Predictors of atelectasis after pulmonary lobectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To define the incidence of and factors predisposing to postlobectomy atelectasis (PLA).


METHODS
The subjects were 412 patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy at our hospital between January 2004 and April 2007. This study was performed as a retrospective analysis of our prospective database. Postlobectomy atelectasis was defined as ipsilateral opacification of the involved lobe or segment with an ipsilateral shift of the mediastinum on chest radiograph, requiring bronchoscopy.


RESULTS
Postlobectomy atelectasis developed in 27 patients (6.6%), accounting for 29% of all postoperative pulmonary complications. There were no significant differences between the PLA and no-PLA groups in age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology performance status, cardiovascular comorbidity, or operation time. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the only preoperative variable predictive of PLA (P<0.05). Right upper lobectomy (RUL), either alone or in combination with right middle lobectomy, was associated with a significantly higher incidence of PLA than any other type of resection (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Postlobectomy atelectasis is an important postoperative complication. Patients with COPD and those undergoing RUL are at higher risk of this complication. Although often isolated, PLA is associated with longer hospital stay.
Stolz
Alan J
AJ
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 150 06, Prague 5, Czech Republic.
Schutzner
Jan
J
Lischke
Robert
R
Simonek
Jan
J
Harustiak
Tomas
T
Pafko
Pavel
P
D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors