Pulmonary morbidity related to diaphragm surgery performed for gynecological cancers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pulmonary morbidity related to diaphragm surgery performed for gynecological cancers and to identify the impact of transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical and pathologic data of 232 women who had undergone diaphragm surgery as a part of cytoreductive surgery procedures performed for gynecological cancers. RESULTS: Transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy occurred in 52 patients (22.4%). Rate of pulmonary complications among patients who had a transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy was higher compared with patients who did not have a transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy (40.4% vs 20.6%, p=0.004). Transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy [odds ratio (OR), 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-5.92; p=0.016], colon resection (OR, 5.21; 95% CI, 2.34-11.63; p<0.001), ileostomy (OR, 19.61; 95% CI, 1.64-250.0; p=0.019), and any extra-pulmonary complication occurrence (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.13-4.88; p=0.023) were identified as independent predictors of pulmonary morbidity. Patients with transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy developed pleural effusion, pleural effusion necessitating drainage, pneumothorax, pneumonitis, and atelectasis more frequently compared with patients who did not have transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy. Rate of admission to postoperative intensive care of patients with transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy (30.8%) was significantly higher than that of patients without transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy (12.2%) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Transdiaphragmatic thoracotomy is an independent predictor of pulmonary morbidity among patients who underwent diaphragm surgery. Avoiding accidental transdiaphragmatic thoracotomies with maximal attention and performing full-thickness resection procedures with alternative surgical techniques preventing a thoracotomy may help decrease pulmonary morbidity rates and postoperative care costs.