Lung complications after elective hip surgery.

A total of 350 patients undergoing elective hip surgery were retrospectively studied as regards pulmonary complications. The study is based on the findings of pre- and postoperative chest X-rays and of pulmonary perfusion scintigrams. Twenty-seven per cent of the patients had pulmonary complications of some kind. Twelve per cent had a change in the postoperative as compared to the preoperative X-ray, though most of the changes were minute. In 15.4 per cent there were scintigraphic signs of pulmonary embolism and of these 30 per cent of the patients had symptoms of pulmonary infectious disease. Two patients died from pulmonary embolism. The study shows a low frequency of serious pulmonary complications after elective hip surgery.