Background: To determine the relationship between pulmonary diffusion capacity (DLCO) and the short-term prognosis after lung resection in patients with lung cancer.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 413 consecutive patients with lung cancer who underwent lung resection was performed. Among them , 27 had low DLCO before operation (DLCO < 60 %predicted for total pneumonectomy or bilobectomy , < 50 %predicted for lobectomy) , as a low DLCO (LDLCO) group ,and other 386 patients as a control group.
Results: There were more patients with chronic bronchitis , history of heavy smoking and underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy preoperatively in LDLCO group than those in control group. The hospital mortality rates within 30 days after lung resection were no significant difference between the two groups ( P > 0. 05) ,whereas incidence of respiratory complications in LDLCO group was higher than that in control group ( P < 0. 05) .
Conclusions: A reduction in DLCO before operation can remarkably increase respiratory complications after pulmonary resection. DLCO is one of important predictors of risk for lung resection.