Objective : Assessment of diffusion capacity, FEV1 and VO2 Max as predictive factors of morbidity and mortality for patients operated on thoracic neoplastic lesions.
Method : Retrospective study of patients operated from January 2001 to December 2003 in our institution on neoplastic lesions. We study the incidence of major complications and 30-day mortality and correlate them with preoperative and postoperative functional tests (FEV 1, FEV 1 %, Diffusion Capacity, Diffusion Capacity %, VO2 Max).
Results: We reviewed 333 patients. Pneumonectomy rate was 14,7% (49/333). 30-day mortality rate was 2,1% (7/333). ARDS (4/7) and bacterial pneumonia (3/7) were the major causes of death. Atrial fibrillation (46/333), bacterial pneumonia (45/333) and prolonged air leaks (40/333) were the most frequent complications. There was not any correlation between studied factors and emergence of complication. We observed a significant difference in predicted postoperative diffusion capacity % between survivors and dead patients.
Conclusion : Low predicted postoperative diffusion capacity % is associated with a high risk of mortality for patients operated on thoracic neoplastic lesions. For these patients, this measure is a major selection criterion.