“Pulmonary complications remain relatively high in morbidities that arise after liver surgery and are associated with increased length of hospital stay and higher cost. Identification of possible risk factors in this retrospective analysis may help reduce operative morbidity and achieve better outcomes.”

“The predominant pulmonary complication in this series is pleural effusion (76 patients, 95%). Univariate analysis found that older age, higher body mass index (BMI), chronic obstructive lung disease, asthma, heart disease, hepatitis C infection, heavy smoking, American Society of Anesthesiology class III and IV, hepatectomy site, combined surgeries, perioperative blood transfusion, and cirrhosis of liver were associated with PPE. Only older age, higher BMI, asthma, heavy smoker, combined gastrointestinal surgeries, and perioperative blood transfusion were identified as independent risk factors in multivariate analysis.”

Tsai KY, et al Risk Factors Analysis of Postoperative Pleural Effusion after Liver Resection. Dig Surg. 2019;36(6):514-521. doi: 10.1159/000494218. Epub 2018 Dec 5. Emory Users request via Interlibrary Loan