Table 1.

Major and minor PPCs in patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery.8

MAJOR
Acute or worsening respiratory failure
Requirement of mechanical ventilation and/or intubation for >48 hours
Pneumonia
Postoperative arrhythmia/heart failure, especially in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Hemodynamic instability in patients with pulmonary vascular disease
Worsening of obstructive sleep apnea
MINOR
Clinically significant atelectasis
Purulent tracheobronchitis
Bronchospasm/exacerbation of underlying chronic lung disease