Risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) can assist healthcare professionals in assessing the likelihood of PPCs occurring after surgery, thereby supporting rapid decision-making. This study evaluated the merits, limitations, and challenges of these models, focusing on model types, construction methods, performance, and clinical applications. The findings indicate that current risk prediction models for PPCs following lung cancer surgery demonstrate a certain level of predictive effectiveness. However, there are notable deficiencies in study design, clinical implementation, and reporting transparency. Future research should prioritize large-scale, prospective, multi-center studies that utilize multiomics approaches to ensure robust data for accurate predictions, ultimately facilitating clinical translation, adoption, and promotion.
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an emerging medical imaging technology characterized by its non-invasive nature, absence of ionizing radiation, real-time dynamic imaging capability, low cost, and portability. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the application of EIT for perioperative respiratory management in adult major surgeries, particularly in the context of postoperative pulmonary complications. This review focuses on adult cardiac surgery patients and explores the clinical value of EIT in addressing extracorporeal circulation-related lung injury, managing one-lung ventilation, and enabling early detection of postoperative complications (such as atelectasis, pneumothorax). It also discusses EIT’s core functions in perioperative monitoring and its added value in the context of cardiac surgery, providing insights for precision and personalized respiratory management.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation between positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung surgery. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic lung surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to intraoperative PEEP levels: a PEEP 5 cm H2O group and a PEEP 10 cm H2O group. The incidence of PPCs in the two groups after matching was compared using a nearest neighbor matching method with a ratio of 1∶1, setting the clamp value as 0.02. ResultsA total of 538 patients were screened, and after propensity score-matching, a total of 229 pairs (458 patients) were matched, with an average age of 53.9 years and 69.4% (318/458) females. A total of 118 (25.8%) patients had PPCs during hospitalization after surgery, including 60 (26.2%) patients in the PEEP 5 cm H2O group and 58 (25.3%) patients in the PEEP 10 cm H2O group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups [OR=0.997, 95%CI (0.495, 1.926), P=0.915]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PEEP was not an independent risk factor for PPCs [OR=0.920, 95%CI (0.587, 1.441), P=0.715]. ConclusionFor patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung surgery, intraoperative PEEP (5 cm H2O or 10 cm H2O) is not associated with the risk of PPCs during hospitalization after surgery, which needs to be further verified by prospective, large-sample randomized controlled studies.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of intraoperative ventilation modes with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in adult patients undergoing selective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsThe clinical data of 604 patients who underwent selective cardiac surgical procedures under CPB in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University from June to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 293 males and 311 females with an average age of 52.0±13.0 years. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the ventilation modes, including a pressure-controlled ventilation-volume guarantee (PCV-VG) group (n=201), a pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) group (n=200) and a volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) group (n=203). The association between intraoperative ventilation modes and PPCs (defined as composite of pneumonia, respiratory failure, atelectasis, pleural effusion and pneumothorax within 7 days after surgery) was analyzed using modified poisson regression. ResultsThe PPCs were found in a total of 246 (40.7%) patients, including 86 (42.8%) in the PCV-VG group, 75 (37.5%) in the PCV group and 85 (41.9%) in the VCV group. In the multivariable analysis, there was no statistical difference in PPCs risk associated with the use of either PCV-VG mode (aRR=0.951, 95%CI 0.749-1.209, P=0.683) or PCV mode (aRR= 0.827, 95%CI 0.645-1.060, P=0.133) compared with VCV mode. ConclusionAmong adults receiving selective cardiac surgery, PPCs risk does not differ significantly by using different intraoperative ventilation modes.
Objective To investigate the relationship between two-lung ventilation (TLV) with single-lumen endotracheal tube (SLT), one-lung ventilation (OLV) with double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after total thoracoscopic cardiac surgery. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgeries in the Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from October 2019 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 group according to the type of endotracheal tube, including a SLT group and a DLT group. Baseline data, surgical variables and PPCs were compared. The influencing factors of PPCs in the two groups were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Results Finally 349 patients were enrolled, including 180 males and 169 females with an average age of (50.0±14.8) years. There were 219 patients in the SLT group and 130 patients in the DLT group. There was no statistical difference in baseline data, surgical variables or PPCs between the two groups (P＞0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that PPCs were related to body mass index in the SLT group (OR=0.778, 95%CI 0.637 to 0.951, P=0.014) and preoperative smoking history in the DLT group (OR=0.058, 95%CI 0.004 to 0.903, P=0.042). Conclusion For the patients who undergo totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery, TLV with SLT and OLV with DLT show no significant association with PPCs. At the same time, PPCs are associated with body mass index in the SLT group, while associated with preoperative smoking history in the DLT group.
