Pulmonary complications after surgical treatment of lung cancer in octogenarians

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risks associated wi th pulmonary resection for primary non-small cell lung cancer in octogenari ans to help better management in these patients. Methods: We reviewed the o utcome in our 35 patients aged 80 years and older who underwent pulmonary r esection between 1981 and 1998. Results: The 5-year survival rate was 39.8% . The operative mortality rate was 0% and the morbidity 60%. There were ten major pulmonary complications, including respiratory insufficiency followi ng bacterial pneumonia and sputum retention. Preoperative arterial pO(2) wa s significantly lower, A-aDO(2) was significantly higher, and operation tim e were significantly longer in patients with pulmonary complications after surgical treatment than in patients without complications (P < 0.05), Concl usions: Surgical treatment was not contraindicated for octogenarians with l ung cancer. However, a relatively preoperative low arterial pO(2), high A-a DO(2), and long operation time may be risk factors for postoperative pulmon ary complications in such patients. Surgeons must assess the preoperative d ata prudently to determine appropriate surgical strategy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.