Risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly cancer patients and countermeasures

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly cancer patients and countermeasures. Methods: We enrolled 107 elderly cancer patients admitted to Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital from February 2017 to February 2019 and randomly assigned them to either receive the targeted intervention for preventing pulmonary infection (54 cases, the research group) or to receive the routine intervention (53 cases, the control group). We compared the nursing satisfaction and VAS scores before and after the intervention between the two groups, and explored the risk factors for pulmonary infection, as well as the relevant countermeasures. Results: The nursing satisfaction and postoperative VAS scores in the research group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.050). Multivariate analysis suggested that smoking, degree of differentiation, type of surgery, and intraoperative blood loss were independent risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly cancer patients (P<0.050). The intervention by the automatic vibrating sputum excretion machine could effectively improve the sputum excretion of infected patients (P<0.050). Conclusion: Risk factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly cancer patients include smoking, degree of differentiation, type of surgery, and intraoperative blood loss. Corresponding interventions can essentially enhance the nursing satisfaction and improve and the sputum excretion of infected patients.