, 5 patients died from postoperative pulmonary complications. Illustrative cases of hypoventilation, atelectasis, pneumonia and pneumothorax are presented. Recommendations are made for the care of the elderly undergoing major surgery, including the preoperative identification of chronic lung disease, determination of the respiratory reserve, preoperative exercises in deep breathing and coughing for use after operation, adequate oxygenation during the surgical procedure, close supervision of postoperative respiratory ventilation for the first seventy‐two hours, selective use of mechanical respiratory assistance, and emphasis on early ambulation.