ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) after gastroduodenal operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 1999 to December 2003, clinical data of 508 patients undergoing gastroduodenal operation were analyzed retrospectively. Risk factors for PPC were screened.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complication rate of PPC was 25.8% (131/508). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR=1.052), history of respiratory diseases (OR=2.915), serum albumin level (OR=0.995), length of intratracheal intubation (OR=1.005), length of nasogastric intubation (OR=1.059) and length of postoperative mechanical ventilation (OR=1.367) were risk factors for PPC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with old age, lower serum albumin level, intraoperative or postoperative nasogastric intubation, intratracheal intubation or long-term mechanical ventilation were more prone to develop PPC.</p>