Outcomes of lung cancer surgery in patients with coronary artery disease: a decade of experience at a single institution

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the surgical outcomes of surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

Among 805 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC at our hospital within a recent 10-year period, 43 (5.3 %) had a history of CAD. We analyzed the surgical outcomes and risk factors for postoperative complications in these 43 patients.

Results

The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 2 and 42 %, respectively. The morbidity rate was significantly higher in the patients with CAD than in those without CAD (P < 0.01). Postoperative cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events occurred in four patients (9 %). Having two of the following was significantly associated with the development of postoperative complications: decreased cardiac function, respiratory dysfunction, or deteriorated renal function (p = 0.04). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates of the patients with CAD were 75.6 and 64.5 %, respectively; comparable with those of the patients without CAD; at 77.9 % and 72.5 %, respectively (p = 0.46 and 0.69).

Conclusions

Patients with NSCLC and a history of CAD are at higher risk of complications after pulmonary resection. Combined decreased organ function is a risk factor for postoperative complications. CAD did not influence the long-term outcomes of patients after pulmonary resection for NSCLC.