Background. The aim our study was to determine incidence and predisposing factors of atelectasis following pulmonary lobectomy. Methods and Results. Retrospective study of our prospective database included 282 patients. Postlobectomy atelectasis (APL) was defined as ipsi- or contralateral atelectasis with whiteout of the involved lobe or segment on the chest radiograph requiring bronchoscopy. Postlobectomy atelectasis occurred in 18 (6.4%) patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remained the only preoperative variable predicted of APL (p < 0.05). Patients undergoing right upper lobectomy (RUL), either alone or in combination with the right middle lobe had a significantly greater incidence of APL when compared with all other types of resections (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Postlobectomy atelectasis is an important postlobectomy complication occurring in 6.4% of all lobectomies. Patients with COPD and undergoing RUL are at the higher risk for APL and prophylactic measures to prevent it are necessary.

        Key words: postoperative atelectasis, lobectomy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease