Postoperative study of vital capacity and ventilation measurements following elective craniotomy

Abstract

Context and Objective: Changes in pulmonary function commonly occur after general surgery. The aims were to evaluate vital capacity tidal volume and respiratory frequency among patients undergoing elective crationotomy and determine possible correlations and etiology for neurosurgery. Design and Setting: Prospective, open study at a tertiary university hospital. Methods: Twenty-six patients underwent elective croniotomy for aneurysm clipping (11) or tumor resection (15), Vital capacity (VC), tidal volume (IV), minute volume (VE) and respiratory rate were determined before the operation and on the first to fourt postoperative days. Results: There were significant decreases of 25% in VC, 22% in TV and 12% in VE (p <0.005 and no significant increase respiratory frequency (5%) on the first postoperative day VE returned to baseline on the second postoperative day and TV on the third postoperative day, while VC was 8% lower on the fourth postoperative day, compared with before the operation (p <0.05). VC reduction was significantly greater in patients udergoing aneurysm clipping (43%) than in patients undergoing tumor resection (14%) when surgery duration was more than four hours (p <0.05, with no significant change when surgery duration was less than four hours. Conclusion: Reductions in VC, TV and VE were observed during the postoperative period in patients undegoind aneurysm clipping or tumor resection. The reductions in VC and, TV were greater in patients undergoing craniology due to aneurysm and with longer surgery duration. Copyright © 2008, Associação Paulista de Medicina.