Bronchial stump re-resection for lung cancer recurrence after left pneumonectomy

We report a rare case of curative bronchial stump re-resection after left-side pneumonectomy. A 65-year-old male was operated 2 years prior to current admission for centrally located non-small cell lung cancer, followed by 4 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. In 2 years after treatment, a local endobronchial recurrence was diagnosed in the bronchial stump. The patient was operated via sternothoracotomy approach and successful complete re-resection of the left main bronchus was provided after pericardiotomy and re-amputation of pulmonary vessel stumps. Postoperative period was uneventful.     

Completion pneumonectomy for recurrent or second primary lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: We studied 8 patients undergoing completion pneumonectomy for recurrent or second primary lung cancer. METHODS: Subjects were men who averaged 62 years of age. Of these 6 had p-stage I, and 2 p-stage II disease at initial operation. At the second operation, we diagnosed 3 with second primary lung cancer and 5 with recurrent lung cancer. We predicted postoperative pulmonary function by calculating the predicted forced expiratory volume in 1.0 second (FEV1.0) from residual numbers of subsegments after completion pneumonectomy. All predicted FEV1.0 in our 8 cases ranged from 544 to 926 (773 +/- 144) ml/m2. RESULTS: Six patients experienced postoperative complications and morbidity was 75%. One patient undergoing completion sleeve pneumonectomy after radiation therapy for local carina recurrence died on 7th postoperative day due to anastomotic dehiscence and pneumonia. Overall operative mortality was 12.5% (1/8). Four remain alive and actuarial 5-year survival was 37.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Careful consideration is needed in determining operative indications for completion pneumonectomy for patients after radiation therapy. Patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma who have p-stage I disease at initial operation and those with second primary lung cancer and p-stage I or II disease can expect relatively a long-term survival, and we concluded that completion pneumonectomy could be conducted in these cases with a satisfactory prognosis.     

Contralateral pulmonary artery stenosis after left pneumonectomy

Contralateral pulmonary artery stenosis is a rare complication following pneumonectomy. When extensive intrapericardial dissection is warranted, one must be wary of this potential complication and take measures to avoid it. Postoperatively, a high index of suspicion must be maintained in a patient with a new onset of right-sided heart failure after intrapericardial pneumonectomy. We discuss intraoperative risk factors, postoperative clinical findings, and our strategy for repair.     

Thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in patient with unilateral absence of the left pulmonary artery accompanied by the left lung cancer

Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital cardiovascular anomaly. Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery is often accompanied by cardiovascular disorders but also can occur in an isolated manner. We present a case of female patient, in which the absence of the left pulmonary artery was revealed and the left lower lobe adenocarcinoma was diagnosed.     

Predicting pulmonary complications after pneumonectomy for lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing pneumonectomy for lung cancer are thought to be at high risk for the development of postoperative pulmonary complications (PC) and these complications are associated with high mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to identify independent factors associated with increased risk for the development of postoperative PC after pneumonectomy for lung cancer, and to assess the usefulness of predicted pulmonary function to identify high risk patients and other adverse outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 242 patients undergoing pneumonectomy for lung cancer during a 12-year period. Perioperative data (clinical, pulmonary function test, and surgical) were recorded to identify risk factors of PC by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Overall mortality and morbidity rates were 5.4 and 59%, respectively. Thirty-four patients (14%) developed PC (acute respiratory failure, ARF = 8.7%, reintubation = 5.4%, pneumonia = 3.3%, atelectasis = 2.9%, postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema = 2.5%, mechanical ventilation more than 24 h = 1.2%, pneumothorax = 0.8%). Patients with surgical (P < 0.001), cardiac (P < 0.001) and other complications (P < 0.01) had higher incidence of PC than those without postoperative complications. Intensive care unit stay (53 +/- 39 h vs. 35 +/- 19 h; P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 +/- 11 days vs. 12 +/- 7 days; P < 0.001) was significantly longer in patients with PC. The mortality rate associated with PC was 35.5% (P < 0.001). By univariate analysis, it was found that older patients (P = 0.007), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (P = 0.023), heart disease (P = 0.019), no previous record of chest physiotherapy (P = 0.008), poor predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1s (ppo-FEV1) (P = 0.001), and prolonged anesthetic time (P < 0.001) were related with higher risk of PC. In the multiple logistic regression model, the anesthetic time (minutes; odds ratio, OR = 1.012), ppo-FEV1 (ml/s; OR = 0.998), heart disease (OR = 2.703), no previous record of previous chest physiotherapy (OR = 2.639), and COPD (OR = 2.277) were independent risk factors of PC. CONCLUSIONS: PC after pneumonectomy are associated with high mortality rates. Careful attention must be paid to patients with COPD and heart disease. Our results confirm the relevance of previous chest physiotherapy and the importance of the length of the surgical procedure to minimize the incidence of PC. The predicted pulmonary function (ppo-FEV1) may be useful to identify high risk patients for PC development and adverse outcomes.     

