ABSTRACT
To evaluate the morbidity and mortality associated with thoracic surgery in adult patients over a period of one year. Prospective, descriptive, clinical study. Thirty patients [24 men and 6 women], who underwent various thoracic surgeries over a period of one year [1 December 2008 to 31 December 2009], were studied. The primary outcome was discharge from the hospital within 14 days after surgery. The mean age of the patients was 28.37 +/- 14.12 yrs. The surgical procedures were as follows: 13[43%] decortications, 6[20%] thoracoplasty, 6[20%] excision of a cyst, 2[7%] segmentectomy, 2[7%] lobectomy, and 1[3%] pneumonectomy. Mean duration of surgery and anaesthesia were 134.5 +/- 44.79 min and 144.5 +/- 45.59 min respectively and most of the patients [26/30[87%]] were extuabted in the operating room. Twenty [68.97%] patients were discharged from the hospital 14 days. Factors associated with prolonged hospital length of stay [>14 days] included: long duration of smoking, low FEV1, metabolic acidosis; higher intraoperative blood loss and longer duration of surgery. We conclude that patients having above risk factors should be aggressively managed and monitored intra and postoperatively