Attempts to reduce respiratory complications following upper abdominal operations

Abstract

Respiratory complications were assessed in 85 patients following upper abdominal surgery and attempts made to decrease their frequency. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of cough, sputum and abnormal physical signs in the chest in those patients receiving warm, humidified air. On the first and third days after surgery the arterial oxygen tension of this group was greater than that of the control group while from days 1 to 5 Pao, never decreased below 95% of its value before operation. © 1981 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.