Background Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) are the most frequently observed complications following lung resection, of which pneumonia and atelectasis are the most common. PPCs have a significant clinical and economic impact associated with increased observed number of deaths, morbidity, length of stay and associated cost. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and impact of PPCs and to identify potentially modifiable independent risk factors. Methods A prospective observational study was carried out on all patients following lung resection via thoracotomy in a regional thoracic centre over 13 months. PPC was assessed using a scoring system based on chest x-ray, raised white cell count, fever, microbiology, purulent sputum and oxygen saturations. Results Thirty-four of 234 subjects (14.5%) had clinical evidence of PPC. The PPC patient group had a significantly longer length of stay (LOS) in hospital, high dependency unit (HDU) LOS, higher frequency of intensive care unit (ITU) admission and a higher number of hospital deaths. Older patients, body mass index (BMI) $30 kg/m 2 , preoperative activity <400 m, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score $3, smoking history, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) and predicted postoperative (PPO) FEV 1 were all significantly (p<0.05) associated with PPC on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age >75 years, BMI $30 kg/m 2 , ASA $3, smoking history and COPD were significant independent risk factors in the development of PPC (p<0.05). Conclusion The clinical impact of PPCs is marked. Significant independent preoperative risk factors have been identified in current clinical practice. Potentially modifiable risk factors include BMI, smoking status and COPD. The impact of targeted therapy requires further evaluation. BACKGROUND

Developing a PPC after thoracic surgery is common and is associated with a poorer long-term outcome.

Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index <20), moderate lockdowns (20–60), and full lockdowns (>60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04384926 . Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include...

Background Following thoracotomy, patients frequently receive routine respiratory physiotherapy which may include incentive spirometry, a breathing technique characterised by deep breathing performed through a device offering visual feedback. This type of physiotherapy is recommended and considered important in the care of thoracic surgery patients, but high quality evidence for specific interventions such as incentive spirometry remains lacking. Methods 180 patients undergoing thoracotomy and lung resection participated in a prospective single-blind randomised controlled trial. All patients received postoperative breathing exercises, airway clearance and early mobilisation; the control group performed thoracic expansion exercises and the intervention group performed incentive spirometry.Results No difference was observed between the intervention and control groups in the mean drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 s on postoperative day 4 (40% vs 41%, 95% CI −5.3% to 4.2%, p=0.817), the frequency of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) (12.5% vs 15%, 95% CI −7.9% to 12.9%, p=0.803) or in any other secondary outcome measure. A high-risk subgroup (defined by ≥2 independent risk factors; age ≥75 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score ≥3, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking status, body mass index ≥30) also demonstrated no difference in outcomes, although a larger difference in the frequency of PPC was observed (14% vs 23%) with 95% CIs indicating possible benefit of intervention (−7.4% to 2.6%). Conclusions Incentive spirometry did not improve overall recovery of lung function, frequency of PPC or length of stay. For patients at higher risk for the development of PPC, in particular those with COPD or current/recent ex-smokers, there were larger observed actual differences in the frequency of PPC in favour of the intervention, indicating that investigations regarding the physiotherapy management of these patients need to be developed further. BACKGROUND

BackgroundPostoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are associated with poor outcomes following thoracotomy and lung resection. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy is now frequently utilised as an alternative to thoracotomy, however patients remain at risk for development of PPC. There is little known of the short-term outcome associated with PPC following VATS lobectomy and if there are any potential risk factors that could be modified to prevent PPC development; our study aimed to investigate this.MethodsA prospective observational study of consecutive patients undergoing VATS lobectomy for lung cancer over a 4-year period in a regional centre was performed (2012–2016). Exclusion criteria included re-do VATS or surgery for pulmonary infection. All patients received physiotherapy as necessary from postoperative day 1 (POD1) and PPC was determined using the Melbourne Group Scale. Outcomes included hospital LOS, intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission and hospital mortality.ResultsOf the 285 patients included in the study, 137 were male (48.1%), the median (IQR) age was 69 (13) years and the mean (±SD) FEV1% predicted was 87% (±19). Patients that developed a PPC (n = 21; 7.4%) had a significantly longer hospital LOS (4 vs. 3 days), higher frequency of ITU admission (23.8% vs. 0.5%) and higher hospital mortality (14.3% vs. 0%) (p < 0.001). PPC patients also required more physiotherapy contacts/time, emergency call-outs and specific pulmonary therapy (p < 0.05). Current smoking and COPD diagnosis were significantly associated with development of PPC on univariate analysis (p < 0.05), however only current smoking was a significant independent risk factor on multivariate analysis (p = 0.015).ConclusionsPatients undergoing VATS lobectomy remain at risk of developing a PPC, which is associated with an increase in physiotherapy requirements and a worse short-term morbidity and mortality. Current smoking is the only independent risk factor for PPC after VATS lobectomy, thus vigorous addressing of preoperative smoking cessation is urgently needed.