Reevaluation of the unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion test--hemodynamics after lobectomy and pneumonectomy for lung cancer

After lobectomy, it is recognized that functional as well as absolute reduction occurs in residual lobes of the operated side. So whether lobectomy is indicated or not is determined by the same criteria as those for pneumonectomy, namely, by the unilateral pulmonary artery occlusion (UPAO) test. However, is it really appropriate to use the same criteria for both lobectomy and pneumonectomy? To answer to this question, in patients with lung cancer we compared the hemodynamics after lobectomy (13 cases) and pneumonectomy (14 cases) with that at the UPAO test. After pneumonectomy, the mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (mPWP) was significantly lower than that on the preoperative day and at the test. It seemed that hypovolemic change occurred in the hemodynamics after pneumonectomy. After pneumonectomy, the pulmonary arteriolar resistance index (PARI) was significantly higher than the preoperative value. It was the same as that as at the time of the UPAO test. The total pulmonary vascular resistance index (TPVRI) at the time of the test was significantly higher than the preoperative value, but the TPVRI after pneumonectomy was not significantly higher. The TPVRI tended to decrease after pneumonectomy, compared to the value predicated by the test. These results indicated that some of the cases judged inoperable on the basis of the UPAO test might be operable. On the day of lobectomy, the PARI was significantly higher than the preoperative value, but significantly lower than that at the time of the test. The cardiac index (CI) was significantly higher and the mPWP was significantly lower than each preoperative value.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

余肺切除术治疗复发性肺癌32例分析

目的　探讨余肺切除术治疗复发性肺癌的疗效、围术期风险因素及处理方法。方法　复习 32例此类病例 ,采用生命表法计算 1、2、5年生存率。并将本组病例按某项并发症是否发生分组 ,以t检验比较各组间各项因素差异是否有显著性。结果　 17例经心包内处理血管 ;8例经胸膜外剥离径路。术中失血 40 0～ 870 0ml(平均 15 16ml )。术后心血管系并发症 12例 (循环不稳定 3例、心律不齐 9例 ) ,支气管胸膜瘘 4例 ,应激性溃疡 2例。再手术后 1、2、5年生存率分别为 88 89%、72 80 %、18 45 %。与术后并发症发生相关的因素为年龄、手术时间、余肺切除术前MVV值、余肺手术前有气急或心电图表现异常与否等。结论　对复发性肺癌的再手术治疗应持积极态度。     

Completion pneumonectomy for recurrent lung cancer. Analysis of 59 cases]

From 1973 to 1989, a total of 59 consecutive patients with recurrent lung cancer had completion pneumonectomy. Completion pneumonectomy was done on the right side in 35 patients and left side in 24. The median interval between the first pulmonary resection and completion pneumonectomy for patients was 35 months (5 m-9.5 y). In this series postoperative complications and mortality were comparable to those for routine pneumonectomy. The 1, 3, 5 and 10 year survival rates were 88.5%, 30.2%, 21.4% and 16.7% respectively. None of those patients with histologically proved gross tumor remaining in the hemithorax at the time of reoperation survived longer than 2 years. The authors emphasized that the planning for such an operation must be done meticulously but aggressively. It is obvious that incomplete surgical resection of bronchial carcinoma should be avoided either at initial operation or at completion pneumonectomy because of poor prognosis.     

Pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy

Patients who have a lung cancer in the residual lung after pneumonectomy should not be automatically excluded for surgical consideration. These patients should be carefully staged and evaluated physiologically. The most important initial differentiation is to distinguish a true second primary lung cancer from metastatic recurrent lung cancer. Meticulous staging with chest CT, PET, brain MRI, and mediastinoscopy should be able to successfully exclude metastatic disease, multifocal disease, or locally advanced tumors. Only patients who have stage I disease are candidates for this type of extended resection. Ideally, these patients should have small peripheral tumors that can be encompassed with a low-volume wedge resection. More extended resections, such as segmentectomy or right middle lobectomy, may be considered in some patients but seem to bear a higher operative morbidity and mortality. The need for an upper or lower lobectomy after contralateral pneumonectomy is probably an absolute contraindication to surgical resection. To tolerate pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy, and to obtain the desired survival benefit, patients should have a good to excellent performance status, no serious comorbidities, and a ppoFEV1 greater than 1.0 L/second. In these highly selected patients, pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy can be accomplished with an acceptable operative morbidity and mortality and, in true cases of metachronous second primary lung cancers, may achieve a 5-year survival rate of up to 50%.     

