China is gradually becoming an aging society with the change in the demographics of its population. This is a concern because older adult patients tend to have weaker immune systems. In particular, in patients with malignancies, both the malignant tumor itself and the surgical treatment can contribute to further impairments in immune function. The weakened immune system in older adult patients increases their susceptibility to postoperative complications as compared to in younger patients.

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... er, treatments for inpatients often ignore the compromised immune status of older adult patients during the perioperative period which could lead poor prognosis through various complications. In the case presented here, the patient was already immunocompromised before surgery; she developed fever and cough after a surgery for lung cancer and was later diagnosed with a pulmonary infection, which led to respiratory failure. The outcome of the patient was fair after aggressive treatment. This case was an epitome of therapy with the increase of lung cancer surgery. Infection may not be universal, but the factors always existed. We aimed to find out the reasons cause immunosuppression which leads to infection during perioperative period through the case. Meanwhile, we offered possible treatment to improve immune function state by targeting these causes.