Surgical treatment and the patient with cystic fibrosis.

It has long been recognized that the patient with chronic lung disease, malnutrition, vitamin K deficiency or electrolyte and blood gas disturbances presents a special problem for the surgeon. Patients with cystic fibrosis have all of these abnormalities. Until recently, the patient with cystic fibrosis was exclusively the domain of the pediatrician. Today, with the increasing number of patients over the age of 20 years, internists and surgeons have an increasingly important role in the care of these patients. In addition, since women with cystic fibrosis are capable of bearing children, the need for genetic, obstetric and gynecologic counseling is becoming more apparent. Although the patient with cystic fibrosis is generally at a much greater risk for the complications of surgical treatment than the normal patient, experience in the management of these patients has greatly improved the outlook. However, in most instances, surgical management of the patient with cystic fibrosis represents palliation, since these patients usually die of the medical complications of their disease. Further controlled studies are needed to fully evaluate the role of surgical treatment in the sequelas of cystic fibrosis.