Objective
Evaluate the applicability of mean percentage from the predicted value of respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure-MIP; maximal expiratory pressure-MEP), as (% MIP + % MEP)/2, as well as the peak expiratory flow (% PEF) preoperatively, as part of a surgical risk scale for predicting the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC).
Methods
Data on patients undergoing elective surgery of chest, abdomen and limbs were assessed preoperatively using the items and the scoring system proposed by the Torrington and Henderson, and replacing spirometry by the mean values of both (% MIP + % MEP)/2 and % PEF.
Results
The proposed scale applied to 108 patients with a mean age of 55.2 ± 14.0 presented PPC rate of 37.0% (p = 0.0001), of which 20.0% were classified as high risk (HR), and 62.5% moderate risk (MR). The mean value of respiratory muscle strength showed a statistically significant correlation with PPC (p = 0.000).
Conclusion
The proposed scale allowed the appropriate stratification of patients at risk for development of PPC. The use of the mean values of (% MIP + % MEP)/2 and % PEF based on the predicted values can be easily applied, making spirometry unnecessary.
Postoperative complications; Respiratory muscle; Laparotomy; Thoracotomy