1998 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 3-9
To improve surgical results, we investigated the safety record of our surgical treatment for primary lung cancer. A total of 1032 patients consecutively treated at our hospital from 1979 to 1996 were reviewed. There were ten operative deaths (1.0%) and nine hospital deaths (0.9%). Post-operative mortality increased with age and extent of procedures. Cases that died within 1 month included 1 with cardiac rupture, 1 with gastrointestinal bleeding, 2 with cerebrovascular accidents, 1 with pneumonia, 1 with broncho-pleural fistula (BPF), 2 with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 2 died suddenly of unkown causes. Cases of hospital deaths included 1 with acute renal failure and 8 with respiratory complications, which were BPF in 3, ARDS in 2 and others in 3. We conclude it was very difficult to predict or prevent the causes of these deaths. Correct preoperative assessment, careful postoperative management and prompt decision-making are very important.
