Chest
Clinical InvestigationsSurgeryPulmonary Complications Following Lung Resection: A Comprehensive Analysis of Incidence and Possible Risk Factors
Section snippets
Patients
We (F.S., S.B., J.H.) reviewed the charts of all patients whohad undergone pulmonary resection in our institution from January 1994to December 1996. Operability was determined according to existingguidelines for pneumonectomy and lobectomy.15 We alsoregarded a preoperative Pao2 > 60mm Hg and a Paco2 < 45 mm Hg(resting, breathing room air) as requirements before surgery wasundertaken. However, the final decision regarding operability was madeby the attending surgeon, and some patients were
Study Population
Two hundred sixty-six patients (mean age, 59 ± 14 years; 205men and 61 women) underwent pulmonary resections. Lobectomy, the mostcommon operation, was performed in 142 cases (53%), while 87 patients(33%) underwent pneumonectomy, and 37 patients (14%) underwent wedgeresections (Table 1). There was no significant relationship between the complication rateand the operative procedure. Extended resections were performed in 51patients (19%). Two hundred fifteen patients (81%) had malignantneoplasms
Discussion
This retrospective study documents a 25% pulmonary complicationrate in this series of patients scheduled for thoracotomy. The presentstudy demonstrates that ASA physical status, operating time, and needfor prolonged mechanical ventilation were associated with a twofoldincrease in PPCs. PPCs were also strongly associated with an increasedrisk of death and a prolonged hospital stay.
Our study is probably limited by its retrospectivedesign.16 Firstly, pulmonary complications were determinedby chart
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