[Clinical studies of 4 pneumonia cases occurring more than one month after surgery of lung cancer].
We studied four cases who died of post-operative pneumonia occurring more than one month after surgery for lung cancer, despite a satisfactory post-operative course. All cases were male and smoker over 70 years old, who were performed of operation through posterolateral thoracotomy. As a control, we used 11 cases over 70 years old and smoker undergoing surgery for lung cancer through posterolateral thoracotomy, who returned to everyday life without a problem. The body mass index of all pneumonia cases was less than 20, which was significantly lower than that of control cases in both pre- and post-operative time (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Post-operative serum total protein and albumin in pneumonia cases was significantly lower than in control cases (p < 0.01). As a result, we suggest that males and smokers over 70 years old with lung cancer, whose body mass index were less than 20, require careful nutritional care over a long period after surgery.
Department of Surgery, Saiseikai Central Hospital.
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H
Nomori
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R
Kobayashi
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Morinaga
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking; D013908:Thoracotomy