Laparoscopic surgery in patients with interstitial lung disease: A single-center retrospective observational cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery requiring longer operative times and artificial pneumoperitoneum may affect pulmonary function; its feasibility in patients with interstitial lung disease remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in patients with interstitial lung disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study and examined the clinical data of patients with interstitial lung disease who had undergone abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The primary end-point was the incidence of pulmonary complications. The secondary end-points were non-pulmonary complications and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients who had undergone abdominal surgery were diagnosed with interstitial lung disease after a review of their clinical and imaging records. Laparoscopic surgery and open surgery were performed in 11 and 18 patients, respectively. Acute exacerbation occurred in one (9%) patient in the laparoscopic group and three patients (17%) in the open group; all had undergone emergency surgery. Postoperative pneumonia did not occur in any patients. Non-pulmonary complications occurred in one patient (9%) in the laparoscopic group and two patients (11%) in the open group. One patient in each group died of acute exacerbation during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Neither acute exacerbation nor pulmonary complications occurred after elective laparoscopic or open surgery in patients with interstitial lung disease. The risk of acute exacerbation after elective laparoscopic surgery may not be as high as that after elective thoracic surgery.