Effect of Sugammadex on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Rapid Recovery in Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effects of sugammadex on postoperative pulmonary complications and rapid recovery in lung cancer patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 1131 lung cancer patients. Of these, 631 patients received sugammadex at the end of anesthesia, while 500 patients did not. To mitigate potential confounding factors, propensity score matching (PSM) was employed at a 1:1 ratio. After matching, 435 patients were obtained from each group. Patients who received sugammadex at the end of anesthesia were classified into Group S (n = 435) and those who did not receive sugammadex were Group P (n = 435). Postoperative pulmonary complications, indicators of recovery after surgery, nausea and vomiting, pain and lung infection scores and biochemical indices were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared to Group P, Group S demonstrated statistically significant improvements across multiple perioperative and postoperative outcomes. Group S exhibited a lower incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (χ2 = 9.52, p = 0.002), as well as reduced durations for several key time intervals: from the cessation of muscle relaxation to extubation (Z = 12.96, p < 0.001), from the conclusion of surgery to extubation (Z = 13.66, p < 0.001), and total operating theatre occupancy (Z = 5.81, p < 0.001). Furthermore, Group S showed accelerated recovery in terms of time to first oral intake (drink: Z = 3.80, p < 0.001; eat: Z = 3.80, p < 0.001), time to defecate (Z = 3.25, p = 0.001), and time to chest tube removal (Z = 5.04, p < 0.001). Pain management outcomes were also superior in Group S, with lower motor visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at both 24 h (Z = 4.71, p < 0.001) and 48 h (Z = 5.05, p < 0.001) postoperatively. Group S additionally demonstrated a lower modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (mCPIS) (Z = 4.68, p < 0.001), reduced complication rates during the general anesthesia awakening period (χ2 = 23.54, p < 0.001), and a lower incidence of renal function abnormalities (χ2 =12.65, p < 0.001). Certain parameters, including total hospital stay duration and postoperative drainage volume, did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sugammadex can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer patients treated with VATS, and help promote their rapid postoperative recovery with significant clinical benefits.