Feasibility of aspirin continuation during the perioperative period for pulmonary resection in lung cancer patients: a retrospective study at a single institute in Japan

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of aspirin continuation during the perioperative period for pulmonary resection in lung cancer patients.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in 46 patients who were taking aspirin and underwent pulmonary resection. The indications for aspirin were generally a cardiovascular or cerebrovascular comorbidity. Whether to continue or discontinue aspirin was determined based on the severity of the cardiovascular or cerebrovascular comorbidity, along with the patient’s overall condition. The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared between patients continuing and those discontinuing aspirin.

Results

Twenty patients continued (group C) and 26 patients discontinued (group D) aspirin. The length of the operation (226 ± 97 min in group C vs. 189 ± 90 min in group D), intraoperative bleeding (234 ± 232 vs. 204 ± 367 g) and average pleural discharge on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3 (331, 230 and 215 vs. 304, 210 and 174 ml/day) showed no significant differences between the two groups. The postoperative complication rates were also not significantly different between the two groups [eight patients (40 %) in group C vs. nine patients (35 %) in group D].

Conclusions

Continuous administration of aspirin during the perioperative period for pulmonary resection in lung cancer patients appears to be clinically feasible in the Japanese population.