Which of the following surgical incisions is associated with the highest risk of postoperative pulmonary complications ?
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.
Vertical laparotomy
Horizontal laparotomy
Lateral thoracotomy
Median sternotomy