Pneumonectomy carries a high-risk for postoperative complications. The aim of the study was to identify factors that may predispose to the development of major postoperative complications after pneumonectomy for lung cancer. All consecutive patients from January 2000 to December 2005 were retrospectively studied. Major postoperative complications were defined by respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, shock, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, myocardial ischaemia or symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia. One hundred and twenty-nine patients were included. The overall hospital mortality rate was 10.8%, and complications occurred in 42.6%. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class >2 [odds ratio (OR) 8.26; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.19-36.55] and liberal fluid administration during surgery (OR, 1.96 for each litre; 95% CI, 1.45-3.16) to be risk factor for major cardiopulmonary complication or mortality. Preoperative haemoglobin > or =10 g/dl (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.01-0.91) and low tidal volume administrated during surgery (< or =7.35 ml/kg; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.10-0.92) were identified as protective factors. Pneumonectomy remains a high-risk surgery. Postoperative complications may be influenced by the comorbidities but also the management of fluid infusion and mechanical ventilation during the surgical procedure.

In clinically BD patients with no electroencephalographic activity CT-a documents opacification of the intracerebral vessels in a significant percentage of the cases. Therefore CT-a cannot be recommended as a means of BD diagnosis.

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