Association between inspired oxygen fraction and development of postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background

Limited data exist to guide oxygen administration during one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery. We hypothesised that high intraoperative inspired oxygen fraction during lung resection surgery requiring one-lung ventilation is independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs).

Methods

We performed this retrospective multicentre study using two integrated perioperative databases (Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group and Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database) to study adult thoracic surgical procedures using one-lung ventilation. The primary outcome was a composite of PPCs (atelectasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, respiratory failure, reintubation, and prolonged ventilation >48 h). The exposure of interest was high inspired oxygen fraction (FiO₂), defined by area under the curve of a FiO₂ threshold > 80%. Univariate analysis and logistic regression modelling assessed the association between intraoperative FiO₂ and PPCs.

Results

Across four US medical centres, 141/2733 (5.2%) procedures conducted in 2716 patients (55% female; mean age 66 yr) resulted in PPCs. FiO₂ was univariately associated with PPCs (adjusted OR [aOR]: 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.33, P=0.012). Logistic regression modelling showed that duration of one-lung ventilation (aOR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41, P=0.022), but not the time-weighted average FiO₂ (aOR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02, P=0.165), was associated with PPCs.

Conclusions

Our results do not support limiting the inspired oxygen fraction for the purpose of reducing postoperative pulmonary complications in thoracic surgery involving one-lung ventilation.