Risk factors of pneumonia after thoracic aortic surgery

Pneumonia is a common complication and a significant cause of mortality following cardiovascular surgery. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for pneumonia after thoracic aortic surgery.

A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of 380 patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery between January 2016 and December 2019. Patients were classified into pneumonia and non-pneumonia groups based on postoperative outcomes. Pneumonia was further categorized as aspiration pneumonia, ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP), or other types. Risk factors were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses.

Postoperative pneumonia during hospitalization occurred in 30 patients (7.9 %), including 18 cases of aspiration pneumonia (4.7 %) and 9 cases of VAP (2.4 %). Risk factors identified included hoarseness before surgery, aortic arch replacement, longer anesthesia time, longer intubation duration, necessity for tracheostomy, cerebrovascular disease after surgery, and postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Multivariate analysis suggested that hoarseness before surgery and the necessity for tracheostomy were independent risk factors for pneumonia during hospitalization.

This study identified key risk factors for postoperative pneumonia after thoracic aortic surgery. These findings may aid in identifying high-risk patients and implementing preventive strategies to reduce postoperative pneumonia.