Tricuspid valve, also known as "forgotten valve" because of the high natural and surgical mortality. Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement is an innovative surgical method to treat tricuspid regurgitation, which improves the prognosis of patients and is gradually being popularized in clinics. However, postoperative pulmonary complications are still the main causes affecting the rapid recovery and death. More and more medical experts begin to use preoperative inspiratory muscle training to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications and improve the quality of life of patients after cardiac surgery. However, there was no report on the effect of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary complications after transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement. Therefore, for the first time, we boldly speculate that inspiratory muscle training can reduce pulmonary complications after transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, and put forward suggestions for its treatment mechanism and strategy. But this rehabilitation intervention lacks practical clinical research. Unknown challenges may also be encountered, which may be a new research direction.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of anesthesia regime (volatile or intravenous anesthetics) with the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsThe electronic medical records of 194 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital, Sichuan University between September 2018 and February 2019 were reviewed, including 92 males and 102 females with an average age of 53 years. The patients were classified into a volatile group (n=94) or a total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group (n=100) according to anesthesia regimen during surgery (including CPB). The primary outcome was the incidence of PPCs within first 7 d after surgery. Secondary outcomes included incidence of reintubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the incidence of PPCs between the two groups (RR=1.020, 95%CI 0.763-1.363, P=0.896), with an incidence of 48.9% in the volatile group and 48.0% in the TIVA group. Secondary outcomes were also found no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionNo association of anesthesia regimen with the incidence of PPCs is found in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB.
ObjectiveTo compare the effects of flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) and conventional pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) within 7 days after elective thoracic surgery. Methods Patients scheduled for elective thoracic surgery at Langzhong People's Hospital between August 2024 and June 2025 were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the FCV group or PCV group. The primary outcome was the incidence of PPCs within 7 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included systemic inflammatory factor levels at 24 hours postoperatively, numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores at 3 days postoperatively, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay duration, and length of postoperative hospitalization. Mechanical power (MP), oxygenation index, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), peak pressure (Ppeak), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), tidal volume (VT), respiratory rate (RR), and minute ventilation (MV) were compared between groups at 30 and 60 minutes after one-lung ventilation (OLV). Differences in MP between patients with and without PPCs were analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the predictive value of MP for PPCs using area under the curve (AUC). Results A total of 60 patients were included: 30 in the FCV group [17 males, 13 females, mean age (57.4±10.0) years] and 30 in the PCV group [18 males, 12 females; mean age (58.7±11.2) years]. The FCV group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of PPCs compared to the PCV group (16.7% vs. 40.0%, P=0.045) and reduced systemic pro-inflammatory factor levels at 24 hours postoperatively. No statistically significant difference was observed in NRS pain scores between groups at 3 days postoperatively. Additionally, the FCV group showed shorter PACU stay duration [(51.8±11.5) min vs. (66.2±24.5) min, P=0.008] and reduced postoperative hospitalization time [(7.8±1.2) d vs. (8.9±2.5) d, P=0.034]. At both 30 and 60 minutes after OLV initiation, the FCV group exhibited lower MP, MV, and RR values alongside higher oxygenation indices and VT compared to the PCV group, while PaCO2 and PEEP showed no significant differences. Although Ppeak did not differ significantly between groups at 30 minutes after OLV, it was lower in the PCV group at 60 minutes. Patients who developed PPCs consistently demonstrated higher MP values than those without PPCs at both time points. ROC curve analysis revealed excellent predictive performance of MP for PPCs occurrence within 7 days postoperatively (30-minute OLV: AUC=0.97, P<0.001; 60-minute OLV: AUC=0.93, P<0.001). Conclusion Compared with PCV, implementing FCV during OLV significantly reduces PPCs incidence. This protective effect may be attributed to reduced MP, improved oxygenation, enhanced ventilatory efficiency, and attenuated inflammatory responses. As a lung-protective ventilatory strategy, FCV effectively promotes postoperative recovery in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ.
ObjectiveTo explore the treatment strategies for patients with fever and pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery during COVID-19 epidemic.MethodsThe clinical data of 537 patients who ungerwent selective surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shangjin Branch of West China Hospital between February and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 242 (45.1%) males and 295 (54.9%) females aged 53.3±13.4 years. We have established a procedure for the patients with fever and pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery to investigate the cause of the disease and track risk factors.ResultsThe overall postoperative complication rate was 16.4% (88/537), and 1 (0.2%) patient died. Of 537 patients, 179 (33.3%) patients were enrolled in our model according to the inclusion criteria: ratio of males [112 (62.6%) vs. 130 (36.3%), P<0.010], patients with a history of smoking [74 (41.3%) vs. 87 (24.3%), P<0.010], or with esophageal cancer surgery [36 (20.1%) vs. 15 (4.2%)], or with traditional thoracotomy [14 (7.8%) vs. 4 (1.1%)] was higher than that of the other patients. Patients in our process due to fever or pulmonary complications had longer ICU stay and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.010). Logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that gender was an independent risk factor for postoperative fever or pulmonary complications.ConclusionIn low-risk areas of the epidemic, the treatment process is simple and feasible, and the cause traceability and corresponding treatment can basically be completed within 24 hours. At the same time, the treatment process has been running stably for a long time.
[Abstract]Elderly patients with lung cancer have a significantly increased risk of perioperative cardiopulmonary complications due to physiological decline, high incidence of complications and reduced surgical tolerance, which directly affects postoperative recovery and long-term survival. Although the concepts of minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery have improved clinical outcomes, early recognition and intervention of postoperative complications in elderly patients remains a significant challenge in the field of thoracic surgery. By integrating recent literature and clinical practice, this paper systematically analyzes the pathophysiological mechanism and risk factors of perioperative cardiopulmonary complications in elderly patients with lung cancer, and discusses individualized intervention strategies based on risk stratification and multidisciplinary team, in order to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for optimizing perioperative management and improving postoperative prognosis in elderly patients.
