[Influence of preoperative chemoradiotherapy on pulmonary function and postoperative pulmonary complication in esophageal cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on pulmonary function and postoperative pulmonary complications in esophageal cancer patients.


METHODS
Pulmonary function and postoperative pulmonary complications of 63 esophageal cancer patients undergoing preoperative CRT and operation in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University between 2002 and 2013 were collected retrospectively. The influence of preoperative CRT on pulmonary functional indexes and postoperative pulmonary complications were analyzed.


RESULTS
After preoperative CRT, DLco% decreased significantly (83.7±17.7 vs. 96.4±17.8, P<0.01), while no obvious changes in other indexes were found. Postoperative pulmonary complication rate was 34.9% (22/63), including 19 cases of pneumonia and 3 cases of acute pulmonary injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. Differences in postoperative pulmonary complication rates were not statistically significant between patients with DLco% <80 and those with DLco% ≥80 patients (29.7% vs. 41.7%, P>0.05), and between patients with DLco% decline ≥15% and those with DLco% decline <15% patients (31.6% vs. 37.8%, P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative CRT can damage the diffusion function but not ventilation function of esophageal cancer patients, and does not increase the postoperative pulmonary complication rate.
Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Guangzhou 510060, China. fujh@sysucc.org.cn.
Rong-gui
RG
Hu
Jian-hua
JH
Fu
Kong-jia
KJ
Luo
Xu
X
Zhang
Hong
H
Yang
Meng-zhong
MZ
Liu
Hui
H
Liu
Qun
Q
Li
Yong-hong
YH
Hu
Xiao-dong
XD
Li
Ting
T
Lin
D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies