Association of preoperative systemic corticosteroid therapy with surgical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risks and benefits associated with preoperative steroids in COPD patients. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improved Program database was used to identify 92 COPD patients who underwent surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 2009 and 2013. COPD was diagnosed based on postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity ratio <0.7 and a history of smoking. The exposure of interest was preoperative systemic corticosteroid therapy. The primary outcomes were PPCs and wound complications. Cardiac and urinary complications along with unplanned readmission or reoperation and death were also evaluated. RESULTS: Overall 42.4% of patients received preoperative systemic corticosteroids. Postoperative wound complications were significantly more frequent in COPD patients who received preoperative systemic corticosteroids compared to patients who did not (10.3% vs. none, respectively, P = 0.03). However, PPCs were not significantly different between patients who received preoperative systemic corticosteroids and patients who did not (17.9% vs. 13.2%, respectively, P = 0.53). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that preoperative administration of systemic corticosteroids in stable COPD patients is associated with an increased risk of postoperative wound complications but may not reduce PPCs.