Complication | Definition |
---|---|
Respiratory infection | Patient has received antibiotics for a suspected respiratory infection and met one or more of the following criteria: new or changed sputum, new or changed lung opacities, fever, white blood cell count > 12 × 109 l-1 |
Respiratory failure | Postoperative PaO2 < 8 kPa (60 mmHg) on room air, a PaO2:FIO2 ratio < 40 kPa (300 mmHg) or arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation measured with pulse oximetry < 90% and requiring oxygen therapy |
Pleural effusion | Chest radiograph demonstrating blunting of the costophrenic angle, loss of sharp silhouette of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm in upright position, evidence of displacement of adjacent anatomical structures or (in supine position) a hazy opacity in one hemithorax with preserved vascular shadows |
Atelectasis | Lung opacification with a shift of the mediastinum, hilum, or hemidiaphragm toward the affected area, and compensatory over-inflation in the adjacent non-atelectatic lung |
Pneumothorax | Air in the pleural space with no vascular bed surrounding the visceral pleura |
Bronchospasm | Newly detected expiratory wheezing treated with bronchodilators |
Aspiration pneumonitis | Acute lung injury after the inhalation of regurgitated gastric contents |