Successful treatment of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the carina

We successfully treated a 33-year-old man with mucoepidermoid carcinoma at the carina. Through preoperative spiral computed tomography with multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions, the lesion extended along the right main bronchus across the orifice of the right upper lobe. He underwent a carinal resection plus right upper lobectomy and reconstruction of the carina. He shows neither anastomotic complication nor recurrence of disease 1 year after surgery. Spiral computed tomography was used to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative state of the central airway.     

气管隆突切除及重建术治疗中心型支气管肺癌

本文报告１０例侵及气管隆突或距隆突０．３ｃｍ以内的中心型支气管肺癌行气管隆突切除及重建术，其中右上叶及隆突切除重建术３例，右全肺及隆突切除２例，左全肺及隆突切除４例，左上叶及隆突切除重建术１例，加部分左心房切除术３例。本组根治切除９例。姑息切除１例。术后并发症３例（３０％）。术后无癌生存６年１例，３年１例，２年１０月１例，２年６月３例，１年２例，半年１例；另１例于术后８月死于脑转移。重点讨论了手术适应证、手术方法、围手术期监护和处理。     

局部晚期非小细胞肺癌气管隆凸切除气道重建的临床分析

目的探讨局部晚期非小细胞肺癌患者隆凸切除气道重建术的适应证,分析其临床特征和预后。方法回顾性分析我院15例气管隆凸切除气道重建肺癌手术患者的临床资料,其中单纯气管隆凸完全切除重建术1例,右全肺切除加隆凸切除重建术6例,右肺上叶切除加隆凸完全切除重建术3例,左全肺切除加隆凸切除气道重建术5例。采用Kaplan Meier法计算生存率,采用Log-rank检验比较生存期。结果手术时间155～410min（261．3±81．6min）,术中清扫纵隔淋巴结10．8±3．7枚。全部患者无围术期死亡;术后并发肺部感染2例,经呼吸机辅助通气加抗感染治疗后出院;乳糜胸1例,保守治疗后康复出院;1例患者因胸管持续Ⅱ度漏气而行开胸探查,术中发现是余肺而非气管吻合口漏气,缝扎肺组织漏气处痊愈。全组患者中位生存期为39个月,3年生存率52．5％,5年生存率22．5％。右全肺切除加隆凸重建患者中位生存期12个月,非右全肺切除患者中位生存期40个月。结论对侵犯主支气管近端及隆凸的局部晚期肺癌患者,肺切除加隆凸切除重建术可取得较为理想的治疗效果,但其中需行右全肺切除患者预后较差,采用手术治疗应慎重。     

Carinal reconstruction with wide airway resection by a new technique

Carinal reconstruction with wide airway resection by a new technique was conducted in two cases. A 61-year man with tracheal stenosis by tracheal cancer, 6 tracheal rings, 2 left bronchial rings, total right main bronchus, for which carina was resected and reconstructed by a new technique and for a 69 year man with lung cancer in right upper lobe, for which right upper-middle bilobectomy, S6 segmental resection and circumferential pulmonary artery resection were performed. The tracea, left main bronchus, and right basal segment bronchus were anastomosed by new technique and the right main pulmonary artery and basal segment artery was anastomosed subsequent to chemotherapy. Both patients discharged within seventeen postoperative days in consideration of the absence of postoperative complication. Bronchoscopic findings after reconstruction indicated neither stenosis nor dehiscence at the site of anastomosis. The new reconstructive method of carina permits simple anastomosis, the possibility of carina reconstruction even in the case of wide airway resection and loss tension at the site of anastomosis.     

气管及其隆突部肿瘤的外科治疗与预后

目的 总结分析气管及其隆突部肿瘤的临床表现、诊断、手术方法以及预后.方法 回顾性分析1986年6月至2005年6月手术治疗的32例气管及其隆突部肿瘤患者的临床资料,其中男性22例,女性10例,年龄14～63岁,中位年龄48岁.32例患者中气管肿瘤切除+端端吻合10例;全肺隆突切除+气管与主支气管端端吻合8例(右侧6例,左侧2例);右上肺隆突袖式切除重建术4例;隆突切除重建术4例;气管开窗行肿瘤及气管壁部分切除6例,其中2例因气管壁切除范围过大,以涤纶布内衬修补.结果 32例中鳞状细胞癌19例,腺样囊腺癌8例,腺癌2例,类癌1例,平滑肌肉瘤1例,腺瘤1例.手术并发症包括术后1例胸腔感染,3例出现心律失常.全组患者无手术死亡.随访时间5个月～3年,随访率100%.Kaplan-Meier法计算1、2和3年生存率为93.7%、59.4%和50.0%.结论 鳞状细胞癌和腺样囊性癌是气管及其隆突部肿瘤最常见的组织类型,术前气管镜和CT可帮助诊断,手术方式的正确选择是提高治疗效果的关键.     

