Spectrum of postoperative complications in pulmonary hypertension and obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to identify chronic pulmonary conditions which may often not be recognized preoperatively especially before elective noncardiac surgery and which carry the highest risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: This review discusses some of the most recent studies that highlight the perioperative complications, and their prevention and management strategies. SUMMARY: Pulmonary hypertension is a well recognized risk factor for postoperative complications after cardiac surgery but the literature surrounding noncardiac surgery is sparse. Pulmonary hypertension was only recently classified as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Practice Guideline for noncardiac surgery. Spinal anesthesia should be avoided in most surgeries on patients with pulmonary hypertension because of it's rapid sympatholytic effects. The presence of significant right ventricle dysfunction and marked hypoxemia should prompt re-evaluation of the need for elective surgery. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is even harder to recognize preoperatively as arterial blood gases are generally not obtained prior to elective noncardiac surgery. Amongst patients with obstructive sleep apnea this group of patients carries much higher risk of postoperative respiratory and congestive heart failure.

Unrecognized Pulmonary Hypertension in Non-Cardiac Surgical Patients: At-Risk Populations, Preoperative Evaluation, Intraoperative Management and Postoperative Complications.

Pulmonary hypertension is a well-established independent risk factor for perioperative complications after elective non-cardiac surgery. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are routinely evaluated for the presence of pulmonary hypertension in the preoperative period. Better monitoring in the postoperative critical care setting leads to more efficient management of potential complications. Data among patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery are scant. Moreover, the condition may be unidentified at the time of surgery. Also, monitoring after non-cardiac surgery can be very limited in the PACU setting, as opposed to the critical care setting. All these factors can result in a higher postoperative complication rate and poor outcomes.