Postoperative pulmonary complications

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Although postoperative pulmonary complications are common, their management is still an inexact science. Impairment in pulmonary function after major surgery is inevitable, but often it is not clinically significant and resolves on its own. Thus, preventive and postoperative measures should target identifiable complications (eg, refractory atelectasis) that require action. Dr O'Donohue discusses useful measures, both the simple and inexpensive and the more complex.