RESPIRATORY CARE TO PREVENT COMPLICATIONS AFTER THORCOTOMY Essay

RESPIRATORY CARE TO PREVENT COMPLICATIONS AFTER THORCOTOMY - Essay ExampleUp to 65% of patients may fix an atelectasis, and 3% may develop pneumonia (Pasquina et al 2003). They are the result of progressive changes in the respiratory status of the patient and play a significant government agency in postoperative morbidity and mortality (king of beasts et al 2006). They also prolong hospital stay and increase healthcare costs (Pasquina et al 2003). Thoracotomy is performed for various surgeries give care resection of pulmonary and esophageal tumors, operations on the lung like pneumonectomy, lobectomy, segmental resection, wedge resection and lung-volume reduction surgery, operations on the pleura like pleurectomy and decortication, operations on the esophagus and on the heart (Porter 2003). The pulmonary complications are usually delayed, occurring 4872 hours after thoracotomy (Leo et al 2006). The commonly seen complications are adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, ate lectasis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema, asthma and respiratory failure (Leo et al 2006).Since pulmonary complications increase the morbidity and mortality of patients following surgery, many studies have been done to look into means of preventing these complications. Leo et al (2006) evaluated the benefits of identifying these complications early in the course of post-operative care after thoracotomy, so that appropriate interventions can be delivered to prevent and manage these complications. They used a complex score called FLAM score to identify postoperative patients at higher risk for pulmonary complications at least 24 hours before the clinical diagnosing. The FLAM score was found on 7 parameters, namely, dyspnea, chest X-ray, delivered oxygen, auscultation, cough, quality and quantity of bronchial secretions. The researchers concluded that changes in FLAM score could be detected atleast 24 hours before the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary complications, giving as oppo rtunity for the clinicians to take action much before overt symptoms. Algar et al