ABSTRACT

Preoperative evaluation for pulmonary surgery has as an objective avoiding postoperative morbility. It should include medical history and exploration and a spirometry with predicted postoperative Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (VEF₁). Ideally a diffusing capacity is determined as well, both should be more than 60% to consider a patient as surgical low risk. In any other case, a ventilation-perfusion scan should support the evaluation, in addition to exercise tests and oxygen consumption determination. There are several proposed algorithms for the valoration of these patients, some of them will be analyzed in this text.

KEYWORDS

Spirometry, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), diffusing capacity (DLCO), V/Q scan, oxygen consumption.

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