Objective To analyze the risk factors of pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic surgery in patients with pulmonary nodules. Methods The clinical data of 104 patients with pulmonary nodules, including gender, age, smoking history, body mass index, hypertension, number of lymph node dissection and education degree were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary nodule resection. According to the presence or absence of postoperative pulmonary complications, patients were divided into complication group and non-complication group, and the risk factors of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with pulmonary nodules were analyzed. Results All 104 patients with pulmonary nodules successfully completed thoracoscopic surgery, among which 21 patients had pulmonary complications (5 cases of pulmonary infection, 2 cases of pneumothorax, 1 case of respiratory failure, 3 cases of pleural effusion, 3 cases of bronchospasm, 3 cases of venous thrombosis of lower limbs and 4 cases of atelectasis), with an incidence of complications of 20.19%. According to the presence or absence of pulmonary complications, the patients were divided into complication group (n=21) and non-complication group (n=83). There were statistically significant differences in age, smoking history, complicated with diabetes, complicated with hypoproteinemia, intraoperative blood loss, first ambulation time, preoperative peak expiratory flow (PEF), operation time, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥60 years, complicated with diabetes, intraoperative blood loss≥200 mL, first ambulation time≥3 days, preoperative PEF<300 L/min and operation time≥120 min were independent risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with pulmonary nodules after thoracoscopic surgery (all P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with pulmonary nodules have a high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic surgery. Age≥60 years old, complicated with diabetes, intraoperative blood loss ≥200 mL, first ambulation time≥3 days, preoperative PEF<300 L/min and operation time ≥120 min are independent risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications, which should be paid more attention in clinical practice.