Pulmonary complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting at a hospital in Maceio, Brazil

Introduction: Despite technological advances aimed at reducing complications and hospital stay, pulmonary complications in the postoperative period of CABG surgery remain one of the most important causes of morbidity. These may be related to the patient's quality of life, the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, as well as a decline in postoperative respiratory muscle strength, contributing to the emergence of restrictive respiratory disorders. Objective: Assess pulmonary complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and identify their association with risk factors. Methods: A retrospective study with non-probability convenience sampling of 168 patients at the Hospital do Coração of Alagoas, undergoing CABG between January 2009 and October 2013. Results: The 168 patients undergoing CABG had a mean age of 60.08 ± 10.03 years, 24.4% women and 75.6% men. Among the cardiovascular risk factors were: Hypertension (89.9%); Heredity for cardiovascular disease (54.8%); Diabetes Mellitus (45.2%); Dyslipidemia (41.1%); Smoking (32.1%); and Stroke (1.2%). Pulmonary complications after surgery include pleural effusion (17.9%); atelectasis (5.4%); pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, and acute respiratory failure (1.2%); and bronchopneumonia (0.6%). Female patients and those aged 70 years or older experienced more pulmonary complications after surgery. Conclusion: Women and patients older than 70 years had the most severe postoperative pulmonary complications, the most common being pleural effusion and atelectasis.