Journal of vascular surgery
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Comparative Study
Pulmonary risk factors of elective abdominal aortic surgery.
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic surgery via a midline incision. ⋯ The presence of these pulmonary risk factors, notably increased age and weight, decreased forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow rate (25 to 75), and expected prolonged operative time, influences our decision not to proceed with surgery for small aortic aneurysms or for AIOD causing claudication. Patients at high pulmonary risk with AIOD who require revascularization for limb salvage would be more likely to undergo extraanatomic bypass. Pulmonary risk factors may play as important a role as cardiac factors in elective aortic surgery.