Postoperative complications of thoracic surgery: Their recognition

Studies have shown that thoracic patients are more prone to complications of surgery, particularly those related to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, than are patients undergoing surgery at other sites. Tarhan has documented a 29% incidence of myocardial reinfarction in patients undergoing thoracic surgery compared to an incidence of 8% reinfarction in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery, and a 4% incidence in patients having surgery on other sites.1 The conclusions of this study are similar to those of other studies which have related an increase of pulmonary and other complications to thoracic surgery.2 Since many patients scheduled for thoracic surgery have a history of pulmonary disease such as bronchitis, emphysema, or cardiovascular disease, and since the age range of the patients undergoing thoracic surgery may be higher than that of patients having other types of surgery, it is probable that events other than the actual surgery may influence the incidence of complications. Many types of complications are noted following thoracic surgery. These include hypoventila-