Preoperative evaluation of pulmonary function.

Respiratory problems are a major cause of postoperative complications. Detection of the patient with subtle chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is essential to lessen the risk of respiratory complications in the postoperative period. In the patient with known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is important to determine not only whether a lung lesion such as a neoplasm can be completely resected, but also whether the patient's cardiorespiratory reserve is adequate to allow the proposed lung resection. Detection of the patient at increased risk as well as evaluation of the ability to withstand surgery is discussed.