Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients with intractable pneumothorax and constructed a risk assessment model.
Materials and methods: Between January 2004 and December 2011, 83 elderly patients( age, 75 years or older) underwent an operation at our hospital for intractable pneumothorax. Preoperative factors of these cases were assessed to clarify which is contributory to the development of postoperative complications by using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Thirty-five patients (42.2%) developed postoperative complications. In univariate analysis, total protein, albumin level, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine level, Paco2, body mass index, performance status, and preoperative respiratory complications showed statistically significant associations with the occurrence of postoperative complications. In the multivariate analysis, the performance status showed a statistically significant association( 95% confidence interval, 1.17〜4.44;odds ratio, 2.28;p=0.0157).
Conclusion: The results suggested that the preoperative examinations were useful in predicting postoperative complications in the elderly patients with intractable pneumothorax. Poor performance status, low nutrition, respiratory failure, and preoperative respiratory complications are risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients with intractable pneumothorax.