Preoperative evaluation of patients at risk for postoperative pulmonary complications

Abstract

T HE REPORTED incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) varies from 5% to 75% of surgical cases, depending on both the definition of PPC used and the patients' risk factors for PPC. The anesthesiologist as a perioperative medicine specialist should be able to evaluate patients, determine risk for PPC, and plan treatments to prevent these complications. The primary source of information for this preoperative evaluation should be the history and physical examination; tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis or plan for perioperative management only in a select (and fairly small) subgroup of patients.