[Postoperative complications after thoracic surgery]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative complications are frequent after lung resections (pneumonectomy, lobectomy, wedge resection).
• Early and prompt management is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Chest radiography and CT are vital diagnostic tools.

Observation:

• This paper reviews frequent and severe complications based on their timing of occurrence.
• Early complications include bronchopleural fistula, empyema, atelectasis, pneumonia, hemothorax, chylothorax, pulmonary edema, lobar torsion, cardiac hernia, gossypiboma, and esophagopleural fistula.
• Late complications include bronchopleural fistula, esophagopleural fistula, postpneumonectomy syndrome, chest wall arteriovenous fistula, and local tumor recurrence.

Findings:

• A comprehensive list of early and late postoperative complications after lung resection is presented.
• The timing of complication occurrence (early vs. late) is a key factor in classification and management.
• Radiographic and CT findings are essential for identifying these complications.

Implications:

• Accurate and timely diagnosis of postoperative complications improves patient management and reduces morbidity.
• Understanding the spectrum of early and late complications aids surgeons and radiologists in clinical decision-making.
• This review serves as a reference for recognizing and managing thoracic surgery complications.