Preoperative considerations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a risk factor for development of intraoperative and postoperative pulmonary complications. Regarding the type and the extent of surgical procedure, patients with COPD are at risk of aggravation of pulmonary function which leads to complicated perioperative course. In order to reduce perioperative complications, preoperative evaluation and preoperative patient preparation are of great importance.