Which of the following surgical incisions is associated with the highest risk of postoperative pulmonary complications ?: (A) Vertical laparotomy, (B) Horizontal laparotomy, (C) Lateral thoracotomy, (D) Median sternotomy
Answer is A. Incidence of pulmonary complications (in decreasing order) :- Upper abdominal incision (maximum) > Lateral thoracotomy = Subcostal incision > Median sternotomies > Lower abdominal incision.
Vertical incision has more pulmonary complications than horizontal incision.
So, high abdominal laprotomy with vertical incision will have maximum pulmonary complications.