Double sleeve resections

Double sleeve lung resections are complex surgical procedures that require specialized surgical expertise and careful patient selection. These procedures allow for the preservation of lung tissue while still achieving complete tumor resection for central tumors. Although initially considered high-risk operations, double sleeve lung resections have become a viable option for central tumors. Recent studies have shown that double sleeve lung resections are associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates than pneumonectomy. Furthermore, double sleeve lung resections may be associated with similar or even better long-term oncological outcomes compared to pneumonectomy, with the added benefit of preserving lung parenchyma and reducing the incidence of postoperative complications.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic versus open sleeve lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis from six comparative studies

BACKGROUND

Lung sleeve resection is indicated for centrally located lung tumors, especially for patients who cannot tolerate pneumonectomy. With video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) being increasingly implemented for a wide variety of thoracic pathologies, this study aims to compare the intraoperative, postoperative, and long-term outcomes of VATS and open bronchial sleeve lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

The MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. Original clinical studies, comparing VATS and open sleeve lobectomy for NSCLC were included. Evidence was synthesized as odds ratios for categorical and weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Our analysis included six studies with non-overlapping populations reporting on 655 patients undergoing bronchial sleeve lobectomy for NSCLC (229 VATS and 426 open). VATS sleeve lobectomy was associated with significantly longer operative time ((WMD): 45.85 min, 95% confidence interval (CI): 12.06 to 79.65, p  =  0.01) but less intraoperative blood loss ((WMD): -34.57 mL, 95%CI: -58.35 to -10.78, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between VATS and open bronchial sleeve lobectomy in margin-negative resection rate, number of lymph nodes resected, postoperative outcomes (drainage duration, length of hospital stay, 30-day mortality), postoperative complications (pneumonia, bronchopleural fistula/empyema, prolonged air leakage, chylothorax, pulmonary embolism, and arrhythmia), and long-term outcomes (overall survival, recurrence-free survival).

CONCLUSIONS

The limitation of our study arises mainly due to the heterogeneity of the included studies. Nevertheless, VATS bronchial sleeve lung resection constitutes a feasible and safe alternative to the open sleeve lung resection surgery for the management of centrally located lung tumors.

Parenchymal Sparing Surgery for Lung Cancer: Focus on Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction

Reconstruction of the pulmonary artery (PA) associated with lobectomy for the radical resection of lung cancer has been progressively gaining diffusion in lung cancer surgery as a safe and effective therapeutic option that may allow radical resection when lobectomy is not technically feasible, avoiding pneumonectomy. There are some controversial aspects concerning the intraoperative and perioperative management of a sleeve resection with PA reconstruction that may influence the outcome. In the present article, the authors have analyzed some of the main technical and oncological aspects to take stock of what they have learned from their lung-sparing operations experience over time. PA reconstruction may require prosthetic materials including different options with variable cost. A main concern in vascular reconstructive procedures is avoiding tension on the anastomosis. When PA reconstruction is required, appropriate anticoagulation management is crucial. Results from the main literature data confirm the reliability of lobectomy associated with PA reconstruction in terms of perioperative morbidity and long-term survival. Sleeve lobectomy and PA reconstruction can be performed safely and effectively even after induction therapy.

Pneumonectomy for left-sided non-small cell lung cancer: analysis of 111 cases over 10 years

Background

Pulmonary resection is the preferred therapeutic option for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite the physiological insult, pneumonectomy (PN) may be unavoidable in patients with early-stage central tumors. This study aimed to analyze the management of early-stage left-sided NSCLC by PN.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of patients with different stages of NSCLC who underwent left PN over a 10-year period. In-hospital morbidity and mortality and long-term survival were calculated.

Results

A total of 111 patients were enrolled (aged 46–80 years). Preoperatively, 53.2% of patients had stage IIIA, 32.4% stage IIB, and 14.4% had stage IIA disease. Postoperatively, the number of patients with stage IIA and IIB decreased while stage IIIA increased. All PNs were radical. The 5- and 10-year survival rates in stage IIA patients were 42.8% and14.2%, respectively, in stage IIB patients were 56.25% and 3.1%, and the 5-year survival in stage IIIA patients was 22. 5%. The overall 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 94.6%, 77.47%, 34.23%, and 2.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

The operative mortality, morbidity, and 5-year survival rates of patients with NSCLC after PN matched the international standards. Left PN might be unavoidable for patients with centrally located tumors.

