Assessment of operative risk in elderly patients undergoing lung resection

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze various preoperative and postoperative risk factors in patients aged > 70, undergoing lung rese ction surgery and to asses their contribution to the occurrence of life thr eatening postoperative complications and morbidity. The clinical history, 1 2 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), diffusion capacity (DCO), ASA grade, APACHE II and Goldman cardiac risk index were recorded preoperatively. Postoperatively we analyzed type of lung resection, cardiac, renal and cerebral dysfunction, respiratory failure, mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay and mortality rate . On univariate analysis, only Goldman cardiac risk index class III was ide ntified as an independent risk factor and predictor of serious morbidity an d mortality (P=0.03). Mean ICU stay was 5.14 days and mortality rate was 8. 5%.