Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate the morbidity, mortality and risk factors of early postoperative respiratory failure after lung resection of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods302 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis performed by surgical resection of lung were recruited from Jan 2002 to Dec 2007 in our hospital and analyzed retrospectively. Data from observation group included 19 patients with early respiratory failure after operation and a control group included 35 patients sampled radomly from 283 patients with non-failure of respiratory were observed and carried out by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis were carried out further for data with significant difference by univariate analysis to identify risk factors associated with early respiratory failure followed by lung resection of pulmonary tuberculosis. Hospital days and mortality were compared between the respiratory failure group and non-failure of respiratory group. ResultsAmong 302 cases, 19 cases (6.3%) were diagnosed as respiratory failure. Logistic regression analysis showed that age and operative Methods were associated with early postoperative respiratory failure. The mortality and hospital days were significantly different between the respiratory failure group and non-failure of respiratory group. Hospital costs was increasing significantly. ConclusionsPatients with older age and extensive surgical range have a higher risk of respiratory failure after lung resection of pulmonary tuberculosis. Early postoperative respiratory failure does not only increase risk of mortality of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, but to prolong hospital days and to increase hospital costs.

Key words: tuberculosis, pulmonary/surgery, postoperative complications, respiratory insufficiency