Postoperative complications of pulmonary resection

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Diagnostic Radiology
• Thoracic Imaging

Background:

• Thoracic surgery volume has risen since the mid-2000s, with a shift towards surgical resection for lung cancer.
• Minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become more prevalent, improving patient outcomes.
• Increased surgical procedures lead to a rise in postoperative complications, necessitating radiologist awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review early and late postoperative complications following lung resection surgeries.
• To enhance radiologists' ability to diagnose conditions in patients presenting from thoracic surgical procedures.
• To provide a comprehensive overview for general radiologists managing thoracic surgical patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of early and late complications after lung resection.
• Focus on conditions relevant to general radiologists encountering postoperative thoracic surgical patients.
• Discussion of findings related to various lung resection techniques.

Main Results:

• Postoperative findings and complications are increasingly common due to the rise in thoracic surgeries.
• Radiologists must be prepared to diagnose a spectrum of complications, both early and late.
• Understanding VATS-related and other lung resection complications is critical.

Conclusions:

• The increasing prevalence of thoracic surgery necessitates improved radiologist recognition of postoperative complications.
• A thorough understanding of early and late complications is vital for accurate diagnosis and patient management.
• This review serves as a guide for radiologists managing patients after lung resection.