[Prevention and treatment of atelectasis after thoracotomy for lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Atelectasis is a common complication after thoracotomy, and it may threaten patients' life if it was not treated correctly and properly. The aim of this article is to explore and discuss the prevention and treatment for atelectasis during the perioperative period, and also to explore new methods for reducing the perioperative mortality due to atelectasis after thoracotomy.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 374 lung cancer patients who underwent thoracotomy in our department between Jan 2007 and Nov 2009.


RESULTS
Atelectasis occurred in 14 patients among all the 374 lung cancer patients who underwent thoracotomy. All the atelectasis returned to reexpansion after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of atelectasis in these series is relatively low compared with the reports in literatures. Good perioperative preparation and perioperative treatment can remarkably decrease the incidence and mortality of atelectasis after thoracotomy in the treatment of lung cancer.
Yang
Yongbo
Y
Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjian 300052, China.
Chen
Jun
J
Zhu
Daxing
D
Chen
Gang
G
Li
Zhigang
Z
Li
Mei
M
Wei
Sen
S
Qiu
Xiaoming
X
Zhao
Honglin
H
Liu
Yi
Y
Zhou
Qinghua
Q
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*