Factors influencing lower respiratory tract infection in older patients after general anesthesia

Pulmonary complication is common in older patients after surgery. We analyzed risk factors of lower respiratory tract infection after general anesthesia among older patients.

In this retrospective investigation, we included older patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors of lower respiratory tract infection.

A total 418 postoperative patients with general anesthesia were included; the incidence of lower respiratory tract infection was 9.33%. Ten cases were caused by gram-positive bacteria, 26 cases by gram-negative bacteria, and 2 cases by fungus. We found significant differences in age, smoking, diabetes, oral/nasal tracheal intubation, and surgery duration. Logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥70 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.028, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.115-3.646), smoking (OR 2.314, 95% CI 1.073-4.229), diabetes (OR 2.185, 95% CI 1.166-4.435), nasotracheal intubation (OR 3.528, 95% CI 1.104-5.074), and duration of surgery ≥180 minutes (OR 1.334, 95% CI 1.015-1.923) were independent risk factors of lower respiratory tract infections.

Older patients undergoing general anesthesia after tracheal intubation have a high risk of lower respiratory tract infections. Clinical interventions should be provided to prevent pulmonary infections in patients with relevant risk factors.