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Lung-diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide predicts early complications after cardiac surgery
Toshiyuki Kuwata1, Ikuko Shibasaki2, Koji Ogata2
1Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan. tkuwata@dokkyomed.ac.jp.
Surgery Today
|February 2, 2019
Summary
Reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) predicts complications after cardiac surgery. Preoperative DLCO testing can help assess patient prognosis and surgical risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Preoperative pulmonary dysfunction is linked to worse outcomes in cardiac surgery.
- Assessing pulmonary function preoperatively is crucial for surgical risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) can predict postoperative complications in cardiac surgery patients.
- To evaluate DLCO as a prognostic marker for cardiac surgical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 408 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2008 and 2015 were analyzed.
- DLCO was measured preoperatively, with reduced DLCO defined as <70% of predicted value.
- Logistic regression and propensity score matching were used to identify predictors of complications.
Main Results:
- Reduced DLCO (<70%) was found to be an independent predictor of postoperative complications (OR, 3.270; P=0.008).
- Complications were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (P<0.001).
- DLCO itself was not directly associated with in-hospital mortality (P=0.275).
Conclusions:
- Preoperative DLCO is a powerful predictor of postoperative complications following cardiac surgery.
- DLCO measurements offer valuable prognostic information for patients undergoing cardiac procedures.
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