Abstract:

Objective To investigate the prevalences of postoperative complications in elder patients with lung caner undergoing sleeve resection or pneumonectomy, and explore the related risk factors. Methods The clinical data of 78 patients with lung cancer aged more than 70 years were collected. Among the 78 patients, 55 underwent sleeve resection of bronchus (sleeve resection group) and 23 received pneumonectomy (pneumonectomy group). The preoperative data, perioperative conditions and prevalences of postoperative complications were compared between groups, and the risk factors related to complications were analysed. Results There was no significant difference in prevalence of postoperative arrhythmia between groups （P>0.05). The frequency of aspiration of sputum with bronchoscopy in sleeve resection group was significantly higher than that in pneumonectomy group （P＜0.05). Statistical analysis revealed that the occurrences of postoperative respiratory tract complication and postoperative arrhythmia were not significantly related to the surgical procedures (P>0.05), while preoperative lung function of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was independent risk factor for postoperative arrhythmia in elder patients with lung cancer （P=0.015). Conclusion Sleeve resection of bronchus and pneumonectomy do not have significant effect on postoperative complications in elder patients with lung cancer. More attention should be paid to postoperative airway management for patients undergoing sleeve resection of bronchus, and poor lung function is risk factor for postoperative arrhythmia.

Key words: sleeve resection of bronchus, pneumonectomy, complication, elder, lung cancer