Complications and Surgical Procedures Affecting the Physical Activity and Recovery Process of Perioperative Lung Cancer Patients

[Purpose] The purpose of study was to investigate complications in patients who had underwent lung cancer resection and to examine which surgical procedures affect improvements in physical activity (PA). [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 71 patients, who had underwent pulmonary resection, and were assessed for postoperative complications within postoperative day (POD) 7. Forty-four patients without complications were divided by operative procedure into 27 patients with thoracotomy, 11 patients with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and 6 patients received extended surgery. Respiratory function, biochemical data, intraoperative findings, and thoracic drain placement days were investigated. PA (number of steps, energy consumption, active time) on postoperative days 2-7 were compared. [Results] Atrial fibrillation was the most common complication seen. The extended surgery group had a significantly greater quantity of operative blood loss, and longer operative and anesthesia times compared with the other groups. Furthermore, PA in the extended surgery group showed a reduction from POD 4 to 6. [Conclusion] Extended surgery was invasive and PA improvement was delayed compared to the other procedures.