Financial Burden of Postoperative Adverse Events Following Lobectomy: Cost Analysis From 10 High-Volume Canadian Hospitals

In this article, the authors quantify the financial burden of postoperative adverse events after lobectomy for lung cancer across 10 high-volume Canadian hospitals. Using data from 2017 to 2022, including a mean annual lobectomy volume of 1,150 patients, they estimated that adverse events add $7.31 million Canadian dollars (CAD) annually at the hospital level and more than $48 million CAD nationally. Prolonged air leak was the dominant complication, occurring in 17 percent of patients and accounting for 51 percent of adverse event occurrences and $4.6 million CAD in annual costs. Pneumonia, atrial arrhythmia, respiratory failure, and empyema were additional major cost drivers. The authors conclude that value-based quality improvement should prioritize high-impact complications, especially prolonged air leak.