Low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide for the prevention of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

Objectives: Lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular complications after pulmonary resection. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical effects of low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) on postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in untreated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

Methods: Of 824 patients who underwent an elective pulmonary resection procedure for lung cancer in two specialized thoracic centres between 2008 and 2011, 202 consecutive patients who had airflow limitation before surgery were included in this retrospective study. The results were compared between patients who did and those who did not receive hANP during the perioperative period. The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Postoperative haemodynamics, white blood cell (WBC) counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were also examined. Furthermore, propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce treatment selection bias from patient characteristics.

Results: The incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications was significantly lower in the hANP group than in the control group (14 vs 36%, P < 0.01). The propensity score matching analysis confirmed the significantly decreased frequency of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in the hANP group. Patients in the hANP group showed significantly lower WBC counts and serum CRP levels postoperatively.

Conclusions: Treatment with hANP during the perioperative period had a prophylactic effect against postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.