Clinical Characteristics of 30-day Unplanned Reoperations after Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of 30-day unplanned reoperations after thoracic surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with unplanned reoperations within 30 days after thoracic surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2016 to May 2021. Results The 30-day unplanned reoperations showed the incidence of 0.75%(79/10 543),the median hospital stay of 19(12,37) days,and the median hospitalization cost of 109 929.11(80 549.46,173 491.87) yuan.Twenty-two(27.85%) patients received blood transfusion and 26(32.91%) underwent intensive care.The period between May 2016 and May 2017 witnessed the most unplanned reoperations.The main causes of unplanned reoperations after thoracic surgery were bleeding(21.52%),chylothorax(17.72%),pulmonary air leakage(16.46%),atelectasis(13.92%),and gastroesophageal fistula(11.39%).Specifically,the main causes of unplanned reoperations in the patients of non-esophagus/cardia group were bleeding,pulmonary air leakage,atelectasis,and chylothorax,and those in the patients of esophagus/cardia group were gastroesophageal fistula,incision infection and poor healing,bleeding,and chylothorax.Among all the patients with unplanned reoperations,4 patients died,17 improved,and 58 recovered. Conclusions The patients who underwent unplanned reoperations after thoracic surgery had a long hospital stay and high hospitalization costs. Bleeding,chylothorax,pulmonary air leakage,atelectasis,and gastroesophageal fistula were the main reasons for the unplanned reoperations.