Elsevier

Heart & Lung

Volume 24, Issue 2, March–April 1995, Pages 94-115
Heart & Lung

Postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia1

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-9563(05)80004-4Get rights and content

Postoperative pulmonary complications, specifically atelectasis and pneumonia, are the leading cause of postoperative morbidity and death. It is crucial that the clinician have a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, risk factors, and scientific basis for currently used respiratory interventions to tailor the patient's care in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. Given the changing healthcare environment and increasing economic constraints, all respiratory interventions must be reevaluated for use in patient care, keeping in mind the factors of scientific basis, patient needs, appropriate utilization, and quality patient outcomes.

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    1

    Supported by the National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Nursing Research; Post doctoral Fellowship NRSA F32 NR06776-03; Indiana State Department of Health, Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant 1992–95; and Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc., Research Grant 1992.

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