Evaluation of pulmonary function in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Historically, values of pulmonary function tests, when taken on the day after open upper abdominal surgery and cholecystectomy, show decreases of 45% to 60% compared with preoperative determinations. In a group of 54 consecutive patients in whom many pulmonary function parameters were studied, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), measured the morning after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, revealed a 22% decrease (3.31/2.59 L) and a 21% decrease (2.68/2.11 L), respectively, on average compared with preoperative values, demonstrating better pulmonary function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Furthermore, there was no difference between patients above or below 60 years of age and between smokers and nonsmokers. Improved pulmonary function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may account for the observed reduced rate of pulmonary complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.