B-type natriuretic peptide-guided risk assessment for postoperative complications in lung cancer surgery

Since lung cancer surgery is still associated with a high complication rate, it is important to efficiently identify patients at high risk for postoperative complications following lung cancer surgery. We previously reported that elderly patients with elevated preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (>30 pg/mL) have an increased risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation and cardiopulmonary complications following lung cancer surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of BNP-guided risk classification for postoperative complications after lung cancer surgery.

A total of 675 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery for lung cancer in two specialized thoracic centers between 2007 and 2011 were included in this retrospective study. We evaluated the association between the incidence of postoperative complications and preoperative BNP levels.

Univariable and multivariable stepwise logistic regression analyses revealed that an elevated preoperative BNP level was the most significant predictor of postoperative complications. All patients were classified by their preoperative BNP levels into a normal group (<30 pg/mL), a mildly elevated group (30-100 pg/mL), and a severely elevated group (>100 pg/mL). The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the severely and mildly elevated groups than in the control group (85 % and 47 % vs. 11 %, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, there were more severe complications and a higher mortality rate in the severely elevated group.

Risk assessment using preoperative BNP levels was clinically useful for the identification of patients at high risk for postoperative complications.