Factors influencing lower respiratory tract infection in older patients after general anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary complication is common in older patients after surgery. We analyzed risk factors of lower respiratory tract infection after general anesthesia among older patients. METHODS: In this retrospective investigation, we included older patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors of lower respiratory tract infection. RESULTS: A total 418 postoperative patients with general anesthesia were included; the incidence of lower respiratory tract infection was 9.33%. Ten cases were caused by gram-positive bacteria, 26 cases by gram-negative bacteria, and 2 cases by fungus. We found significant differences in age, smoking, diabetes, oral/nasal tracheal intubation, and surgery duration. Logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥70 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.028, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.115–3.646), smoking (OR 2.314, 95% CI 1.073–4.229), diabetes (OR 2.185, 95% CI 1.166–4.435), nasotracheal intubation (OR 3.528, 95% CI 1.104–5.074), and duration of surgery ≥180 minutes (OR 1.334, 95% CI 1.015–1.923) were independent risk factors of lower respiratory tract infections. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients undergoing general anesthesia after tracheal intubation have a high risk of lower respiratory tract infections. Clinical interventions should be provided to prevent pulmonary infections in patients with relevant risk factors.