Postoperative Complications of Surgery for Tuberculosis Destroyed Lung

Low body mass index, anemia, tobacco smoking, and coinfection are associated with postoperative complications in patients with tuberculosis destroyed lung, according to the results of a recent Chinese study published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine.

Medical records from patients with tuberculosis-destroyed lung from January 2001 to September 2019 at the Beijing Chest Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Associations were examined between patient characteristics and postoperative complications.

Among the 113 patients with tuberculosis destroyed lung who underwent surgery during the defined time period, 29.2% experienced postoperative complications. When patient characteristics were examined and compared between groups with and without complications, patients with low body mass index were more likely to have postoperative complications compared to those with normal body mass index. Additionally, a significant increased risk for complications was observed in patients with a history of smoking as well as underlying infection, including aspergillus and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Finally, anemia was also associated with complications; patients with blood transfusion above 1000 mL had an increased frequency of postoperative complications when compared to patients with blood transfusion below 1000 mL.

The study authors wrote, “Patients with low BMI, anaemia, tobacco smoking, and coinfected aspergillus or NTM are at markedly higher risk to experience postoperative complications after pneumonectomy.” They added, “Our findings emphasize the importance of early interventions in risk groups to prevent adverse outcomes in TDL patients.”

Reference

Ruan H, Liu F, Han M, Gong C. Incidence and risk factors of postoperative complications in patients with tuberculosis-destroyed lung. BMC Pulm Med. 202;21(1):273. doi:10.1186/s12890-021-01641-0