Postoperative management of the thoracic surgical patient

Summary This catalogue of postoperative complications may seem daunting. In reality, the vast majority of patients recover surprisingly quickly and completely following devastatingly destructive operations on the chest. Most postoperative complications have their origins at the time of surgery. Whilst careful postoperative monitoring can minimize the effect of complications, there can be no substitute for diligent preoperative evaluation and careful operative technique. Thorough preoperative evaluation for elective surgery is time consuming and should not be hurried by the anxieties of the patient, his relatives and the referring physician. Surgery, once embarked upon, is usually irreversible.