Respiratory status of adult patients in the postoperative period of thoracic or upper abdominal surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the respiratory status of postoperative adult patients by assessing the nursing outcome Respiratory Status.

METHOD: descriptive, cross-sectional study developed with 312 patients. Eighteen NOC indicators were assessed and rated using a Likert-scale questionnaire and definitions. Descriptive and correlative analysis were conducted.

RESULTS: the most compromised clinical indicators were coughing (65.5%), auscultated breath sounds (55%), and respiratory rate (51.3%). Factors associated with worse NOC ratings in specific clinical indicators were sex, age, pain, and general anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS: certain clinical indicators of respiratory status were more compromised than others in postoperative patients. Patient and context-related variables can affect the level of respiratory compromise.