Zhang R, et al. - Researchers assessed 626 patients (285 women, 341 men; median age: 67 years) who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy or anatomical segmentectomy for confirmed or suspected early-stage lung cancer or metastasis at their institution, to ascertain the usefulness of the preoperative determination of serum biomarkers to refine risk stratification in this patient population. Outcomes revealed 90-day mortality, cardiopulmonary complication and overall morbidity rates of 1.0%, 13.1%, and 18.1%, respectively. Preoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level emerged as an independent predictor of cardiopulmonary complications; for every 100 U/l increase in preoperative serum LDH, a 2-fold increase in the odds of cardiopulmonary complications was noted. These findings emphasize incorporating early serum LDH measurements as a readily available method into the risk assessment process prior to major lung resection.