Prediction of postoperative respiratory failure in patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer

Effect of exercise on postoperative recovery of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the postoperative recovery period often experience reduced exercise capacity and impaired lung function, which affects their overall quality of life. This paper investigated the effect of exercise interventions on exercise capacity, lung function, quality of life, and symptoms in these patients.

METHODS

We performed a literature search across Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to September 2023, all English RCTs were eligible if they assessed the effects of exercise interventions on postoperative NSCLC patients.

RESULTS

Twelve articles met our inclusion criteria, evidencing that exercise interventions could significantly improve the functional capacity of NSCLC patients in postoperative recovery. Notably, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) was improved, indicating enhanced lung function. Furthermore, exercise improved the physical and mental health scores of SF-36, along with increased quadriceps strength and relieved dyspnea. However, fatigue levels were not significantly changed.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise interventions of NSCLC patients in the postoperative recovery are associated with improved functional capacity, lung function, quality of life, and quadriceps strength, as well as alleviated symptoms of dyspnea. These findings underscore the potential benefits of incorporating exercise into postoperative care for NSCLC patients. Nonetheless, further large-scale RCTs are required to solidify the evidence base on the clinical outcomes of exercise following pneumonectomy.

Bronchoscopic Intra-Pleural Instillation of Fibrin Glue and Autologous Blood to Manage Persistent Air Leaks after Lung Resection

Background: Persistent air leak is a common complication after lung resection causing prolonged length of stay and increased healthcare costs. Surgical intervention can be an option, but other more conservative approaches should be considered first. Here, we describe the use of flexible bronchoscopy to apply fibrin glue and autologous blood sequentially to the damaged lung. We named the technique “flexible thoracoscopy”. Methods: Medical records from patients with persistent air leaks after lung resection were collected retrospectively. Depending on the type of aerostasis that was performed, two groups were created: flexible thoracoscopy and surgery (thoracotomy). Flexible thoracoscopy was introduced at our institution in 2013. We entered the pleural space with a bronchoscope following the same surgical pathway that was used for tube thoracostomy. Perioperative characteristics and outcomes were analyzed using R software (ver. 3.4.4). Results: From 1997 to 2021, a total of 23 patients required an intervention for persistent air leaks. Aerostasis was performed via flexible thoracoscopy in seventeen patients (69%) and via thoracotomy in six patients (31%). The median age was 70 years (22–82). Twenty patients were males (87%). There was no difference in age, sex distribution, BMI, comorbidities and FEV1%. An ASA score of 3 was more represented in the flexible thoracoscopy group; however, no evidence of a difference was found when compared to the thoracotomy group (p = 0.124). Length of in-hospital stay and chest tube duration was also similar between groups (p = 1 and p = 0.68, respectively). Conclusions: Aerostasis achieved either by flexible thoracoscopy or by thoracotomy showed similar results. We believe that flexible thoracoscopy could be a valid alternative to facilitate minimally invasive treatments for persistent air leaks. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Effects of preoperative pulmonary function on short-term outcomes and overall survival after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy

Background

Preoperative pulmonary function tests are a necessary preoperative assessment tool for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients awaiting surgery. We studied the effects of preoperative pulmonary function on short-term outcomes and overall survival (OS).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was undertaken with adult NSCLC patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy between May 2016 and April 2017. The primary exposure variables were the percentage of predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF%), the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%), and the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s. The observation outcomes were postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), acute kidney injury (AKI), in-hospital mortality, readmission within 30 days, and OS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

Of the 548 patients, postoperative pneumonia was observed in 206 (37.6%). The results of the binary logistics regression analysis showed that relative to the moderate PEF% group, the risk of postoperative pneumonia was significantly increased in the marginal PEF% [odds ratio (OR) 2.076; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.211–3.558; P=0.008] and excellent PEF% (OR 1.962; 95% CI: 1.129–3.411; P=0.017) groups. Relative to the good FVC% group, the risk of postoperative pneumonia was significantly increased in the marginal FVC% (OR 2.125; 95% CI: 1.226–3.683; P=0.007) and moderate FVC% (OR 2.230; 95% CI: 1.298–3.832; P=0.004) groups. The OS analysis did not reveal any correlations among the pulmonary function parameters and OS in this cohort.

Conclusions

Preoperative PEF% and FVC% are associated with postoperative pneumonia in NSCLC patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. Preoperative PEF% is as important as FVC% in pulmonary function assessment before lung surgery.

Effects of Smoking, Obesity, and Pulmonary Function on Home Oxygen Use after Curative Lung Cancer Surgery

RATIONALE

Lung cancer surgical morbidity has been decreasing, increasing attention to quality-of-life measures. A chronic sequela of lung cancer surgery is use of postoperative oxygen at home after discharge. Prospective studies are needed to identify risk predictors for home oxygen(HO2) use after curative lung cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively assess risk factors for postoperative oxygen use and post-surgical morbidity in patients undergoing curative lung cancer surgery. We hypothesized that obesity, poor pre-operative pulmonary function, and smoking status would contribute to the risk of postoperative oxygen use.

METHODS

Patients undergoing surgery for first primary non-small cell lung cancer at Mount Sinai, from 2016 to 2020. Univariate, multivariable logistic regression analyses and adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 433 patients diagnosed with pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer, 63 (14.5%) were discharged with HO2. Using multivariable analyses, body mass index (OR for BMI25-30=4.0, 95% CI:1.6-11.2, p = 0.005 and OR for BMI≥ 30=6.1, 95% CI:2.4-17.5, p<0.001)and pre-operative diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide(DLCO) (OR for DLCO<40=24.9, 95% CI:3.6-234.1, p=0.002 and OR for DLCO 40-59=3.1, 95% CI:1.3-7.2, p=0.008) were significant independent risk factors associated with risk of home oxygen after controlling for other covariates. Although current smoking significantly increased the risk in the univariate analysis, it was no longer significant in the multivariable model.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were significant as risk factors for oxygen use at home after discharge. These findings allow for identification of patients at risk of being discharged with home oxygen after lung resection surgery.

A systematic review of risk prediction models for perioperative mortality after thoracic surgery

OBJECTIVES

Guidelines advocate that patients being considered for thoracic surgery should undergo a comprehensive preoperative risk assessment. Multiple risk prediction models to estimate the risk of mortality after thoracic surgery have been developed, but their quality and performance has not been reviewed in a systematic way. The objective was to systematically review these models and critically appraise their performance.

METHODS

The Cochrane Library and the MEDLINE database were searched for articles published between 1990 and 2019. Studies that developed or validated a model predicting perioperative mortality after thoracic surgery were included. Data were extracted based on the checklist for critical appraisal and data extraction for systematic reviews of prediction modelling studies.

RESULTS

A total of 31 studies describing 22 different risk prediction models were identified. There were 20 models developed specifically for thoracic surgery with two developed in other surgical specialties. A total of 57 different predictors were included across the identified models. Age, sex and pneumonectomy were the most frequently included predictors in 19, 13 and 11 models, respectively. Model performance based on either discrimination or calibration was inadequate for all externally validated models. The most recent data included in validation studies were from 2018. Risk of bias (assessed using Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool) was high for all except two models.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite multiple risk prediction models being developed to predict perioperative mortality after thoracic surgery, none could be described as appropriate for contemporary thoracic surgery. Contemporary validation of available models or new model development is required to ensure that appropriate estimates of operative risk are available for contemporary thoracic surgical practice.

Measured versus predicted postoperative pulmonary function at repeated times up to 1 year after lobectomy

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative pulmonary function is difficult to predict accurately, because it changes from the time of the operation and is also affected by various factors. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at different postoperative times after lobectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 104 patients who underwent lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Pulmonary function tests were performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6 and 12 months. We investigated time-dependent changes in FEV1. In addition, the ratio of measured to predicted postoperative FEV1 calculated by the subsegmental method was evaluated to identify the factors associated with variations in postoperative FEV1.

RESULTS

Compared with the predicted postoperative FEV1, the measured postoperative FEV1 was 8% higher at 3 months, 11% higher at 6 months and 13% higher at 12 months. The measured postoperative FEV1 significantly increased from 3 to 6 months (P = 0.002) and from 6 to 12 months (P = 0.015) after lobectomy resected lobe, smoking history and body mass index were significant factors associated with the ratio of measured to predicted postoperative FEV1 at 12 months (P < 0.001, P = 0.036 and P = 0.025, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative FEV1 increased up to 12 months after lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery. The predicted postoperative pulmonary function was underestimated after 3 months, particularly after lower lobectomy.

Negative impact of chemical pleurodesis on postoperative pulmonary function for managing prolonged air leakage after segmentectomy

OBJECTIVE

Prolonged air leakage (PAL) is the most common postoperative complication after segmentectomy and chemical pleurodesis (CP) is one of the common procedures for managing PAL. However, the impact of CP on postoperative pulmonary function remains unclear.

METHODS

We performed a propensity score matching analysis for postoperative pulmonary function in lung cancer patients who underwent segmentectomy. The percentage of postoperative functional change of forced vital capacity (δFVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (δFEV_1.0) at postoperative 6 and 12 months were compared between patients who were managed for PAL by CP (CP group, n = 21) and those who did not receive CP (non-CP, n = 21). The predicted δFVC and δFEV_1.0 after segmentectomy and lobectomy were also assessed to evaluate the loss of preserved lung function.

RESULTS

δFVC and δFEV_1.0 in the CP group were confirmed by a significantly larger decline in postoperative pulmonary function than that seen in the non-CP group at postoperative 6 and 12 months (δFVC at 6 months, - 21.1% versus - 5.1%, - 20.8% versus - 6.8% at 12 months, δFEV_1.0 at 6 months, - 19.1% versus - 7.2%, - 19.6% versus - 9.7%, at 12 months, p < 0.05 respectively). Both δFVC and δFEV_1.0 in the CP group were significantly lower than those predicted after segmentectomy (p < 0.01). They were not statistically different from the values predicted if lobectomy was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

CP after segmentectomy caused the same amount of loss in pulmonary function that was predicted if lobectomy was performed. The benefit of segmentectomy compared to lobectomy for preservation of pulmonary function is impaired by CP.

Diagnosis and management of peripheral lung nodule

A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a well-defined radiographic opacity up to 3 cm in diameter that is surrounded by unaltered aerated lung. Frequently, it is an incidental finding on chest radiographs and chest CT scans. Determining the probability of malignancy is the first step in the evaluation of SPN. This can be done by looking at specific risk factors and the rate of radiographic progression. Subsequent management is guided by the type of the nodule. Patients with solid nodules and low pretest probability can be followed radiographically; those with high probability, who are good surgical candidates, can be referred for surgical resection. When the pretest probability is in the intermediate range additional testing such as biopsy should be done. Various modalities are now available to obtain tissue diagnosis. These modalities differ in their yield and complication rate. Patients with SPN should be well informed of each approach's risks and benefits and should be able to make an informed decision regarding the different diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Retrospective Observational Study into the Early Causes of Death Following Surgery for NSCLC

INTRODUCTION

Respiratory failure has historically been the major cause of mortality after elective lung resections. With improved intubation using fiber-optic scopes, better preoperative respiratory risk assessment, more advanced anesthetic single lung ventilation, and minimally invasive surgical technique, this may have changed. Our objective was to assess the main causes of mortality over the past 10 years in patients undergoing elective lung surgery in a major UK center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective unit data search was made for all deaths during the 10-year period between January 2007 and December 2016 inclusive. All inpatient deaths within 30 days of an elective anatomical lung resection for lung malignancies were included.

RESULTS

Three-thousand three-hundred sixteen lung resections for malignancy were performed in the 10-year period. There were 44 (1.3%) deaths during this period, 27 (61.4%) after open lobectomies, 8 (18.2%) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomies, 5 (11.4%) after sleeve lobectomies, and 4 (9%) after pneumonectomies. Causes of death included 24 (54.5%) respiratory failure, 10 (22.7%) ischemic bowel, 4 (9%) coronary events, 2 (4.5%) strokes, 2 (4.5%) on table hemorrhage, 1 (2.3%) massive pulmonary embolus, and 1 (2.3%) postoperative hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

Although respiratory failure is still a major cause of mortality in the postoperative patient, bowel ischemia has been found to be the second greatest cause of death. This study highlights the need to identify those at risk of this fatal complication during preoperative assessment and their postoperative management.

Postoperative pulmonary function changes according to the resected lobe: a 1-year follow-up study of lobectomized patients

Background

Pulmonary function and patient complaints appear to improve up to 12 months after lobectomy but long-term prospective studies based on clinical data are scarce. Improvement in pulmonary function may depend on the area and extent of the resection and the time from the operation. This prospective study aimed to determine pulmonary function changes according to the resected lobe.

Methods

This prospective study included 59 patients requiring single lobectomy. Total volume and low-attenuation volume (LAV) for each lobe and the entire lungs were calculated based on helical computed tomography images. Vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), percent FEV₁ (%FEV₁), percent lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (%DL_co), %DL_co divided by the alveolar volume (%DL_co/V_A), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grades, and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores were compared at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Results

VC was higher at 12 months than at 3 months after right upper lobectomy (RUL) or right lower lobectomy (RLL). FEV₁ and %FEV₁ were higher at 12 months than at 6 months after left lower lobectomy (LLL). %DL_co was higher at 12 months than at 3 months after RUL or left upper lobectomy (LUL). DL_co/V_A, mMRC grades, and CAT scores did not change significantly in the period from 3 to 12 months after any lobectomy procedure. Compared to the predicted postoperative values, the observed values of VC for RUL, RLL, and LUL; FEV₁ for RLL; %FEV₁ for RLL and LUL; %DL_co for LUL; and %DL_co/V_A for all lobectomy procedures were higher at 12 months.

Conclusions

Improvements in pulmonary function and symptoms varied according to the resected lobe. Some of the observed pulmonary function values were higher than the predicted postoperative values. Pulmonary function changes may be related to the location, volume, and extent of emphysematous changes.

Single-lung ventilation with bronchofibroscopy during lung resection surgery

Lung isolation using one-lung ventilation is common during thoracic surgery procedures, as it allows proper visualisation and manipulation of the lung to be operated on. Selective lobar blockade has been described in patients that do not tolerate one-lung ventilation, and is usually achieved using endobronchial blockers. However, it depends on endobronchial blocker availability, its complexity regarding proper positioning, and the need for constant monitoring to ensure the correct placement of the bronchial seal. In the clinical case to be described, a new method was used to increase the available surface for oxygen exchange. This was accomplished by means of direct supply of oxygen through the bronchoscope's working channel to one of the not-to-be operated-on, non-ventilated lung lobes. With this technique, the surgeon had an optimal operating field, oxygenation from one-lung ventilation improved and no perioperative complications were found.

Preoperative functional workup for patients with advanced lung cancer

Locally advanced lung cancer remains a surgical indication in selected patients. This condition often demands larger resections. As a consequence preoperative functional workup is of paramount importance to stratify the risk and choose the most appropriate treatment. We reviewed the current evidence on functional evaluation with a special focus on specific aspects related to locally advanced lung cancer stages (i.e., risk after neoadjuvant treatment, pneumonectomy). Evidence is discussed to provide information that could assist clinicians in their preoperative workup of these challenging patients.

Risk Stratification in Lung Resection

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surgery is considered the best treatment option for patients with early stage lung cancer. Nevertheless, lung resection may cause a variable functional impairment that could influence the whole cardio-respiratory system with potential life-threatening complications. The aim of the present study is to review the most relevant evidences about the evaluation of surgical risk before lung resection, in order to define a practical approach for the preoperative functional assessment in lung cancer patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

The first step in the preoperative functional evaluation of a lung resection candidate is a cardiac risk assessment. The predicted postoperative values of forced expiratory volume in one second and carbon monoxide lung diffusion capacity should be estimated next. If both values are greater than 60 % of the predicted values, the patients are regarded to be at low surgical risk. If either or both of them result in values lower than 60 %, then a cardiopulmonary exercise test is recommended. Patients with VO2max >20 mL/kg/min are regarded to be at low risk, while those with VO2max <10 mL/kg/min at high risk. Values of VO2max between 10 and 20 mL/kg/min require further risk stratification by the VE/VCO2 slope. A VE/VCO2 <35 indicates an intermediate-low risk, while values above 35 an intermediate-high risk.

SUMMARY

The recent scientific evidence confirms that the cardiologic evaluation, the pulmonary function test with DLCO measurement, and the cardiopulmonary exercise test are the cornerstones of the preoperative functional evaluation before lung resection. We present a simplified functional algorithm for the surgical risk stratification in lung resection candidates.

One-Lung Anesthesia Update

One-lung ventilation is used during a variety of cardiac, thoracic, and major vascular procedures. Endobronchial tubes, bronchial blockers, and occasionally, single-lumen tubes are used to isolate the lungs. Patients with difficult airways and pediatric patients provide special challenges for lung isolation. Finally, intraoperative hypoxia and hypercarbia in patients with intrinsic lung disease frequently complicate one-lung anesthesia. The concepts and controversies in lung isolation techniques are discussed.

Common Pitfalls in Anesthesia for Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery

Over the past few decades, major surgical procedures involving the thorax have become commonplace at most larger medical facilities. Advances in perioperative care have allowed surgeons to perform increasingly complex procedures. These procedures are being performed on more seriously ill patients who are at increased risk for significant complications. Recent advances should help the anesthesiologist avoid some of the pitfalls in managing these complex patients. Preoperative assessment aids in the identification of patients at highest risk for intraoperative and postoperative events. Particular attention is given to myasthenia gravis, as thymectomy is among the most common surgical procedures that are performed in these patients. Aggressive pain control techniques, including neuraxial opioids and patient-controlled analgesia, where appropriate, not only improve patient comfort but can improve postoperative pulmonary function. Advances in techniques for providing one-lung ventilation allow the anesthesiologist more options to individualize management for each clinical scenario. Careful fluid management may help to minimize the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. A basic understanding of video-assisted thoracic surgery should help the anesthesiologist provide optimal surgical conditions and perioperative care. Recent advances demand a greater role for the anesthesiologist if the best outcomes are to be achieved in patients undergoing thoracic procedures.

Use the Lower Limit of Normal, Not 80% Predicted, in Judging Eligibility for Lung Resection

BACKGROUND

Impaired lung function (LF) is a well-known risk factor for perioperative complications in patients qualified for lung resection surgery. The recent European guidelines recommend using values below 80% predicted as indicating abnormal LF rather than the lower limit of normal (LLN).

OBJECTIVES

To assess how the choice of a cut-off point (80% predicted vs. LLN at -1.645 SD) affects the incidence of functional disorders and postoperative complications in lung cancer patients referred for lung resection.

METHODS

Preoperative spirometry and the transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) were retrospectively analysed in 851 consecutive lung cancer patients after resectional surgery.

RESULTS

Airway obstruction was diagnosed in 369 (43.4%), and a restrictive pattern in 41 patients (4.8%). The forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) or TL,CO was below the LLN in 503 patients (59.1%), whereas the FEV1 or TL,CO was <80% predicted in 620 patients (72.9%; χ2 test: p < 0.0001). In all, 117 out of 851 patients had LF indices <80% predicted but not below the LLN. Odds ratios (ORs) for perioperative complications were higher in patients with impaired LF indices defined as below the LLN (1.59, p = 0.0005) with the exception of large resections (>5 segments). In patients with test results above the LLN and <80% predicted, the OR for perioperative complications was not different (1.14, p = 0.5) from that in patients with normal LF.

CONCLUSIONS

LF impairments are common in candidates for lung resection. Using the LLN instead of 80% predicted diminishes the prevalence of respiratory impairment by 14% and allows for safe resectional surgery without additional function testing.

Post-operative pulmonary complications after thoracotomy

Pulmonary complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the post-operative period after thoracotomy. The type of complications and the severity of complications depend on the type of thoracic surgery that has been performed as well as on the patient's pre-operative medical status. Risk stratification can help in predicting the possibility of the post-operative complications. Certain airway complications are more prone to develop with thoracic surgery. Vocal cord injuries, bronchopleural fistulae, pulmonary emboli and post-thoracic surgery non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema are some of the unique complications that occur in this subset of patients. The major pulmonary complications such as atelectasis, bronchospasm and pneumonia can lead to respiratory failure. This review was compiled after a search for search terms within 'post-operative pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery and thoracotomy' on search engines including PubMed and standard text references on the subject from 2000 to 2015.

Predicting postoperative acute respiratory failure in critical care using nursing notes and physiological signals

Postoperative Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) is a serious complication in critical care affecting patient morbidity and mortality. In this paper we investigate a novel approach to predicting ARF in critically ill patients. We study the use of two disparate sources of information – semi-structured text contained in nursing notes and investigative reports that are regularly recorded and the respiration rate, a physiological signal that is continuously monitored during a patient's ICU stay. Unlike previous works that retrospectively analyze complications, we exclude discharge summaries from our analysis envisaging a real time system that predicts ARF during the ICU stay. Our experiments, on more than 800 patient records from the MIMIC II database, demonstrate that text sources within the ICU contain strong signals for distinguishing between patients who are at risk for ARF from those who are not at risk. These results suggest that large scale systems using both structured and unstructured data recorded in critical care can be effectively used to predict complications, which in turn can lead to preemptive care with potentially improved outcomes, mortality rates and decreased length of stay and cost.

An Official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Statement: Research questions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and resource use worldwide. The goal of this Official American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) Research Statement is to describe evidence related to diagnosis, assessment, and management; identify gaps in knowledge; and make recommendations for future research. It is not intended to provide clinical practice recommendations on COPD diagnosis and management.

METHODS

Clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates with expertise in COPD were invited to participate. A literature search of Medline was performed, and studies deemed relevant were selected. The search was not a systematic review of the evidence. Existing evidence was appraised and summarized, and then salient knowledge gaps were identified.

RESULTS

Recommendations for research that addresses important gaps in the evidence in all areas of COPD were formulated via discussion and consensus.

CONCLUSIONS

Great strides have been made in the diagnosis, assessment, and management of COPD as well as understanding its pathogenesis. Despite this, many important questions remain unanswered. This ATS/ERS Research Statement highlights the types of research that leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates believe will have the greatest impact on patient-centered outcomes.

An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: research questions in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and resource use worldwide. The goal of this official American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) research statement is to describe evidence related to diagnosis, assessment and management; identify gaps in knowledge; and make recommendations for future research. It is not intended to provide clinical practice recommendations on COPD diagnosis and management.

Clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates with expertise in COPD were invited to participate. A literature search of Medline was performed, and studies deemed relevant were selected. The search was not a systematic review of the evidence. Existing evidence was appraised and summarised, and then salient knowledge gaps were identified.

Recommendations for research that addresses important gaps in the evidence in all areas of COPD were formulatedviadiscussion and consensus.

Great strides have been made in the diagnosis, assessment and management of COPD, as well as understanding its pathogenesis. Despite this, many important questions remain unanswered. This ATS/ERS research statement highlights the types of research that leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates believe will have the greatest impact on patient-centred outcomes.

Managing lung cancer in high-risk patients: what to consider

Lung cancer patients with medical comorbidity are a challenge for care providers. As with other solid tumors, treatment is stage dependent; but a critical difference is the invasive nature of lung resections and the resulting importance of surgical risk stratification for treatment of early stage disease. External beam radiation was considered the only treatment option for early stage disease in non-operative candidates 10-15 years ago. With recent advances in image-guided technologies, robotics, and the resurgence in interest of sublobar resection there are now numerous treatment options which offer excellent local control and reasonable short and long term survival. Extensive work has been done to clarify interventional risk, and accurately describe anticipated outcomes of these varied treatments in the high risk population. The aim of this article is to review recent literature and provide a better understanding of the considerations used in the management of these patients in the current era.

Changes of arterial blood gases after different ranges of surgical lung resection

Introduction:

In recent years there has been increase in the number of patients who need thoracic surgery – first of all different types of pulmonary resection because of primary bronchial cancer, and very often among patients whose lung function is impaired due to different degree of bronchial obstruction so it is necessary to assess functional status before and after lung surgery to avoid the development of respiratory insufficiency.

Objective:

To show the changes in the level of arterial blood gases after various ranges of lung resection.

Material and methods:

The study was done on 71 patients surgically treated at the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery KCU Sarajevo, who were previously treated at the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases “Podhrastovi” in the period from 01. 06. 2009. to 01. 09. 2011. Different types of lung resection were made. Patients whose percentage of ppoFEV1 was (prognosed postoperative FEV1) was less than 30% of normal values of FEV1 for that patients were not given a permission for lung resection. We monitored the changes in levels-partial pressures of blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2 and SaO2) one and two months after resection and compared them to preoperative values. As there were no significant differences between the values obtained one and two months after surgery, in the results we showed arterial blood gas analysis obtained two months after surgical resection. Results were statistically analyzed by SPSS and Microsoft Office Excel. Statistical significance was determined at an interval of 95%.

Results:

In 59 patients (83%) there was an increase, and in 12 patients (17%) there was a decrease of PaO2, compared to preoperative values. In 58 patients (82%) there was a decrease, and in 13 patients (18%) there was an increase in PaCO2, compared to preoperative values. For all subjects (group as whole): The value of the PaO2 was significantly increased after lung surgery compared to preoperative values (p <0.05) so is the value of the SaO2%. The value of the PaCO2 was significantly decreased after lung surgery compared to preoperative values (p <0.05). Respiratory insufficiency was developed in none of patients.

Conclusion:

If the % ppoFEV1 (% prognosed postoperative FEV1) is bigger than 30% of normal values of FEV1 (according to sex, weight, height, age) in patient planned for lung resection surgery there is no development of respiratory insufficiency after resection.

Preoperative prediction of lung function in pneumonectomy by spirometry and lung perfusion scintigraphy

Introduction:

Nowadays an increasing number of lung resections are being done because of the rising prevalence of lung cancer that occurs mainly in patients with limited lung function, what is caused by common etiologic factor - smoking cigarettes. Loss of lung tissue in such patients can worsen much the postoperative pulmonary function. So it is necessary to asses the postoperative pulmonary function especially after maximal resection, i.e. pneumonectomy.

Objective:

To check over the accuracy of preoperative prognosis of postoperative lung function after pneumonectomy using spirometry and lung perfusion scinigraphy.

Material and methods:

The study was done on 17 patients operated at the Clinic for thoracic surgery, who were treated previously at the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases “Podhrastovi” in the period from 01. 12. 2008. to 01. 06. 2011. Postoperative pulmonary function expressed as ppoFEV1 (predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second) was prognosticated preoperatively using spirometry, i.e.. simple calculation according to the number of the pulmonary segments to be removed and perfusion lung scintigraphy.

Results:

There is no significant deviation of postoperative achieved values of FEV1 from predicted ones obtained by both methods, and there is no significant differences between predicted values (ppoFEV1) obtained by spirometry and perfusion scintigraphy.

Conclusion:

It is necessary to asses the postoperative pulmonary function before lung resection to avoid postoperative respiratory failure and other cardiopulmonary complications. It is absolutely necessary for pneumonectomy, i.e.. maximal pulmonary resection. It can be done with great possibility using spirometry or perfusion lung scintigraphy.

Anesthetic management of the patient with dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing pulmonary resection surgery: a case-based discussion

Interactions between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are complex and profound. General anesthesia, muscle relaxation, and positive-pressure ventilation all impose physiological effects on cardiovascular function. In patients presenting for pulmonary resection, additional effects resulting from positioning, 1-lung ventilation, surgical procedures, and contraction of the pulmonary vascular bed may impose an additional physiological burden. For most patients with adequate pulmonary and cardiovascular reserve, these effects are well tolerated. However, the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist may be asked to provide anesthetic care for patients with significantly reduced cardiac function who require potentially curative pulmonary resection for lung cancer. These patients present a major perioperative challenge and a thoughtful approach to intraoperative management is required. The authors review a case of a patient with severely impaired biventricular function who presented for elective pulmonary lobectomy in an attempt to effect a curative resection of lung cancer and present a discussion of physiological and pathophysiological considerations for clinical management.

Physiologic evaluation of lung resection candidates

This article reviews an evidence-based approach to the physiologic evaluation of patients under consideration for surgical resection of lung cancer. Adequate physiologic evaluation often includes a multidisciplinary evaluation, with complete identification of risk factors for perioperative complications and long-term disability including cardiovascular risk, assessment of pulmonary function, and smoking cessation counseling. Consideration of tumor-related anatomic obstruction, atelectasis, or vascular occlusion may alter measurements. Careful preoperative physiologic assessment helps to identify patients at increased risk of morbidity and mortality after lung resection. These evaluations are helpful in identifying patients who may not benefit from surgical management of their lung cancer.

Functional evaluation before lung resection

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and lung resection remains the only curative approach. In the Western world, lung cancer is one of the main indications for lung resection, despite only 15% to 25% of all lung cancers being operable at the time of presentation. In most cases of operable lung cancer, a substantial part of functional lung tissue has to be resected, leading to a permanent loss of pulmonary function. Resection in patients with insufficient pulmonary reserves can result in permanent respiratory disability. This article reviews the current standards of preoperative assessment.

Pulmonary function tests do not predict pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary function tests predict respiratory complications and mortality after lung resection through thoracotomy. We sought to determine the impact of pulmonary function tests upon complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy.

METHODS

A model for morbidity, including published preoperative risk factors and surgical approach, was developed by multivariable logistic regression. All patients who underwent lobectomy for primary lung cancer between December 1999 and October 2007 with preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or diffusion capacity to carbon monoxide (Dlco) 60% or less predicted were reviewed. Preoperative, histopathologic, perioperative, and outcome variables were assessed using standard descriptive statistics. Pulmonary complications were defined as atelectasis requiring bronchoscopy, pneumonia, reintubation, and tracheostomy.

RESULTS

During the study period, 340 patients (median age 67) with Dlco or FEV1 60% or less (mean % predicted FEV1, 55+/-1; mean % predicted Dlco, 61+/-1) underwent lobectomy (173 thoracoscopy, 167 thoracotomy). Operative mortality was 5% (17 patients) and overall morbidity was 48% (164 patients). At least one pulmonary complication occurred in 57 patients (17%). Significant predictors of pulmonary complications by multivariable analysis for all patients included Dlco (odds ratio 1.03, p=0.003), FEV1 (odds ratio 1.04, p=0.003), and thoracotomy as surgical approach (odds ratio 3.46, p=0.0007). When patients were analyzed according to operative approach, Dlco and FEV1 remained significant predictors of pulmonary morbidity for patients undergoing thoracotomy but not thoracoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with impaired pulmonary function, preoperative pulmonary function tests are predictors of pulmonary complications when lobectomy for lung cancer is performed through thoracotomy but not through thoracoscopy.

The Surgical Management of Lung Cancer

Since the introduction of the pneumonectomy as a technically feasible strategy for the treatment of lung cancer, surgical resection has played a pivotal role in the management of early stage non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In the last two decades, surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists have produced a growing body of evidence to support the combination of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments with standard surgical resection, to improve disease-free and overall survival for specific patient subgroups. Furthermore, alternatives to aggressive surgical management have evolved for patients who are medically inoperable due to compromised pulmonary function or other comorbidities. In this review, surgical options and multimodal treatment strategies are discussed, as well as completed and ongoing clinical trials addressing the surgical management of NSCLC.

Update on anesthetic management for pneumonectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pneumonectomy has the highest perioperative risk among common pulmonary resections. The purpose of this review is to update clinicians on the importance of anesthetic management for these patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two complications associated with increased perioperative mortality are relevant to anesthetic management: postoperative arrhythmias and acute lung injury. The geriatric population is particularly at risk for arrhythmias. Adequate preoperative cardiac assessment and drug prophylaxis may decrease this risk. Patients with decreased respiratory function are at increased risk for acute lung injury. The use of large tidal-volume ventilation during anesthesia may increase this risk. There is a trend to better outcomes in centers with larger surgical volumes.

SUMMARY

Patients should have a preoperative assessment of their respiratory function in three areas: lung mechanical function, pulmonary parenchymal function and cardiopulmonary reserve. Interventions that have been shown to decrease the incidence of respiratory complications include cessation of smoking, physiotherapy and thoracic epidural analgesia. Extrapleural pneumonectomy and sleeve pneumonectomy are surgical variations that place specific increased demands on the anesthesiologist. The rare but treatable complication of cardiac herniation must always be remembered as a potential cause of life-threatening hemodynamic instability in the early postoperative period.

Preoperative evaluation for thoracic surgery

The goal of the preoperative evaluation for thoracic surgery is to assess and implement measures to decrease perioperative complications and prepare high-risk patients for surgery. Major respiratory complications, such as atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, occur in 15% to 20% of patients and account for most of the 3% to 4% mortality rate. Development of pulmonary complications has been associated with higher postoperative mortality rates. Strategies aimed at preventing postoperative difficulties have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality, decrease hospital stay, and improve resource use. One lung ventilation leads to a significant derangement of gas exchange, and hypoxemia can develop due to increased intrapulmonary shunting. Recent advances in anesthetic management, monitoring devices, improved lung isolation techniques, and improved critical care management have increased the number of patients who were previously considered inoperable. In addition, there is a growing tendency to offer surgery to patients with significant lung function impairment; hence a higher incidence of intraoperative gas-exchange abnormalities can be expected. The anesthesiologist must also consider the risks of denying or postponing a potentially curative operation in patients with lung cancer. Detailed consideration of the information provided by preoperative testing is essential to successful outcomes following thoracic surgery.

Physiologic evaluation of the patient with lung cancer being considered for resectional surgery: ACCP evidenced-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition)

BACKGROUND

This section of the guidelines is intended to provide an evidence-based approach to the preoperative physiologic assessment of a patient being considered for surgical resection of lung cancer.

METHODS

Current guidelines and medical literature applicable to this issue were identified by computerized search and evaluated using standardized methods. Recommendations were framed using the approach described by the Health and Science Policy Committee.

RESULTS

The preoperative physiologic assessment should begin with a cardiovascular evaluation and spirometry to measure the FEV(1). If diffuse parenchymal lung disease is evident on radiographic studies or if there is dyspnea on exertion that is clinically out of proportion to the FEV(1), the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) should also be measured. In patients with either an FEV(1) or Dlco < 80% predicted, the likely postoperative pulmonary reserve should be estimated by either the perfusion scan method for pneumonectomy or the anatomic method, based on counting the number of segments to be removed, for lobectomy. An estimated postoperative FEV(1) or Dlco < 40% predicted indicates an increased risk for perioperative complications, including death, from a standard lung cancer resection (lobectomy or greater removal of lung tissue). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to measure maximal oxygen consumption (Vo(2)max) should be performed to further define the perioperative risk of surgery; a Vo(2)max of < 15 mL/kg/min indicates an increased risk of perioperative complications. Alternative types of exercise testing, such as stair climbing, the shuttle walk, and the 6-min walk, should be considered if CPET is not available. Although often not performed in a standardized manner, patients who cannot climb one flight of stairs are expected to have a Vo(2)max of < 10 mL/kg/min. Data on the shuttle walk and 6-min walk are limited, but patients who cannot complete 25 shuttles on two occasions will likely have a Vo(2)max of < 10 mL/kg/min. Desaturation during an exercise test has not clearly been associated with an increased risk for perioperative complications. Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves survival in selected patients with severe emphysema. Accumulating experience suggests that patients with extremely poor lung function who are deemed inoperable by conventional criteria might tolerate combined LVRS and curative-intent resection of lung cancer with an acceptable mortality rate and good postoperative outcomes. Combining LVRS and lung cancer resection should be considered in patients with a cancer in an area of upper lobe emphysema, an FEV(1) of > 20% predicted, and a Dlco of > 20% predicted.

CONCLUSIONS

A careful preoperative physiologic assessment will be useful to identify those patients who are at increased risk with standard lung cancer resection and to enable an informed decision by the patient about the appropriate therapeutic approach to treating their lung cancer. This preoperative risk assessment must be placed in the context that surgery for early-stage lung cancer is the most effective currently available treatment for this disease.

Postoperative respiratory failure

This analysis differentiates the causes of postoperative respiratory failure. Respiratory failure in thoracic patients is broken down into two distinct groups, aspiration and pneumonia, promoting actions to prevent respiratory failure. The goal is to develop different strategies to avoid postoperative respiratory failure using an active approach (what can be done in the management of patients undergoing lung resection to prevent problems) rather than passive approach (what patient factors caused problems after surgery). Before that analysis, the operative risks after lung resections (lobectomies, pneumonectomies, elderly patients) and esophagectomies are reviewed to understand the data.

Clinical impact of concomitant surgical diagnosis and subsequent lobectomy for preoperatively undiagnosed lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical impact of a concomitant diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for patients with histologically unproven pulmonary nodules.

METHODS

Between January 2001 and December 2003, we performed 150 consecutive surgical biopsy procedures for histologically indeterminate pulmonary nodules. We compared the clinical impact of the concomitant diagnostic wedge resection followed by lobectomy (U group, n=50) with that of a scheduled standard lobectomy in those with preoperatively proven clinical stage I lung cancer during the same period (C group, n=60).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in dichotomous variables, whereas we found significant differences in tumor size, operative time and blood loss between the 2 groups. Complication developed in 9 in the U group and 3 in the C group (p=0.030). Hospital mortality was 2% in the U group and 0% in the C group (p=0.11).

CONCLUSION

Morbidity and mortality following a concomitant diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in patients with preoperatively undiagnosed lung cancer was acceptable, however, staged operations should be indicated for patients with considerable co-morbidity.

