title: Thoracic surgery: risk factors for postoperative complications of lung resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify preoperative and transoperative risks factors for postoperative complications developed in lung resection surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 14 months; 189 patients underwent pulmonary resection and were enrolled to the study. After a clinical interview, patients were evaluated by laboratory, pulmonary function tests and radiography, submitted to a surgical procedure, and were followed during their stay in the ICU and hospital, evaluating postoperatory complications and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative rate of complications was 52.9%: respiratory (34.3%), infectious (31%), and cardiovascular (21.4%). Respiratory complications were related to smoking (p < 0.01, RR 2.31), airway obstruction by spirometry (p = 0.01, RR 2.60), presence of anemia (p < 0.01, RR 2.13), and prolonged protrombine time [PT] (p = 0.03, RR 1.77). Infection complications were related to smoking (p < 0.01, RR 2.69), airway obstruction by spirometry (p = 0.01, RR 3.31), presence of anemia (p < 0.01, RR 2.10), and prolonged PT (p = 0.03, RR 2.29). Cardiovascular problems were related with older age (p < 0.01, RR 2.66), cigarette smoking (p < 0.01, RR 4.55), and hypoxemia (p = 0.03, RR 2.43). The postoperative mortality rate was 7.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A preoperative evaluation can provide a suitable and safe postoperative prediction of complications in patients submitted to lung resection. Patients with COPD, hypoxemic, older, and anemic patients must be classified as high-risk for developing these complications.
authors.affiliation: General Medicine Residency Program, Grupo Hospitalar Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS.
authors.forename: Eduardo Oliveira
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Cassiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Luis Carlos Correa da
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects