What are the complications that can occur following lung resection surgery?

Pulmonary
  • Pulmonary oedema (9%)
  • Post-pneumonectomy syndrome
  • Orthodeoxia–platypnoea syndrome
  • Lobar torsion (<0.5%)
  • Pneumonia
  • Atelectasis
  • Haemorrhage
  • Chronic respiratory failure
Pleural
  • Prolonged air leak and persistent pleural space
  • Bronchopleural fistula
  • Empyema
  • Chylothorax
Cardiovascular
  • Arrhythmias (AF most common)
  • Thromboembolic disease
Other
  • Wound infection
  • Phrenic nerve injury
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
  • Chronic pain
  • Death (2%)