AbstractThe object of this study was to determine if pulmonary function tests were necessary in the preoperative evaluation of potential candidates for conservation laryngeal procedures. In addition, pulmonary complications from a series of partial laryngectomies were examined and correlated with a previous history of chronic obstructive lung disease. Ninety‐four patients with laryngeal tumors amenable to a partial procedure were assessed preoperative by testing their pulmonary function by stair‐climbing; they were considered to possess enough pulmonary function to permit a partial procedure. Pulmonary function tests were obtained in 69 of these patients. Measurements of vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 ‐second were reviewed and correlated with the postoperative development of pulmonary complications to determine if these tests of pulmonary function could reliably predict which patients would be more prone to developing pulmonary complications. The results indicated that pulmonary function tests or a prior history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could not reliably predict postoperative complications.