Prosthetic reconstruction of the trachea and carina

We have performed prosthetic reconstruction of the trachea and carina in 12 patients since 1979. We used Neville's prosthesis in 7 patients and Katsura's prosthesis in 5 patients. Seven patients were operated on for lung cancer, 2 patients for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea and the others for large cell carcinoma of the trachea, thyroid cancer and tuberculous granuloma, respectively. Prosthetic reconstruction of the trachea was performed in 4 patients. Carinal resection was performed in 8 patients: With right sleeve pneumonectomy in 4 patients, with right upper lobectomy in 2 patients and only carinal resection in 2 patients. Prosthetic reconstruction after the carinal resection was performed using 3 straight types, 1 curved type and 4 bifurcated types. With regard to the complications of the prosthetic reconstruction, dehiscence at the anastomotic site was seen in 5 patients, granulation in 4 patients, empyema in 3 patients, massive hemorrhage in 2 patients and migration of the prosthesis in 1 patient. Five patients survived more than 1 year. The longest survival time was 43 months. To prevent complications of the prosthetic reconstruction, we improved the anastomotic method, reinforced the anastomotic site with Marlex mesh and protected the surrounding vessels with Lyodura.     

Upper Lobectomy for Lung Cancer with True Tracheal Bronchus: A Unique Presentation

Tracheal bronchus is an aberrant bronchus usually originating from the right lateral wall of the trachea, with an incidence ranging from 0.1% to 5% and usually within 2.0cm above the carina. The incidence of lung cancer with bronchial anomaly is very rare. Only nine cases of lung cancer developing from the tracheal bronchus have been reported in literature. Histological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma in only three of them, and we present a fourth case, in a 57-year-old man. Interestingly, our patient's anomaly included both an absence of the right upper bronchus and the fact that the right upper lobe was ventilated by the true tracheal bronchus. This is the first documented case in the world of a squamous carcinoma originating in the true tracheal bronchus. Post-surgical histological stage was T2aN0M0 (stage IB). The patient is in a good condition 48 months after the operation and has no evidence of recurrence.     

A case of lung cancer underwent carinal resection with right upper lobectomy and carinal reconstruction with double-barreled anastomosis

A 70-year-old male complaining cough was admitted to our hospital. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a tumor mass which occluded the orifice of the right upper lobe. Chest computed tomographic (CT) scans gave the image of tumor invasion at the carina. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was squamous cell carcinoma. Operation was accomplished by right posterolateral thoracotomy approach through the fifth rib bed. The carinal resection with right upper lobectomy was followed by a double-barreled anastomosis of the right intermediate trunk and left main-stem bronchus into the carina. The operation was successfully performed and was considered curative. The length of resected airway measured 4.0 cm from tracheal line of resection to the divided the right intermediate trunk. Reinforcement of the anastomosis was not performed in this case. No postoperative complication occurred but mild ischemia of the anastomosis. The patient died of recurrent tumor in a year and 2 months after operation.     

Age and morbidity of vagotomy with antrectomy or pyloroplasty

When carcinoma of the lung invades the carina, it is by definition a stage III lesion and frequently incurable. However, when lymph node invasion does not preclude resection for cure and when there are no other contraindications to such resection, techniques are now available for resection of the carina and primary reconstruction. While tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy is the operation most frequently employed for invasion of the carina by bronchogenic carcinoma that is otherwise operable, occasionally the lower lobe may also be saved. When the carina is involved by a primary neoplasm of the airways, primary resection with carinal reconstruction with or without various amounts of pulmonary resection is clearly indicated when possible.     

Tracheoplasty for Congenital Tracheal Stenosis with Bilateral Tracheal Bronchus

Introduction: Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) with a bilateral tracheal bronchus (TB) has not been reported as a subtype of CTS. A novel technique to manage CTS in patients with a bilateral TB is described.Case Report: An infant with tetralogy of Fallot underwent repair of cardiac anomaly at age 1 month. He experienced numerous cyanosis and episodes of transient respiratory arrest. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an aberrant bilateral upper lobe bronchus arising directly from the trachea and a stenotic trachea connecting the pseudo- carina to the true carina between the common right lower and left lower bronchus. On bronchoscopy, the diameter of the lumen of the narrowed segment was estimated to be less than 2 mm. Tracheal reconstruction was undertaken when he was 2 years of age. The surgical technique using a modified slide tracheoplasty for the correction of this anomaly are described. After surgery, the patient was extubated and has had no respiratory symptoms.Discussion and Conclusion: The patient had unique anatomic considerations that made reconstruction challenging. Our technique of covering a stenotic section by normal trachea is a modification of the slide tracheoplasty technique and is useful for CTS with a unilateral and a bilateral TB.     

