PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kazuyuki Tabira
AU  - Shigeharu Koh
AU  - Tomoya Akakabe
AU  - Hiromi Inoue
AU  - Naomi Miyamoto
AU  - Shinichi Arizono
TI  - Influence of thoracic and abdominal surgery on cough power, lung function, and vocal function
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3543
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA3543
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3543.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3543.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Background: Thoracic and abdominal surgery decrease cough power by reducing the vital capacity, respiratory muscle strength, and vocal function postoperatively. However, the effect of thoracic and abdominal surgery on cough power and related factors remains unclear.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in cough power, lung function, and vocal function after thoracic and abdominal surgery.Methods: Nineteen patients undergoing thoracic and abdominal surgery were included. The cough peak flow (CPF), cough volume acceleration (CVA), expiratory phase rise time (EPRT), and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured preoperatively and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days postoperatively. The EPRT served as an indicator of vocal function.Results: CPF was 51% decreased 1-day postoperatively from its pre-operative value, and the CVA was 76% decreased. Significant decreases were observed from postoperative day 1 to 2 in the CPF and day 1 to 7 in the CVA compared with their preoperative values. The CVA showed significantly greater variability than the CPF postoperatively. The EPRT was 76% increased on day 1 postoperatively from its preoperative value, and the FVC was 46% decreased. The EPRT showed greater variability postoperatively than the FVC.Conclusions: These results suggest that the vocal function exhibited greater influence on the weakened cough power postoperatively than the FVC. CVA is a more responsive indicator than the CPF of the effect of thoracic and abdominal surgery on cough power.