Between patients with COPD, DIF and normal lungs who is most likely to develop postop pulmonary complications?
Patients with COPD are at much higher risk for postop complications. Most of the complications are related to compromise in airway function. We systematically violate every pulmonary defence during perioperative period.
- Intubation:
- Loss of Cough reflex
- Loss of mucociliary escalator function
- introduction of infection from suction catheters
- Narcotics
Suppressing coug reflex- Suppressing respiratory center
- Uncontrolled Oxygen
- Atropine
- Loss of mucociliary escalator system