Postoperative Pulmonary Complications

Abstract

Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PPCs ) are an important part of the risk of surgery and prolong the hospital stay by an average of one to two weeks. Much of the literature on the assessment of perioperative risk has focused on identifying the cardiac risk factors. However, clinically significant postoperative pulmonary complications are as common as postoperative cardiac complications Hypoxemia refers to arterial hemoglobin desaturation or reduced arterial oxygen tension. Hypoxia is oxygen deficiency at the tissue level. Postoperative hypoxemia is caused by ventilation-perfusion abnormalities and hypoventilation- diffusion defect. The gold standard for the diagnosis of hypoxemia is direct PaO2 measurement. Pulse oximetery provides an early warning of hypoxemia. Patients at increased risk of hypoxia include those with significant cardio-pulmonary disease, morbid obesity, major trauma, thromboembolism, pulmonary aspiration and drug overdose. Management of hypoxia include identify and correct the primary cause supply supplemental oxygen to increase Fio2.