What are the recommendations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/respiratory insufficiency who are undergoing CABG?
In preparation for CABG, optimizing pulmonary function is imperative. Preoperative intensive inspiratory muscle training is reasonable to reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications in patients at high risk for respiratory complications after CABG. After CABG, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation may be reasonable to improve pulmonary mechanics and to reduce the need for reintubation. High thoracic epidural analgesia may be considered to improve lung function after CABG.