Use of Point-of-care Lung Ultrasound Before and After Surgery Trying to Predict Post-operative Pulmonary Complications

The study will be performed in the Soroka hospital operating room and recovery unit.

On admission to pre-surgery, patients will be investigates for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Those that are eligible for the study will be asked to give formal consent to participate in the study. After consent the examiner will review the patient's past medical history and surgery plan, and will preform the pre-operative LUS exam.

After surgery, the examiner will review the electronic anesthesia record and will preform the post-operative LUS exam within 30 minutes of arrival to the recovery unit or 30 minutes from extubation (in patients that were admitted to the recovery unit still under mechanical ventilation). Upon discharge from the recovery unit the examiner will review the recovery unit electronic record.

After discharge, the examiner will review the patient post-operative surgical ward electronic record.

Inclusion criteria

The population study will include patients 18 years and older, with ASA class I, II or III, presenting for elective intra-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and are not planned for long-term post-surgical mechanical ventilation.

Exclusion criteria

Patient will be excluded from the study if they have pre-existing moderate or severe heart or lung disease: a history of ischemic heart disease, moderate or severe systolic or diastolic heart failure, moderate or severe pulmonary hypertension, moderate or severe obstructive or interstitial lung disease. Patients will also be excluded if they had a severe intra-operative pulmonary complication (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, emergency surgical airway). Patients who require un-planned long term mechanical ventilation or those who died during surgery will also be excluded.