Stair climbing, pre- and post-exercise arterial blood gases, and pulmonary function for pre-operative evaluation
Saenghirunvattana, S.; Vangkanon, A.; Boonkasem, S.; Charoenpan, P.; Vongsvivat, K.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 75(2): 89-93
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 1645054 Document Number: 4630
In order to determine the relationship between pulmonary function, performance on stair climbing, pre- and post-exercise arterial blood gases and post thoracotomy complications, we performed a prospective study on 19 patients. Sixteen of seventeen patients could accomplish a five flight stair climb. All of the seventeen patients survived and could be weaned off the respirator. Four developed postoperative complications. MMEFP (per cent mid maximum expiratory flow) showed statistically significant differences between patients with and without complications.