Preoperative assessment for thoracic surgery

Preoperative assessment of thoracic surgical patients is a multidisciplinary process designed to offer appropriate surgical treatment with acceptable risk.UK guidelines for pulmonary resection associated with malignant disease have reviewed available evidence concerning operative risk. Patients displaying cardiopulmonary physiological parameters above previously recommended threshold values remain classified as good risk. Less certainty exists about the utility of predicted postoperative pulmonary function values and preoperative performance status to confer unacceptable risk. Guidelines suggest a tri-partite risk assessment combining risks of operative mortality, perioperative adverse cardiac events and post-operative dyspnoea – to be discussed by the multidisciplinary team and with the patient.