Pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after major abdominal surgery are common and associated with significant morbidity and high cost of care. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for PPCs after major abdominal surgery.

The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005-2012 was queried for patients who underwent major abdominal surgery (esophagectomy, gastrectomy, pacnreatectomy, enterectomy, hepatectomy, colectomy, and proctectomy). Predictors of PPCs were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Of 165,196 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery 9595 (5.8%) suffered PPCs (pneumonia 3.2%, prolonged ventilator support ≥48 h 3.0%, and unplanned intubation 2.8%). On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of overall and individual PPCs include esophagectomy, advanced American Society of Anesthesiology Classification System, dependent functional status, prolonged operative time, age ≥80 y, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperative shock, ascites, and smoking. Obesity was not a risk factor. Female gender was overall protective for PPCs.

PPCs after abdominal procedures are associated with a number of clinical variables. Esophageal operations and American Society of Anesthesiology Classification System were the strongest predictors. These results provide a framework for identifying patients at risk for developing pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery.