Atrial Resection for Lung Cancer: Morbidity, Mortality, and Long-Term Follow-up

Reconstruction of the heart and the aorta for radical resection of lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

We report a single-center experience of resection and reconstruction of the heart and aorta infiltrated by lung cancer in order to prove that involvement of these structures is no longer a condition precluding surgery.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery for lung cancer presenting full-thickness infiltration of the heart (n = 6) or the aorta (n = 18) and/or the supra-aortic branches (subclavian n = 3). Cardiac reconstruction was performed in 6 patients (5 atrium, 1 ventricle), with (n = 4) or without (n = 2) cardiopulmonary bypass, using a patch prosthesis (n = 4) or with deep clamping and direct suture (n = 2). Aortic or supra-aortic trunk reconstruction (n = 21) was performed using a heart-beating crossclamping technique in 14 cases (8 patch, 4 conduit, 2 direct suture), or without crossclamping by placing an endovascular prosthesis before resection in 7 (4 patch, 3 omental flap reconstruction). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 13 patients, adjuvant therapy in 24.

RESULTS

All resections were complete (R0). Nodal staging of lung cancer was N0 in 14 cases, N1 in 10, N2 in 3. No intraoperative mortality occurred. Major complication rate was 14.8%. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality rate was 3.7%. Median follow-up duration was 22 months. Recurrence rate is 35.4% (9/26: 3 loco-regional, 6 distant). Overall 3- and 5-year survival is 60.9% and 40.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac and aortic resection and reconstruction for full-thickness infiltration by lung cancer can be performed safely with or without cardiopulmonary bypass and may allow long-term survival of adequately selected patients.

Lung cancer mortality and associated predictors: systematic review using 32 scientific research findings

Background

Cancer is a chronic disease brought on by mutations to the genes that control our cells' functions and become the most common cause of mortality and comorbidities. Thus, this study aimed to assess the comprehensive and common mortality-related risk factors of lung cancer using more than thirty scientific research papers.

Methods

Possible risk factors contributing to lung cancer mortality were assessed across 201 studies sourced from electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (WOS), EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, the Lung Cancer Open Research Dataset Challenge, and Scopus. Out of these, 32 studies meeting the eligibility criteria for meta-analysis were included. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the studies, a random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled effects of covariates.

Results

The overall prevalence of mortality rate was 10% with a 95% confidence interval of 6 and 16%. Twenty studies (62.50%) studies included in this study considered the ages of lung cancer patients as the risk factors for mortality. Whereas, eighteen (56.25%) and thirteen (40.63%) studies incorporated the gender and smoking status of patients respectively. The comorbidities of lung cancer mortality such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and pneumonia were also involved in 7 (21.90%), 6 (18.75%), 5 (15.63%), and 2 (6.25%) studies, respectively. Patients of older age are more likely to die as compared to patients of younger age. Similarly, lung patients who had smoking practice were more likely to die as compared to patients who hadn't practiced smoking.

Conclusion

The mortality rate of lung cancer patients is considerably high. Older age, gender, stage, and comorbidities such as cardiovascular, hypertension, and diabetes have a significant positive effect on lung cancer mortality. The study results will contribute to future research, management, and prevention strategies for lung cancer.

Atrial resection for T4 non-small cell lung cancer with left atrium involvement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival

PURPOSE

Extended resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with T4 left atrium involvement is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of this treatment strategy.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed database for studies on atrial resection in NSCLC patients. The primary investigated outcome was the effectiveness of the surgery represented by survival data and the secondary outcomes were postoperative morbidity, mortality, and recurrence.

RESULTS

Our search identified 18 eligible studies including a total of 483 patients. Eleven studies reported median overall survival and 17 studies reported overall survival rates. The estimated pooled 1, 3, 5-year overall survival rates were 69.1% (95% CI 61.7-76.0%), 21.5% (95% CI 12.3-32.3%), and 19.9% (95% CI 13.9-26.6%), respectively. The median overall survival was 24 months (95% CI 17.7-27 months). Most studies reported significant associations between better survival and N0/1 status, complete resection status, and neoadjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Extended lung resection, including the left atrium, for NSCLC is feasible with acceptable morbidity and mortality when complete resection is achieved. Lymph node N0/1 status coupled with the use of neoadjuvant therapies is associated with better outcomes.

Extended Pulmonary Resection for T4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

T4 non-small cell lung cancer is a locally advanced disease with poor prognosis. The operation can be challenging even for an experienced surgeon. N2 disease has been shown repeatedly as a risk factor for poor outcome, and these patients should not be candidates for surgical treatment. Surgery for locally advanced T4 tumors without mediastinal lymph node involvement (T4N0 and T4N1) has been demonstrated to result in good outcomes in carefully selected patients. Patients with T4N0-1M0 should be rejected for surgery only after consulting an expert surgical center. As with other stages, the decision for resectability and surgery should be made by a multidisciplinary team.

The surgical technique for complete resection of lung cancer invading the intrapericardial pulmonary vein and left atrium

In patients with lung cancer invading the left atrium, performing complete resection is difficult. In many cases of complete resection, pneumonectomy is performed. We herein report two techniques in which complete resection with negative margins at the intrapericardial pulmonary vein and left atrium was achieved without pneumonectomy. In the first technique, the groove of the pericardium between the right and left atrium was dissected and an atrial cuff was made in a manner that elongated the intrapericardial pulmonary vein. In the second technique, traction was applied to the atrial cuff, and only the middle lobe vein of the elongated pulmonary vein was resected, to perform atrial cuff plasty. The upper lobe vein and inferior pulmonary vein could be preserved. These techniques of PV elongation and atrial cuff plasty are suitable for both achieving complete resection and lung preservation for lung cancer patients with invasion of the left atrium.

Atrial Resection without Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Results of resection of lung cancer invading left atrium (T4atrium) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remain controversial. We reviewed our experience analyzing surgical results and postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who underwent extended lung resection for T4atrium without CPB between 1998 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed using a prospective database.

RESULTS

The study included 44 patients (34 males and 10 females; median age: 63 years). Twenty-five patients underwent preoperative mediastinal staging and 27 received induction treatment (IT). Surgery included 40 (90.9%) pneumonectomies, 3 (6.8%) lobectomies, and 1 bilobectomy (2.3%). Pathological nodal status was N0 in 10 patients (22.7%), N1 in 18 (40.9%), and N2 in 16 (36.4%). Four patients receiving IT had a complete pathological response (9.1%). Eight (18.2%) patients had microscopic tumor evidence on atrial resected margins. Mortality was nil. The major complication rate was 11.4%, including one bronchopleural fistula, one cardiac herniation, and three hemothoraces, all requiring reintervention. The minor complication rate was 25.5%. After a median survival of 37 months (range: 1-144 months), 20 (45.4%) patients were alive. Five-year survival rate and disease-free interval were 39 and 45.8%, respectively. Patients with N0 and R0 disease had a best prognosis (log-rank test: p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). IT neither influenced survival nor postoperative complications. On multivariate analysis, pN0 (p = 0.04 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-9.66] and negative atrial margins (p = 0.02 [95% CI: 0.96-8.35]) were positive independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

T4atrium is technically feasible without mortality and acceptable morbidity. Patients with N2 cancers should not be operated. T4atrium should not be systematically considered as a definitive contraindication to surgery.

Initial extended resection or neoadjuvant therapy for T4 non-small cell lung cancer-What is the evidence?

Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors that invade surrounding structures within the chest (T4) are a heterogeneous group, and, as such, there are no straightforward guidelines for their management. Advances in imaging, invasive mediastinal staging, and neoadjuvant therapies have expanded the role of surgery with curative intent for this patient group and have also diminished the rate of explorative thoracotomies. Unlike for T4 superior sulcus tumors, the use of neoadjuvant therapy for central T4 tumors is not clearly defined. The most important determinants of a successful outcome after surgery are achieving an R0 resection and avoiding incidental pathologic N2 disease. Use of neoadjuvant therapy in this setting may yield better outcomes after surgery, as both of these variables can be altered if the tumor responds to neoadjuvant therapy. Moreover, response to induction therapy has been shown to have prognostic value.

Extended pneumonectomy for advanced lung cancer with cardiovascular structural invasions

Background

This study aims to investigate the predictive factors in relation to tumor stages, mediastinal involvements, perioperative adjuvant therapies and surgical techniques in advanced lung cancer patients who underwent extended pneumonectomy with cardiovascular structural resection.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was performed for extended pneumonectomies with cardiovascular structural resections in the PubMed, Google Scholar and HighWire Press for the year range 2000-2016. Data were carefully extracted regarding details such as the study population, demographics, clinical features, types of lung cancer, pathologic stages, nodal involvement, extent of pneumonectomy, cardiovascular structural resections, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, completeness of resection, pre- and postoperative adjuvant therapies, 1-5-year survival, median survival duration, comorbidity and mortality.

Results

Patients undergoing extended pneumonectomy with cardiovascular structural resection were characterized more by squamous carcinomas, N0 or N1, T4, stage 3 and left atrial invasions. More patients received postoperative radiochemotherapy than radioor chemotherapy. The five-year survival rate was 30.5±11.5% and the median survival duration was 23.0±10.7 months. Level 1 left atrial, aortic adventitial, and partial superior vena cava resections could be performed without cardiopulmonary bypass, while levels 2 and 3 left atrial resections with aorta or superior/inferior vena cava replacement should be performed under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Conclusion

The advent of cardiopulmonary bypass facilitated complete resection of lung cancer, while leading to potential risks of metastasis and reoccurrence. Pathological status, surgical techniques and pre- and postoperative adjuvant therapies affect survival significantly. Surgical indications and negative predictive risk factors for patients' survival warrant further evaluations.

Long-term survival in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer invading the great vessels and heart

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical outcomes of locally advanced lung cancer invading the great vessels or heart, according to the extension of cancer invasion.

Methods

From 1995 to 2015, 59 patients who were surgically treated and pathologically diagnosed with T4N0–1 non‐small cell lung cancer with invasion to the great vessels or heart were enrolled. Surgical outcomes were compared between patient groups with and without intrapericardial invasion.

Results

The median age was 64 years (interquartile range [IQR] 57–68) and 56 patients (95%) were male. In‐hospital mortality was 9% and median overall survival was 30 months (IQR 12–83). One and five‐year overall survival rates were 75% and 44%, respectively. The median overall survival in patients with lung cancer invasion to the intrapericardial space (n = 45) was 27 months (IQR 10–63), while it was 42 months (IQR 18–104) in patients without intrapericardial invasion (n = 14). Median disease‐free survival was significantly poorer in patients with intrapericardial invasion (12 months; IQR 6–55), especially in patients with heart invasion (n = 11, 7 months, IQR 5–27), than in patients without intrapericardial invasion (30 months, IQR 13–103).

Conclusion

Patients with lung cancer invading the intrapericardial space showed worse surgical outcomes in both overall and disease‐free survival. Therefore, surgical management should be carefully considered in patients with intrapericardial invasion.

Surgery for malignant lesions of the chest which extensively involved the mediastinum, lung, and heart

OBJECTIVE

Radical resection for thoracic malignancies that invade the great vessels or heart structure is an uncommon, high-risk operation. To help surgeons determine therapeutic strategy, we reviewed the patient characteristics and outcomes of combined thoracic and cardiovascular surgery for thoracic malignancies.

METHODS

Surgical resections of lung cancer, mediastinal tumor and pulmonary artery sarcoma invading great vessels or heart structures were reviewed from the literature.

RESULTS

Pneumonectomy was often performed for lung cancer invading the aorta, superior vena cava, and left atrium. Complete resection (R0), no mediastinal lymph node metastasis and without using cardiopulmonary bypass led to a good prognosis. Induction therapy was often performed for complete resection. Regarding mediastinal tumors, thymic epithelial tumors or germ cell tumors occasionally invaded the great vessels or heart structures. For these malignancies, multimodality therapy was often performed, and complete resection could be one of the prognostic factors. The resection of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma (PPAS) is also a combined thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. The primary treatment for PPAS is surgical resection; specifically, pulmonary endarterectomy and pneumonectomy, because PPAS has substantial resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The prognosis of PPAS is poor, but surgical resection has potential for long-term survival.

CONCLUSION

Although these surgeries are uncommon and invasive for the patients, selecting appropriate patients, aggressive multimodality therapy, and performing combined thoracic and cardiovascular surgery can contribute to a good outcome.

Surgical outcome of patients with lung cancer involving the left atrium

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary and left atrial resection is not yet an established treatment for patients with primary lung cancer involving the left atrium. We investigated the clinical course of patients with primary lung cancer involving the left atrium who were treated with pulmonary resection and partial atrial resection.

METHODS

From January 1996 to December 2013, 51 patients underwent extended resection for lung cancer that invaded the surrounding organs. Of these, we focused on 12 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lung cancer involving the left atrium. The clinical course of each of these patients was investigated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The most common histological subtype was squamous cell carcinoma. Pneumonectomy was performed in nine patients, and right middle and lower lobectomy was performed in three patients. Complete resection was performed in 11 patients (92 %). Postoperative complications were observed in four patients (33 %)-prolonged air leakage in two patients, broncho-pleural fistula in one patient, and empyema in one patient. There were no surgical deaths. This study involved seven patients with pathological N0-1 disease and five patients with pathological N2 disease. The postoperative 5-year survival rate was 46 % in all patients. The 5-year survival rates in patients with pathological N0-1 disease and N2 disease were 67 and 20 %, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Because treatment-related death was not observed and outcome was fair in patients with N0-1 disease, surgical resection for primary lung cancer involving the left atrium may be acceptable in selected patients. Further investigations are required to improve the outcome of surgical treatment for patients with primary lung cancer involving the left atrium.