RESUMO
The present report analyses the immediate and long-term results of treatment of surgical complications in 998 patients with lung cancer. There were complications in 37,5% of the cases, with a fatality rate of 14,7%. The most frequent complications were as follows: postoperative empyema with bronchopleural fistula (41,3%), bleeding (12,0%), pneumonia (9,8%), pulmonary arteries embolism (8,1%) and heart rhythm disorders (8,1%). Adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment does not increase the rate of surgical complications as compared to just surgery alone (p = 0,1). Postoperative empyema with bronchopleural fistula requires intensive therapy, affects the quality of life of patients but does not decrease survival rates as compared to patients at the same stages of disease with uncomplicated course (p = 0,001). Timely drainage of pleural cavity accompanied by its adequate sanation does not differ (p = 0,1) from usage thoracoplasty (MS 29,9 months to 33,2 months).