Basal segmental auto-transplantation after pneumonectomy for advanced central lung cancer

In patients with central lung cancer that extensively involves the bronchus/pulmonary artery, a double-sleeve lobectomy is often difficult to perform. We describe a case of post-pneumonectomy basal segmental auto-transplantation using a lung preservation technique that uses cold low-potassium dextran glucose solution to protect the lung graft from ischaemia-reperfusion injury during the ex situ division of the segmental graft and the pathological investigations for the clearance of the surgical margins. A right basal segmental auto-transplantation procedure was performed in a patient with stage-IIIA squamous cell lung cancer. This technique could allow extensive pulmonary resection while minimizing the loss of pulmonary reserve.     

Bronchitis after pneumonectomy in patients with lung cancer

Postoperative bronchitis developed in 99 (8.3%) of 1,189 patients who underwent pneumonectomy for lung carcinoma. The sequelae of postoperative bronchitis were the cause of death in more than one third of patients who died from pneumonectomy. The high incidence of bronchopleural complications in this group of patients is emphasized. Data are presented which provide evidence that the functions of external respiration and blood circulation are disturbed in patients with postoperative bronchitis. A complex of measures for the prevention and treatment of this complication are suggested, which made it possible to reduce the frequency and mortality rate of postoperative bronchitis in the last years.     

余肺切除术治疗再发非小细胞肺癌44例

目的 探讨余肺切除术治疗再发非小细胞肺癌的手术适应证、手术方式和预后.方法 回顾性分析肺癌再发行余肺切除术病人44例资料,采用Kaplan-Meier法计算余肺切除术后病人的1、3和5年生存率.并对相关因素进行分析.结果 围手术期死亡1例.余肺切除术后1、3和5年的生存率分别为72.73%、26.22%和18.98%.两次手术间隔时间对余肺切除术后的生存率有明显影响(P=0.019).结论 余肺切除是一项复杂的手术操作,但是经过合理选择病例,仍可取得比较满意的效果.     

肺癌全肺切除术后支气管胸膜瘘的处理及预防

目的 探讨全肺切除术后支气管胸膜瘘(BPF)的处理方法及预防原则.方法 回顾性分析1999年7月至2006年6月因肺癌行全肺切除术的815例患者的临床资料.结果 共有15例患者发生BPF,占全部患者的1.8%.右全肺切除后BPF发生率为3.9%,高于左全肺切除患者的0.6%(P＜0.01).支气管切缘见癌组织残留患者BPF发生率为22.7%,高于支气管切缘无癌残留患者的1.3%(P＜0.01).术前接受放疗、化疗患者BPF发生率为5.0%,高于单纯手术患者的1.3%(P＜0.05).76例用自体组织覆盖支气管残端的患者无一发生BPF.全组被确诊为BPF的患者皆予胸腔引流;2例经反复穿刺抽取胸水,胸腔内注入抗生素后痊愈;2例经充分抗炎治疗,高渗盐水冲洗,生物蛋白胶阻塞瘘口后痊愈;6例经单纯闭式引流后病情稳定出院;1例长期开放引流;1例行肌瓣修补瘘口失败,改行高渗盐水反复冲洗后痊愈;3例死于多器官功能衰竭.结论 右全肺切除、切缘癌残留和术前接受放疗、化疗可增加术后BPF的发生率.自体组织覆盖支气管残端是降低BPF发生的有效手段.早期轻型患者可行胸腔穿刺、生物蛋白胶阻塞瘘口和抗生素治疗.及时行胸腔闭式引流、高渗盐水反复冲洗对治疗BPF是非常重要的.     

Postpneumonectomy syndrome after left pneumonectomy

Postpneumonectomy syndrome, a late complication of pneumonectomy, is secondary to shift of the mediastinum and remaining lung toward the pneumonectomy side, leading to tracheobronchial compression between the vertebral body and the aorta or pulmonary artery. Obstructive airway symptoms are usually due to tracheobronchial tree compression, however, secondary airway malacia may develop. We report herein a case of postpneumonectomy syndrome with secondary bronchomalacia after left pneumonectomy in a patient with normal mediastinal vascular anatomy.