The effects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on pulmonary function

Abstract

Prevention of pulmonary complications following upper abdominal surgery, has been a major nursing focus. New laparoscopic techniques are supposed to decrease pulmonary complications . A prospective randomized study was done to describe the changes that occur in mechanical lung function in the patient after laparoscopic surgery. Measurements included the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and peak expiratory flow preoperatively, and at 24 hours and seven days postoperatively. Daily measures of forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow were done for seven days after surgery. Six females and nine males with a mean age of 62 (range 35-83) participated in the study. Statistically significant (p< 0.05 ) decreases were found in values at 24 hours which returned to baseline by the seventh postoperative day. Additional research is needed to identify which patients are at high risk for clinically significant reduction in lung function.