THE EFFECT OF NEBULIZED SALBUTAMOL THERAPY ON THE INCIDENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE CHEST INFECTION IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS

Patients who smoke heavily and those with pre-existing airflow obstruc tion are at particular risk of postoperative respiratory infection fol lowing upper abdominal surgery. This invariably prolongs hospital stay and increases morbidity. In order to determine whether high dose bron chodilator therapy in the perioperative period reduced the risk of inf ection, all patients undergoing elective upper abdominal surgery were assessed for risk of developing postoperative infection. Fifty-three p atients were identified as high risk according to previously published criteria and were randomly allocated to receive nebulized salbutamol (5 mg) or saline placebo 6 hourly for 48 h beginning 1 h preoperativel y. There was no difference in rates of postoperative chest infection i n the two groups and this study, therefore, provides no support for th e routine preoperative use of bronchodilators in these patients.