Preoperative pulmonary function as a predictor of respiratory complications and mortality in patients undergoing lung cancer resection.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated preoperative pulmonary function as a predictor of respiratory complications and mortality in patients undergoing lung cancer resection to confirm the guideline of the British Thoracic Society: lung cancer surgery in patients with predictive postoperative FEV(1.0) (%FEV(1.0)ppo) > 40% and predictive postoperative diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (%DL(co)ppo) > 40% can be carried out with average risk.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 356 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary resection at our Department from January 1992 to December 2001. Preoperative pulmonary function tests included vital capacity (VC), %VC, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1.0)), FEV(1.0)%, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(co)), predictive postoperative FEV(1.0) (FEV(1.0)ppo), postoperative respiratory function expressed as a percentage of the predicted normal value (%FEV(1.0) ppo, %DL(co)ppo). Postoperative complications were divided into 2 groups: respiratory complications (pneumonia, atelectasis, etc) and other complications (bronchopleural fistula, prolonged air leak, arrhythmia, etc).

RESULTS

Postoperative deaths occurred in 14 (3.9%) patients. Postoperative respiratory complications developed in 27 (7.6%) patients. Pneumonectomy (p < 0.001), preoperative chemotherapy (p < 0.01) and advanced stage (p < 0.05) were identified as risk factors of postoperative deaths. Patients undergoing lobectomy with FEV(1.0) > or = 1,500 ml did not die of respiratory complications. Patients undergoing pneumonectomy with FEV(1.0)ppo > or = 800ml/m2 did not die of respiratory complications. Patients undergoing pneumonectomy with %FEV(1.0)ppo < 40% and %DL(co)ppo < 40% did not survive. Five of the 7 patients who died of respiratory complications were treated with preoperative chemotherapy. The values of their %DL(co)ppo were all less than 40%. By multivariate analysis, %FEV(1.0)ppo was significant independent factor associated postoperative death.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the guideline is useful for the selection for surgery of lung cancer patients. If preoperative chemotherapy is performed, the measurement of %DL(co) is recommended before surgery.