Carinal resection after induction bronchial arterial infusion for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

We herein describe 3 cases of a carinal resection after induction bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Case 1 was a 44-year-old man with T1N2M0 adenocarcinoma. After undergoing Nd-YAG laser treatment (5079 J) and BAI [cis -diamminedichloro platinum (CDDP) 100 mg/body], a right sleeve upper lobectomy with a carinal resection and reconstruction (Montage type) was performed. Case 2 was a 67-year-old man with T4N1M0 squamous cell carcinoma. After BAI (CDDP 120 mg/body), an operation (same as case 1) was performed. Case 3 was a 72-year-old man with T4N2M0 squamous cell carcinoma. After BAI (CDDP 120 mg/body), a right sleeve peumonectomy was performed. There was neither BAI-related intraoperative nor postoperative complications. BAI with CDDP was thus found to be a useful and effective therapeutic modality for locally advanced NSCLC invading the carina.     

Therapeutic strategy for a patient suffering from a peripheral pulmonary tumor in the right upper lobe and an endotracheal tumor in the carina

A 64-year-old male, who had received successful radiotherapy for the previous laryngeal cancer, was admitted to our department for the treatment of a peripheral pulmonary tumor in the right upper lobe and an endotracheal tumor in the carina. The endotracheal biopsy of the carinal tumor demonstrated squamous cell carcinoma, though preoperative examination of the intrapulmonary tumor was unable to clarify it's pathological type. The intrapulmonary tumor required right upper lobectomy and R2 lymph node dissection as a measure against the possibility of primary lung cancer. Since the endotracheal cancer was diagnosed as an intra mucosal tumor by the preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and the bronchoscopic examination, laser abrasion therapy to the endotracheal tumor was performed 4 days before the lobectomy of the intrapulmonary tumor. After the pulmonary operation, the intrapulmonary tumor was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma without lymph node metastasis, and it was suggested to be a metastatic tumor of the previous laryngeal cancer. Both radiotherapy to the carina and general chemotherapy with docetaxel hydrate and carboplatin were used as adjuvant therapies 36 days after the lobectomy. One year after the pulmonary surgery, there is no recurrence of the tumor in the lung or carina. Laser abrasion therapy to the endotracheal tumor is very useful and safe for the patient, who should then receive pulmonary resection soon after the therapy.     

Sleeve pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma.

Carcinomas of the right upper lobe that locally infiltrate the trachea represent a major challenge with regard to removal and reconstruction. Sixteen patients who had right pneumonectomy with carina resection between 1969 and 1977 were reviewed, and some implications of the surgical and anesthetic techniques were analyzed. The short-term results give merit to this extended procedure, and the fact that there is one long-term survivor suggests that some patients can be cured of their disease.     

Carinal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma

Techniques are available for carinal resection and reconstruction for bronchogenic carcinoma involving the carina. Successful outcome depends on careful patient selection, thorough preoperative evaluation, careful anesthetic management, strict attention to surgical technique, and compulsive postoperative care. Since 1973 we have performed 37 carinal resections for bronchogenic carcinoma: 21 right carinal pneumonectomies, 7 carinal resections, 7 carina plus lobe resections, and 2 carina plus pneumonectomy stump resections. Five patients had diseased N2 nodes and 13 patients had diseased N1 nodes. Complications included pulmonary (8), vocal cord paresis (3), atrial fibrillation (9), anastomotic stenosis (4), and anastomotic separation (3). There were 3 early postoperative deaths (8%). All were related to adult respiratory distress syndrome and were unresponsive to aggressive treatment. There were 4 late postoperative deaths between 2 and 4 months (10.9%). All late postoperative deaths were related to anastomotic complications (stenosis [1] and separation [3]). There are 5 absolute 5-year survivors and an actuarial 5-year survival rate of 19%.     

Carinal resection with two high-frequency jet ventilation delivery systems

A 76-yr-old man underwent carinal resection for squamous cell carcinoma through the right posterolateral thoracotomy approach. Ventilation was maintained by the use of two highfrequency jet ventilators, each attached to a separate catheter during the time of resection and reconstruction of the tracheal carina. These catheters were introduced through the endotracheal tube and positioned into the left and right main bronchi at the beginning of the tracheal resection. Then, conventional ventilation was replaced by high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) with different ventilatory variables for each lung. During two-lung jet ventilation there was good oxygenation, normocapnia and no cardiovascular complications. The principle advantage of using two separate high-frequency ventilators is that it allows for maximum ventilatory efficiency with lungs of different compliance.     

