INTRODUCTION: Operations, particularly those of the upper abdomen, can be accompanied by hypoxemia and restrictive ventilatory disturbances. The objectives of the present review were: a) to provide a retrospective of spirometric techniques and laboratory assessment of hypoxemia by means of arterial oxygen pressure; b) to review the main factors responsible for alterations in postoperative pulmonary function. METHODS: A historical overview is given of the main aspects of spirometry and PaO2, measurement, considering these exams as measures of pulmonary function after abdominal operations. CONCLUSION: Operations on the upper part of the abdomen may be followed by hypoxemia and restrictive ventilatory disturbances, whose principal cause is diaphragmatic dysfunction which can be minimized by means of laparoscopy and effective post-operative pain treatment.
Abdominal surgery; Post-operative; Pulmonary function
