Prediction of cardiopulmonary morbidity after resection for lung cancer: Stair climbing test complications after lung cancer surgery

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the role of a modified stair climbing test in predicting postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Methods: A consecutive series of 150 patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for lung carcinoma formed the prospective database of this study. All patients performed a preoperative modified stair climbing test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. Results: With univariate analysis, the patients with complications had a lower pre-exercise and postexercise percentage of oxygen saturation. PaO2 levels were found to be lower and a greater change in oxygen desaturation during exercise was noted. Logistic regression analysis showed that the percent of oxygen saturation pre-exercise and the change in percent of oxygen desaturation during exercise were independent and reliable predictors of cardiopulmonary morbidity. Conclusions: A modified stair climbing test is a safe, economical and simple test capable of predicting cardiopulmonary complications.