A Clinical Prediction Model for Postoperative Pneumonia After Lung Cancer Surgery

Predictors of prolonged hospital stay after segmentectomy

OBJECTIVE

Segmentectomy is becoming the standard of care for small, peripheral non-small cell lung cancer. To improve perioperative management in this population, this study aims to identify factors influencing hospital length of stay after segmentectomy.

METHODS

Patients who underwent segmentectomy for any indication between January 2018 and May 2023 were identified using a prospectively maintained institutional database. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between clinical features and prolonged (≥3 days) hospital stay. A nomogram was designed to understand better and possibly calculate the individual risk of prolonged hospital stays.

RESULTS

In total, 533 cases were included; 337 (63%) were female. Median age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 63-75). The median size of resected lesions was 1.6 cm (IQR, 1.3-2.1 cm). Median hospital stay was 3 days (IQR, 2-4 days). Major adverse events occurred in 31 (5.8%) cases. The 30-day readmission rate was 5.8% (n = 31). There was no 30-day mortality; 90-day mortality was <1%. Patients older than 75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-3.57, P = .02), those with forced expiratory volume in 1 second <88% predicted (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.38-2.89, P < .001), or positive smoking history (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.15-2.60, P = .01) were more likely to have prolonged hospital stays after segmentectomy. A nomogram accounting for age, sex, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, body mass index, smoking history, and comorbidities was created to predict the probability of prolonged hospital stay with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.66.

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients, those with reduced pulmonary function, and current and past smokers have elevated risk for prolonged hospital stays after segmentectomy. Validation of our nomogram could improve perioperative risk stratification in patients who undergo segmentectomy.

Diagnostic value of systematic bronchial aspirate on postoperative pneumonia after pulmonary resection surgery for lung cancer: a monocentre retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

Intraoperative bacterial airway colonization seems to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia (POP). It can be easily assessed by performing a bronchial aspirate (BA). The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic performance of the BA to predict POP.

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study over a period of 10 years, from 1 January 2011 to 30 December 2020. The population study included patients admitted for a scheduled pulmonary resection surgery for lung cancer. Patients were classified into 2 populations depending on whether or not they developed a POP. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors for developing POP. The diagnostic performance of BA was represented by its sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values.

RESULTS

A total of 1006 patients were included in the study. Uni- and multivariable analyses found that a positive BA was independently associated with a greater risk of developing POP with an odds ratio of 6.57 [4.165-10.865]; P < 0.001. Its specificity was 95%, sensitivity was 31%, positive predictive value was 66% and negative predictive value was 81%.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive intraoperative BA is an independent risk factor for POP after lung cancer surgery. Further trials are required to validate the systematic implementation of BA as an early diagnostic tool for POP.