Oncologic Outcomes of Surgery Versus SBRT for Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment of stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma is subject to debate. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival and oncologic outcomes of lobar resection (LR), sublobar resection (SR), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of oncologic outcomes of propensity matched comparative and noncomparative cohort studies was performed. Outcomes of interest were overall survival and disease-free survival. The inverse variance method and the random-effects method for meta-analysis were utilized to assess the pooled estimates.

RESULTS

A total of 100 studies with patients treated for clinical stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma were included. Long-term overall and disease-free survival after LR was superior over SBRT in all comparisons, and for most comparisons, SR was superior to SBRT. Noncomparative studies showed superior long-term overall and disease-free survival for both LR and SR over SBRT. Although the papers were heterogeneous and of low quality, results remained essentially the same throughout a large number of stratifications and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that LR has superior outcomes compared to SBRT for cI non-small-cell lung carcinoma. New trials are underway evaluating long-term results of SBRT in potentially operable patients.

Sleeve lobectomy compared with pneumonectomy for operable centrally located non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

Background

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate evidence comparing sleeve lobectomy (SL) and pneumonectomy (PN) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

The English literature search was undertaken in January 2018 and included studies dating back to 1996. Comparative studies were identified, evaluating survival, local recurrence, and distant recurrence rates, operative mortality, 30-day mortality, as well as complications. A pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated with either the random or fixed-effect model.

Results

A total of 27 studies were identified, with publication dates between 1996 and 2018. These 27 studies included a total of 14,194 patients: 4,145 treated with SL and 10,049 treated with PN. The overall survival was significantly higher in the SL group compared to the PN one at 1, 3, 5 years. In patients with N0 and N1 disease, 5-year survival rates following SL exceeded those following PN. There was no statistically significant difference in the 3-, 5-year overall survival of N2 patients, according to the extent of surgery. The PN group had a higher rate of operative mortality, 30-day mortality and distant recurrence incidence. However, no statistical difference in complications and local recurrence between SL and PN were observed.

Conclusions

SL is an effective treatment option for hilar NSCLC with improved long-term survival compared to PN, with no increase of recurrence rate or postoperative complications. Furthermore, N2 disease is an important factor related to survival, and lymph node downstaging is a favorable prognostic factor.

Bronchial and arterial sleeve resection for centrally-located lung cancers

The use of bronchial and arterial sleeve resections for the treatment of centrally-located lung cancers, when available, has become the option of choice in comparison with pneumonectomy (PN). Technical expertise, in particular in vascular reconstruction, and perioperative management improved over time allowing excellent short-term and long-term results. This is even truer if considering literature data from the main experiences published in the last years. These evidences have given to such lung sparing reconstructive procedures more and more acceptance among the surgical community. This article focuses on the main technical aspects and literature data regarding bronchovascular sleeve resections.

Reconstruction of the bronchus and pulmonary artery

Bronchovascular reconstructive procedures employed in order to avoid pneumonectomy (PN) in patients functionally unsuitable have provided, over time, excellent results, similar or even better than those obtained by PN. In recent years, new successful techniques have been developed that pertain in particular the prevention of major complications and the reconstruction of the pulmonary artery (PA). Encouraging data from increasing number of published experiences support the choice of parenchymal sparing procedures for lung cancer also in patients with good functional reserve. This is even more true if considering trials published in the last 10 years, thus indicating that improved outcome can be achieved with increased experience in reconstructive techniques and perioperative management. This article discusses the main technical aspects and results of literature.

Prognostic analysis of the bronchoplastic and broncho-arterioplastic lobectomy of non-small cell lung cancers-10-year experiences of 161 patients

BACKGROUND

Bronchoplastic and broncho-arterioplastic lobectomy is technically demanding. Present study performed a prognostic analysis of lobectomy patient based on 10-year data in a high-volume center.

METHODS

Overall, 161 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases underwent bronchoplastic and broncho-arterioplastic lobectomy between January 2004 and November 2013. Follow-up information was obtained for 88.8% patients. Prognostic analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

There were 133 bronchoplastic and 28 broncho-arterioplastic procedures. In detail, 97 sleeve and 64 wedge broncho-resection and reconstructions were conducted; pulmonary artery sleeve reconstructions were performed in 26 cases and tangential resection in 135 cases. 90-day post-operative mortality was 3.1% (5/161), and 24.8% (40/161) patients had post-operative complications. 5-year overall survival was 53.4% and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 48.2% for the entire case series; these survival rates were 67.7% and 55.7% for stage I (n=31), 64.4% and 58.9% for stage II (n=62), and 36.9% and 31.9% for stage III disease, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that age >65 and higher grade of pN were associated with worse overall survival while right side tumor, non-squamous histology type, and higher grade of pT and pN were associated with worse DFS. Multivariate analysis revealed that pN is the only independent factor of worse outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchoplastic and broncho-arterioplastic lobectomy are safe procedures for indicated NSCLC patients associated with a low rate of post-operative complications but favorable long-term survival. Recognition of prognostic factors helps improve outcomes for these patients.

