The potential role of postbronchoscopic fever on the postoperative outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

Postbronchoscopic fever is a common adverse reaction in operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. To explore the potential role of postbronchoscopic fever on the postoperative outcomes in patients with NSCLC. Patients diagnosed with NSCLC were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: fever group (postbronchoscopic fever) and normal group (without postbronchoscopic fever). Seventy-five cases were enrolled. Twelve cases (16%) developed postbronchoscopic fever. The fever group was found to have longer postoperative fever time (1.9 vs. 0.8 days, P<0.05), more postoperative antibiotic use (3.4 vs. 2.5 days, P<0.05) and longer drainage (7.2 vs. 4.7 days, P<0.05). WBC counts of the fever group were higher than those of the no-fever group on the first (14.5 vs. 11.4×109/L, P<0.05) and third (11.0 vs. 9.2, P<0.05) postoperative day. Outcomes were different especially in the older subgroup (>60 years). Postbronchoscopic fever may be a predictor of longer postoperative fever, longer drainage and more antibiotic use in patients with NSCLC postoperatively.