Annals of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery : official journal of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia
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Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Dec 2010
Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for late bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy.
Pneumonectomy is still a high-risk surgical procedure. Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula is an especially severe complication with a high mortality rate. Although several reports have discussed risk factors for early bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy, only a few have reported them for late bronchopleural fistula. We reviewed cases of late bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy and investigated its risk factors. ⋯ A preoperative low-serum albumin level, indicative of poor nutritional status, is a risk factor for late bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy for nonsmall cell lung cancer.