The role of handheld spirometry in lung surgery

The assessment of a pulmonary function prior to a major lung resection for lung cancer or other pathologies is a prerequisite for the very essential risk stratification. According to the recommendations of various societies such as the European Respiratory Society (ERS)/ European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)/British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the American College of Chest Physicians, pulmonary function parameters should be assessed prior to any major lung resection (1-4).