Surgery for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND As part of an evaluation of the lung cancer surgery at Akershus University hospital we wanted to describe the lung cancer surgery programme, assess 30-day mortality and review complications. MATERIAL AND METHOD We retrospectively examined medical records of all patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for non-small-cell lung cancer. RESULTS The 99 patients operated on were aged 37-83 years (mean 63 years). 31% were women. 30-day mortality was 5% in total; 4% for lobectomy and 8% for pneumonectomy. No complication was recorded in 68% of the cases. INTERPRETATION Age and gender distribution in the sample was in line with the experience of others. The results were in accordance with international recommendations, for example from the British Thoracic Society: 30-day mortality not in excess of 4% for lobectomy and 8% for pneumonectomy.