Prognostic evaluation of tracheobronchial reconstruction for bronchogenic carcinoma

Fifty-two patients have undergone tracheobronchial reconstruction for bronchogenic carcinomas over a 20 year period and have been evaluated from the view point of prognosis. Five-year survival rates of the patients undergoing reconstructive operations were as follows: 35% for the total group, 50% for those with squamous cell carcinoma, and 64% for those with Stage I and II disease. No patients with adenocarcinoma or Stage III disease have survived more than 5 years. However, the number of patients with early adenocarcinoma was too small for us to conclude that the histologic type per se affected survival. Six of eight patients with sleeve lobectomy and pulmonary artery reconstruction died within 2 years, 7 months postoperatively. Five of seven patients died within 1 year after carinal reconstruction. However, two are alive at 4 months and 2 years, 9 months after left or right sleeve pneumonectomy. In summary, any types of lobectomy or pneumonectomy with reconstruction of the tracheobronchial tree can be conducted in patients with Stage I and II lung cancer. Sleeve lobectomy with pulmonary artery reconstruction can be an alternative to pneumonectomy when pneumonectomy is contraindicated because of low cardiopulmonary reserve. In patients undergoing reconstruction of the carina, prophylactic radiation therapy may be necessary during the postoperative course.     

Triple reconstruction of pulmonary artery, superior vena cava and bronchus for lung cancer

We report on a case of a complete resection for bronchogenic carcinoma necessitating right upper sleeve lobectomy with prosthetic replacement of right pulmonary artery (PA) and superior vena cava (SVC). A 74-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma had a tumor which extended to the right main bronchus, right PA and SVC. After reconstruction of the SVC with a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft between the left brachiocephalic vein (BCV) and right atrial auricle, the tumor was completely resected en bloc. Bronchial anastomosis followed by the prosthetic reconstructions of PA and SVC between the right BCV and the origin of SVC were performed. Pathological staging was t4n2m0 (stage IIIB). The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient discharged from the hospital on the 29th postoperative day. He has been doing well without recurrence and keeping a good graft patency for more than 3 years.     

Postoperative airway stenosis and stent therapy in carinal reconstruction for lung cancer.

A 48-year-old male had adenocarcinoma of the right upper lung lobe that invaded the lower trachea. The right upper lobe, the carina, and 5 rings of the lower trachea were resected. The carina was reconstructed using end-to-end anastomosis between the trachea and right intermediate bronchus, with the left main bronchus anastomosed to the side wall of the intermediate bronchus. Two months after surgery, the right intermediate bronchus developed bronchomalacia and the tracheal anastomosis granulatory stenosis. Bronchomalacia was treated with 2 expandable metallic stents, and granulatory stenosis with a Dumon stent. Although the silicone stent successfully dilated the granulatory stenosis, the metallic stents caused delayed glanulatory stenosis. We concluded that a metallic stent is not desirable for treating postreconstructive airway stenosis including bronchomalacia, whereas a Dumon stent may be effective.     

Postoperative airway stenosis and stent therapy in carinal reconstruction for lung cancer

A 48-year-old male had adenocarcinoma of the right upper lung lobe that invaded the lower trachea. The right upper lobe, the carina, and 5 rings of the lower trachea were resected. The carina was reconstructed using end-to-end anastomosis between the trachea and right intermediate bronchus, with the left main bronchus anastomosed to the side wall of the intermediate bronchus. Two months after surgery, the right intermediate bronchus developed bronchomalacia and the tracheal anastomosis granulatory stenosis. Bronchomalacia was treated with 2 expandable metallic stents, and granulatory stenosis with a Dumon stent. Although the silicone stent successfully dilated the granulatory stenosis, the metallic stents caused delayed glanulatory stenosis. We concluded that a metallic stent is not desirable for treating postreconstructive airway stenosis including bronchomalacia, whereas a Dumon stent may be effective.     

Partial median sternotomy: anterior approach to the upper thoracic esophagus

Based upon experience with cervicothoracic esophageal carcinomas in which resection of the manubrium, adjacent clavicles, and ribs has facilitated exposure of the tumor, it has been found that a partial upper sternal split (without resection) provides access to the upper thoracic esophagus to the level of the carina. With a knowledge of the anatomic relationships of the esophagus in this area, this direct anterior approach has been used for both benign and selected malignant diseases involving the upper thoracic esophagus. A partial median sternotomy has been used in 11 patients with the following esophageal pathology: upper- and/or middle-third malignancy (six), benign upper-third stricture (three), perforation of upper-third esophagogastric anastomotic stricture (one), and cricopharyngeal achalasia in association with a chronic cervical compression fracture that prevented extension of the neck (one). The following operations were performed: blunt esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis (six), segmental esophageal resection with primary anastomosis (three), drainage of perforation (one), and extended cervical esophagomyotomy (one). A chylothorax developed in one patient with carcinoma, the only major postoperative complication in this group. Transient hoarseness occurred in two patients. Careful evaluation of the patient with upper thoracic esophageal pathology, focusing on the type, extent, and location of the abnormality relative to the level of the carina, as well as the habitus of the patient, often indicates that a partial sternotomy can be utilized to facilitate the operation.