Incidence and Risk Factors of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Noncardiac Chinese Patients: A Multicenter Observational Study in University Hospitals
Table 7
Interventions to reduce the risk of PPCs.
Preoperative interventions
A careful history taking and physical examination
Encourage cessation of smoking for at least 2 months
Appropriate use of antibiotics and delay surgery if respiratory infection is present
Recommend a regular exercise program (e.g., walking, upper limb exercises, swimming, pool exercises, etc.)
Treat patients with established asthma with inhaled corticosteroids
Treat patients with established COPD with regular bronchodilators
Intraoperative interventions
Substitute less ambitious procedure for upper abdominal or thoracic surgery when possible
Minimize blood loss
Limit duration of surgery to less than 3 hr
Whenever possible, use spinal or epidural anesthesia
Postoperative interventions
Recommend regular lung expansion modalities such as deep breathing exercises
Perform selective decompression of abdominal contents using nasogastric tube if patient is experiencing symptomatic gastric distension
As soon as possible after surgery, have the patient sit up in a chair
