Objective To analyze the risk factors associated with prolonged length of hospital stay (PLOS) after lobectomy for lung cancer patients. Methods The clinical records of 771 lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy between May 2012 and June 2016 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. According to different length of hospital stay (LOS), 771 patients were divided into two groups, a normal LOS group and a PLOS group. In the normal LOS group, there were 551 patients including 234 females and 317 males with a median age of 59 years, whose LOS was shorter than 8.0 days. In the PLOS group, there were 220 patients including 72 females and 148 males with a median age of 60 years, whose LOS was no less than 8.0 days. Then, we analyzed the independent risk factors of PLOS by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Univariate analysis showed that risk factors for PLOS included male, arrhythmias and atrioventricular block, smaller FVC%, unilateral pneumonectomy, operation and anesthesia duration, intraoperative blood loss and number of lymph node dissection in the operation (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age ≥75 years (OR=4.100, 95%CI 1.677 to 10.026), unilateral pneumonectomy (OR=2.563, 95%CI 1.473 to 4.460), FVC% < 89.05% (OR=1.500, 95%CI 1.020 to 2.206), numbers of lymph node dissection≥ 13.5 (OR=1.826, 95%CI 1.262 to 2.642), operation duration≥126.5 min (OR=1.858, 95%CI 1.200 to 2.876) and arrhythmia (OR=2.944, 95%CI 1.380 to 6.284) were independent risk factors of PLOS (all P<0.05). Conclusion LOS is influenced by age, surgical type, FVC%, numbers of lymph node dissection, arrhythmia and operation duration. Careful assessment and appropriate management of risk factors are helpful to improve postoperative recovery after lobectomy for lung cancer patients.
Objective To explore the risk factors and short-term clinical effect of conversion to open thoracotomy during thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 423 lung cancer patients who were scheduled for thoracoscopic lobectomy between March 2011 and November 2015.There were 252 males and 171 females at median age of 60 (24-83) years. According to the patients who were and were not converted to thoracotomy, they were divided into a conversion group (378 patients) and a video-assisted thoracic surgery group (a VATS group, 45 patients). Then, clinical data of two groups were compared, and the risk factors and short-term clinical effect of unplanned conversions to thoracotomy were analyzed. Results Lymph nodes of hilar or/and interlobar fissure closely adhered to adjacent vessels and bronchi was the most common cause of unexpected conversions to thoracotomy in 15 patients (33.3%), followed by sleeve lobectomy in 11(24.4%) patients, uncontrolled hemorrhage caused by intraoperative vessel injury in 8 patients, tumor invasion or extension in 5 patients, difficulty of exposing bronchi in 3 patients, close adhesion of pleural in 2 patients, incomplete interlobar fissure in 1 patient. Conversion did translate into higher overall postoperative complication rate (P=0.030), longer operation time (P<0.001), more intraoperative blood loss (P<0.001). In the univariable analysis, the type of operation, the anatomical site of lung cancer, the lymph node enlargement of hilar in CT and the low diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were related to conversion. Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for conversion were sleeve lobectomy (OR=5.675, 95%CI 2.310–13.944, P<0.001), the lymph node enlargement of hilar in CT (OR=3.732, 95%CI 1.347–10.341, P=0.011) and DLCO≤5.16 mmol/(min·kPa)(OR=3.665, 95%CI 1.868–7.190, P<0.001). Conclusions Conversion to open thoracotomy during video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer does not increase mortality, and it is a measure of reducing the risk of surgery. Therefore, with high-risk patients who may conversion to thoracotomy, the surgeon should be careful selection for VATS candidate. And, if necessary, the decision to convert must be made promptly to reduce short-term adverse outcome.
Objective To investigate the relationship between clinical features and lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma patients with T1 stage. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 253 T1-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients (92 males and 161 females at an average age of 59.45±9.36 years), who received lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from October 2013 to February 2016. Results Lymph node metastasis was negative in 182 patients (71.9%) and positive in 71 (28.1%). Poor differentiation (OR=6.988, P=0.001), moderate differentiation (OR=3.589, P=0.008), micropapillary type (OR=24.000, P<0.001), solid type (OR=5.080, P=0.048), pleural invasion (OR=2.347, P=0.024), age≤53.5 years (OR=2.594, P=0.020) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. In addition, in the tumor with diameter≥1.55 cm (OR=0.615, P=0.183), although the cut-off value of 1.55 cm had no significant difference, it still suggested that tumor diameter was an important risk factor of lymph node metastasis. Conclusion In lung adenocarcinoma with T1 stage, the large tumor diameter, the low degree of differentiation, the high ratio of consolidation, and the micropapillary or solid pathological subtypes are more prone to have lymph node metastasis.