Long-term pulmonary function after lobectomy for primary lung cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting long-term postoperative pulmonary function with a view to increasing the application of combined resection, bronchoplasty, and induction therapy. Results in 80 patients who underwent lobectomy for primary lung cancer were analyzed. Predicted postoperative pulmonary function was calculated using the formula: postoperative predicted function=preoperative function x[1-(b-n)/(42-n)], where n and b are the numbers of obstructed segments and total segments, respectively, in the resected lobe. Spirometry was performed serially on the preoperative day, and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. The difference between the predicted postoperative pulmonary function and the function measured at 12 months postoperatively was calculated, and clinical and therapeutic variables were analyzed. Univariate analysis revealed that the difference in vital capacity was significantly related to surgical approach, bronchoplasty, and induction therapy, while the difference in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) correlated with surgical approach and induction therapy. Multiple regression analysis showed induction therapy to be the sole factor related to the differences in both vital capacity and FEV1. Lung resection after induction therapy may cause an additional loss of pulmonary function in the late phase.

Effect of Lung Resection on Exercise Capacity and on Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity During Exercise

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of lung resection on lung function and exercise capacity values, including diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco), during exercise, and to determine whether postoperative lung function, including exercise capacity and Dlco during exercise, could be predicted from preoperative lung function and the number of functional segments resected.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Clinical pulmonary function laboratory in a university teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Twenty-eight patients undergoing lung resection at Vancouver General Hospital from October 1998 to May 1999, were studied preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively.

INTERVENTIONS

We determined FEV(1) and FVC, and maximal oxygen uptake (Vo(2)max) and maximal workload (Wmax) achieved during incremental exercise testing. We used the three-equation modification of the single-breath Dlco technique to determine Dlco at rest (RDlco) and during steady-state exercise at 70% of Wmax, and the increase in Dlco from rest to exercise (ie, the mean increase in Dlco percent predicted at 70% of Wmax from resting Dlco percent predicted [(70%-R)Dlco]). We calculated the predicted postoperative (PPO) values for all the above parameters using the preoperative test data and the extent of functioning bronchopulmonary segments resected, and compared the results with the actual 1-year postoperative results.

RESULTS

Following lung resection, there was a significant reduction in FEV(1), FVC, and Dlco with decreases of 12%, 13%, and 22% predicted, respectively. There were also significant decreases in Vo(2)max per kilogram of 2.1 mL/min/kg (8% of predicted Vo(2)max) and in Wmax of 12 W (7% of predicted Wmax). However, (70%-R)Dlco did not significantly decrease after lobectomy but decreased after pneumonectomy. The calculated PPO values significantly underestimated postoperative values after pneumonectomy but were acceptable for lobectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise tests may be better indicators of functional capacity after lung resection than measurements of FEV(1) and FVC or RDlco. PPO results calculated by estimating the functional contribution of the resected segments, are comparable with those obtained using ventilation-perfusion lung scanning and significantly underestimate postoperative lung function after pneumonectomy, but are acceptable for lobectomy.

Successful Treatment for Lung Cancer Associated With Pulmonary Sequestration

We encountered a 69-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary sequestration. The cancer lesion was located in the left upper lobe, with sequestration of the left lower lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed after induction chemoradiotherapy, but the sequestered lung lobe was preserved because the preoperative respiratory function was poor. Preservation of the sequestered lung during surgery for lung cancer should be considered in patients who have poor respiratory function and no signs of respiratory infection.

Risk Stratification for Lung Cancer Surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Current surgical strategies for lung cancer are directed toward the following two distinct targets: the increased prevalence of early-stage lung cancer; and locally advanced lung cancer treated with induction therapy (IT). To establish the risk stratification for operative morbidity from this viewpoint, we evaluated the impact of IT and/or an extended surgical procedure on operative results.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

A 674-bed teaching hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The morbidity and mortality of 758 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer were analyzed. There were 666 patients who underwent surgery alone (S group; 560 standard lobectomies and 106 extended resections) and 92 patients who received IT (IT group; 35 standard lobectomies and 57 extended resections). Comparisons between the groups were performed using unpaired t tests or chi(2) tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for operative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

IT and extended surgery were strong independent factors for predicting postoperative morbidity (p < 0.0001). Significant differences were observed for pathologic stage (p < 0.0001), preoperative hemoglobin and Dlco levels (p < 0.001), the ratio of extended resection (p < 0.0001), and operation time and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.001) between the S and IT groups. The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 16.8% and 0.9%, respectively, in the S group, and 55.4% and 5.4%, respectively, in the IT group (p < 0.01). The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 63.2% and 7.0%, respectively, for extended resection after IT, and 12.8% and 0.3%, respectively, for those who underwent a standard resection without IT.

CONCLUSIONS

The morbidity and mortality of lung resection are both significantly increased after IT, and the patients with the greatest risk are those who have undergone IT and extended resection. The impact of IT on risk stratification should be emphasized in perioperative care.

Preoperative Assessment: An Anesthesiologist's Perspective

Advances in anesthesia and surgery have made it so that almost any patient with a resectable lung malignancy is now an operative candidate given a full understanding of the risks and after appropriate investigation. This situation necessitates a change in the paradigm that anesthesiologists use for preoperative assessment. Understanding and stratifying the perioperative risks allows the anesthesiologist to develop a systematic focused approach to these patients at the time of the initial contact and immediately before induction, which can be used to guide anesthetic management.

A pragmatic and successful approach to treating nonsmall-cell lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is the single leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women combined. Nonsmall-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), which results largely from smoking tobacco, accounts for 87% of all lung cancer cases. Methods of patient selection, preoperative and intraoperative care, and postoperative outcomes for patients with NSCLC who were treated from 1991 through 2003 at Inova Fairfax Hospital are discussed. All patients were treated with surgery, some selectively and progressively with a combination of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, to try to downstage the disease to make complete resection feasible. Outcomes from this data collection period match or exceed the best results for treatment of late-stage (ie, III and IV) disease reported anywhere to date.