Development of a scoring system to predict postoperative pulmonary complications in a tertiary care center

Year 2025, Volume: 38 Issue: 2, 141 - 149, 30.05.2025

Ceren Degirmenci , Ahmet Demir , Lütfi Çöplü , Ebru Damadoğlu

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1707988

Abstract

Objective: There is no existing scoring system to predict postoperative risks, such as the Canet scoring system, for patients referred to
pulmonology clinics.The aim of this study was to develop a scoring system to predict postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs)
in patients referred to the pulmonology clinics for preoperative evaluation.
Patients ans Methods: This prospective, single-center study included patients referred for preoperative evaluation by surgical
departments to the pulmonary medicine clinic at a tertiary care center. Preoperative demographic data and pulmonary evaluation
results were recorded. Patients were followed postoperatively until discharge, with follow-up phone calls at the first month to assess
pulmonary symptoms. Mortality data was recorded at the third month.
Results: A total of 203 patients were included between January 2018 and February 2020. Of these, 55.7% were female, with a mean age
of 60.59 years. PPC rate at the first month was 36.4%, and 22.7% had ongoing symptoms or new complications. The most common
complication was bronchospasm (23.2%). Significant preoperative risk factors included surgery type, preoperative cough/dyspnea,
and the season of surgery (p<0.05). Pulmonary complications were three times more frequent in patients undergoing upper abdominal
or thoracic surgery.
Conclusion: Avoiding surgery during symptomatic periods and making optimal preoperative preparations may reduce the PPC rates.

Keywords

Preoperative pulmonary evaluation , Postoperative pulmonary complication , Canet risk scoring

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