Preoperative Spirometry in Patients With Known or Suspected Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Undergoing Major Surgery: The Prospective Observational PREDICT Study

Abstract

COPD is underdiagnosed in surgical patients. Patients with newly diagnosed COPD commonly presented with low GOLD severity grades and were not at higher risk for PPC. Neither a structured COPD-specific assessment nor preoperative PFTs added incremental diagnostic value to the standard clinical preassessment in patients with known or suspected COPD. Unnecessary postponement of surgery and undue health care costs can be avoided.