Table 2 Pre-, intra- and postoperative course and characteristics

Preoperative characteristic

Preoperative pulmonary infection

5 (17.24)

3 (20.00)

2 (14.29)

Clinical presentation

Fever

13 (44.83)

3 (20.00)

10 (71.42)

0.005

Cough

4 (13.79)

0 (0)

4 (28.57)

0.042

Dyspnea

6 (20.69)

2 (13.33)

4 (28.57)

0.390

Preoperative flogosis indices

 WBC count (× 10³/uL)

10.84 ± 4.33

11.54 ± 3.34

10.14 ± 5.31

0.565

 PCR (mg/L)

142.26 ± 131.77

87.60 ± 128.70

210.60 ± 114.06

0.190

 PCT (ng/mL)

2.16 ± 3.10

3.50 ± 4.66

1.49 ± 2.64

0.533

Preoperative treatment

 Antibiotic therapy

29 (100)

15 (100)

14 (100)

 Corticosteroids

5 (17.24)

5 (33.33)

0 (0)

Preoperative chest tube

9 (31.03)

7 (46.67)

2 (14.29)

0.109

Preoperative fibrinolytic therapy

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Preoperative lung re-expansion

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Intraoperative course

Conversion to thoracotomy

1 (3.45)

1 (6.67)

0 (0)

Number of chest tube

 1

25 (86.20)

13 (86.67)

12 (85.71)

 2

4 (13.80)

2 (13.33)

2 (14.29)

Estimated blood loss (ml)

118 ± 73.5

110 ± 63

126 ± 84

Re-expansion of the lung

29 (100)

15 (100)

14 (100)

Operating time

104.68 ± 39.01

96.67 ± 23.84

115 ± 53.15

0.369

Postoperative course

Clavien–Dindo classification

 I

18 (62.07)

6 (40.00)

12 (85.71)

 II

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 III

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 IV

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

ICU admission

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Postoperative antibiotic therapy

29 (100)

15 (100)

14 (100)

Postoperative Hb value (g/dL)

8.80 ± 0.96

9.40 ± 0.87

8.20 ± 1.06

LOS (days)

9.00 ± 5.59

6.44 ± 2.35

12.29 ± 6.96

0.033

Mean pain duration (days)

2.80 ± 0.83

2.50 ± 0.70

3.00 ± 1.00

0.591

Painkillers needed

17 (58.62)

7 (46.67)

10 (71.43)

0.167

Chest tube removal (days)

7.56 ± 4.50

5.56 ± 2.06

10.14 ± 5.58

0.038