Preoperative Assessment of Pulmonary Function Tests and Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Background: To investigate the association between preoperative pulmonary function evaluations and surgical outcomes of patients with chronic lung disease following cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated 148 patients using preoperative pulmonary function tests before undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients were divided into 4 groups (normal, obstructive, restrictive, and combined disorder), based on the result of the pulmonary function tests. Additionally, we evaluated the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Finally, we investigated the mechanical ventilation duration, length of postoperative hospital stay, and the 30-day mortality rate between the groups in each study. Results: The mechanical ventilation duration and length of postoperative hospital stay in the combined group was significantly longer than that in the other groups (P < .0001, P < .0001, respectively). Patients in the restrictive group had a significantly longer postoperative ventilation or hospitalization than those in the normal group (P = .0479, P = .0164, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in the 30-day mortality rates between the groups. There also was a significant negative correlation between the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second and mechanical ventilation (R2 = 0.052, P = .0054) and postoperative hospitalization (R2 = 0.042, P = .0122). Conclusion: Risk stratification by preoperative pulmonary function tests may be used to accurately identify the postoperative outcomes in chronic lung disease patients following cardiac surgery.