Journal List > Tuberc Respir Dis > v.62(6) > 1001107

Chon, Kyung, Kim, An, Lee, Park, and Jeong: A Prospective Study for Risk Factors Predicting Postoperative Pulmonary Complications

Abstract

Background

Postoperative pulmonary complications are important problems that prolong the length of the hospital stay and increase patient mortality. However, our knowledge of the postoperative factors that increase the risk of these complications is less than complete.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study to determine the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications. A total of 199 patients were referred to the Pulmonology Department for preoperative pulmonary evaluation. We reviewed the perioperative variables according to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Postoperatively, we collected data on the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications and we evaluated the relationship between the perioperative variables and outcomes.

Results

Twenty two patients (11%) had pulmonary complications; 6 had respiratory failure, 4 had pneumonia, 13 had pleural effusion and, 2 had atelectasis. Five variables were statistically significantly associated with pulmonary complications on the bivariate analyses. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that three of these variables were independently associated with an increased risk of pulmonary complications; a high cardiac risk index (OR 16.5, p=0.002), emergency surgery (OR 10.3, p=0.017), and thoracic/abdominal surgery (OR 3.8, p=0.047).

Conclusion

The risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications are a high cardiac risk index, emergency surgery and thoracic/abdominal surgery.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
The association between continuous preoperative/operative variables and the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications.
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*abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Table 2
The association between binary preoperative/operative variables and the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications
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*total dependent, high grade of cardiac risk index, AAA repair, thoracic, upper abdominal surgery.

Table 3
The independent risk factors of postoperative pulmonary complications by multivariate rogistic regression analysis
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