Diagnosis and Treatment of Postoperative Dyspnea: Literature Review

Abstract

Postoperative dyspnea is one of the most common complaints in patients after undergoing surgery. Especially in those who underwent surgery in the thoracic area. The presence of postoperative dyspnea indicates clinical signs of postoperative pulmonary complications. There are several types of diseases that can cause shortness of breath in patients after surgery. Several postoperative lung diseases can cause complaints of dyspnea such as postoperative pleural effusion, atelectasis, pneumothorax, bronchospasm, aspiration pneumonitis, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary embolism. The pathophysiology of postoperative dyspnea can occur due to changes in homeostasis due to anesthesia and the surgical procedure itself. Clinical symptoms arise due to compensatory efforts of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The appearance of dyspnea is the result of an imbalance in the interaction of multiple signals and receptors in the central nervous system, peripheral chemoreceptor receptors, and mechanoreceptors in the upper airway, lungs, and chest wall. In diagnosing the cause of dyspnea, the clinician must ascertain what is the source of the cause of the dyspnea. The management of postoperative dyspnea is carried out by treating the causes of dyspnea.