title: [Association of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and complications in head and neck surgery].
abstract: COPD presents in a variety of forms patients with head and neck cancer; it may affect therapeutic decision-making or postoperative outcomes due to its complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the severity of COPD in patients with head and neck SCC treated with surgery, who present postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 31 patients undergoing en bloc resections, from 2008 to 2009. All cases were evaluated and classified using the GOLD scale. The COPD grade, intubation period, ICU stay and hospital stay were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 64.8 years; COPD was mild in 24 cases, moderate in 6 and severe in 1 case. ICU stay was 2.7 days and the intubation period was 1,12 days. The mean hospital stay was 24.4 days. There was no relation between COPD grade and brochopneumonia, intubation period, ICU stay and hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with head and neck SCC have a tendency to acquire COPD; its severity was not related with postoperative pulmonary complications, prolonged intubation period, ICU stay and hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.
authors.forename: Rogério Campos Cintra
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fitipaldi
authors.forename: Richard A Wessler P
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Carlos Neutzling
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lehn
authors.forename: Antonio Sérgio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fava
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index