Neuroanesthesia & neurocritical care
Incidence and risk factors of pulmonary complications after lumbar spine surgery, 2010–2019
Authors' conclusion
The results of our study revealed a relatively low incidence of pulmonary complications subsequent to lumbar spine surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery, Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2010–2019
- Participants
- 932,563 lumbar spine operations
- Exposure
- Patients with vs without pulmonary complications after lumbar spine surgery
- Outcome
- Incidence of pulmonary complications after lumbar spine surgery
Methodological detailsnational database (Nationwide Inpatient Sample)
- National database (Nationwide Inpatient Sample)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall incidence of pulmonary complications
Overall incidence of pulmonary complications after lumbar spine surgery
3.54%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Outcomes in patients with pulmonary complications
- Prolonged LOS, higher in-hospital charges and more preoperative complications with pulmonary complications
- P < 0.001
Factors associated with pulmonary complications
- Associated preoperative comorbidities: alcohol abuse, deficiency anemia, coagulopathy, diabetes (uncomplicated), drug abuse, metastatic cancer, psychoses, renal failure, weight loss
- Associated postoperative complications: blood transfusion, cardiac arrest, postoperative delirium, septicemia, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhage/seroma/hematoma, nerve injuries, wound infection
- Also associated: advanced age (≥ 75 years), number of comorbidity, insurance type (Medicaid and Private insurance), teaching hospital, urban hospital
Original publication
Incidence and risk factors of pulmonary complications after lumbar spine surgery, 2010–2019. Perioper Med (Lond). Published 19 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →