Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism After Lung Cancer Resection

Of 57,531 patients who underwent lung cancer resection identified from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database, 758 (1.3 percent) were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, which was most likely in patients with locally advanced disease who underwent bilobectomy (6 percent versus 4 percent, P < .001) or pneumonectomy (8 percent versus 5 percent, P < .001). Patients with postoperative pulmonary embolism had increased thirty-day mortality (14 percent versus 3 percent, P < .001), reintubation (25 percent versus 8 percent, P < .001), and readmission (49 percent versus 15 percent, P < .001). Black race (odds ratio, 1.74; 95 percent CI, 1.39-2.16; P < .001), interstitial fibrosis (odds ratio, 1.77; 95 percent CI, 1.15-2.72; P = .009), extent of resection, and increased operative duration were independently predictive, and a minimally invasive approach compared with thoracotomy was protective.