Post-Operative Flow-Volume Loops

Abstract

A study of flow-volume curves pre-and post-operatively demonstrated a marked difference between bronchitic and non-bronchitic patients. All bronchitic patients showed lower flow rates at low lung volumes post-operatively, when compared with their pre-operative values. Non-bronchitic patients all had higher flow rates for the same comparison. Although some information is available about changes in airway resistance during operation (Sykes 1970) few, if any, measurements appear to have been made on patients convalescing from routine major upper abdominal surgery. In the present study, the maximum expiratory flow-volume method was used to study changes in flow at low lung volumes post-operatively during a maximum forced exhalation. FIGURE I.-Apparatus for maximum expiratory flow-volume measurement METHOD Ten patients undergoing non-urgent major upper abdominal surgery were examined before operation and on the first post-operative day. Five of these patients were known sufferers of * Specialist, Critical Care Medicine.

Clinical Review Post-Operative Respiratory Dysfunction

“…Although some information is available about changes in airway resistance during operation (Sykes 1970), few measurements have been made on patients convalescing from routine major upper abdominal surgery. Using the flow-volume technique (Hyatt and Black 1973), an increased resistance on the first postoperative day was demonstrated in patients with preexisting airway obstruction but there was little change in those with normal lungs (Morton 1975, Morton et al 1977a, Morton 1977.…”

“…Alexander et al (1973) have reported that closing volume did not change greatly after operation in a group of patients without cardiac or respiratory disease. It can, however, be shown by flow-volume measurement (Hyatt and Black 1973) that there appears to be an increase in airway resistance in patients with chronic obstructive disease and these patients would presumably show an increased closing volume (Mort on 1975, Morton, Hansen and Baker, 1977a, Morton 1977.…”

Avaliação da função respiratória em indivíduos submetidos à abdominoplastia

“…Diversos estudos têm avaliado as alterações da função respiratória no pós-operatório em geral [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] e, mais especificamente, nos casos de cirurgias abdominais altas, isto é acima da cicatriz umbilical [21][22][23][24][25][26] as quais, de alguma forma, poderiam ocorrer também em abdominoplastias.…”

“…Entre os fatores decorrentes do ato cirúrgico que, por si só, nas cirurgias abdominais, podem alterar a função respiratória destacam-se: a administração de drogas anestésicas e a própria anestesia, 8,15,27 a manipulação das vísceras, 12,24,27 a incisão da parede abdominal, 8,9 a imobilização no leito e os relaxantes musculares, 22,23 a distensão e a dor abdominal 11,21 .…”