Surgical Techniques and Long-Term Results of Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction in Patients With Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary artery (PA) reconstruction for lung cancer is technically feasible with low morbidity and mortality. We assessed our experience with partial or circumferential resection of the PA during lung resection.

METHODS

Between 1998 and 2013, we performed PA angioplasty in 150 patients with lung cancer. Partial PA resection was performed in 146 patients. PA reconstruction was performed by running suture in 113 patients and by using a pericardial patch in 33. A circumferential PA resection was performed in 4 patients, and reconstruction was made with polytetrafluoroethylene and by a custom-made bovine pericardial conduit. Bronchial sleeve resection was associated in 56 patients. Stage I disease was present in 32 patients, stage II in 43, stage IIIA in 51, and stage IIIB in 17. Seventy-five patients received induction chemotherapy, and 7 patients had a complete response.

RESULTS

Thirty-day mortality was 3.3% (n = 5); two of these patients died of a massive hemoptysis. Pulmonary complications occurred in 33 patients, cardiac in 28, and air leaks in 17. Overall 5-year and 10-year survival was 50% and 39%, respectively. Survival at 5 and 10 years for stages I and II vs stage III was, respectively, 66% vs 32% and 56% vs 20% (p < 0.0001). Five-year survival was 61% for N0 and N1 nodal involvement vs 28% for N2, and the respective 10-year survival was 45% vs 28% (p = 0.001). Induction chemotherapy did not influence survival. Multivariate analysis yielded advanced stage, N2 status, and squamous cell carcinoma as negative prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

PA reconstruction is safe, with excellent long-term survival. Our results support this technique as an effective option to pneumonectomy for patients with lung cancer.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery right sleeve lobectomy

A 50-year-old active male with a smoking history of 30 years (20 cigarettes per day) was admitted to hospital because of more than one month's cough without sputum. No comorbidity was present. The preoperative examination showed: blood test normal, ECG normal, cardio-pulmonary function normal, chest computed tomography (CT) display right upper lobe (RUL) mass of 5 cm diameter. Bronchoscopy examination and biopsy indicated large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) in the take-off of RUL bronchus. No metastatic focus was found after emission computed tomography (ECT) scan of whole body bone, abdominal US scanning and brain MR. After initial evaluation, the clinical stage before operation was cT2bN0M0 (IIA stage). A selective video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) operation was arranged after 9 days of smoking cessation. Lateral position, one 10 mm trocar for camera in the 7th intercostals space in the mid-auxiliary line, 4 cm trocar for operation in the 4th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line, 15 mm trocar for auxiliary operation in the 8th intercostal space in the scapula line, the patient received VATS RUL lobectomy, plus systemic mediastinal lymph nodes dissection. The procedure of 200 minutes operation was smooth with blood loss of about 150 mL. Chest tube was removed 6 days after operation, and the patient discharged 11 days after the operation; The post-operation pathological examination showed RUL LCNEC, and the pathological stage was pT2bN0M0R0 (IIA stage). The patient has received four cycles of EP adjuvant chemotherapy per 21 days and is still alive without disease recurrence and metastasis after re-examination.

Comparison of short and long-term results between sleeve resection and pneumonectomy in lung cancer patients over 70 years old: 10 years experience from a single institution in China

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the short and long-term results between sleeve resection (SR) and pneumonectomy (PN) in lung cancer patients over 70 years of age.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 105 lung cancer patients over 70 years of age who had undergone SR or PN at Shanghai Chest Hospital from January 2003 to December 2012.

RESULTS

The SR group showed a higher frequency of airway clearance via bronchoscopy (48.6% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.04), longer surgical time (162.7 vs. 140.9 minutes, P = 0.01), and shorter postoperative stay (13.7 vs. 18.1 days, P = 0.02) than the PN group. There was no difference in hospital mortality (P = 1.00) or morbidity (P = 0.40) between the two groups. A logistic regression model showed that preoperative predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second was the only independent risk factor for overall morbidity (P = 0.04). In survival analysis, SR showed better prognosis than PN (median 50.0 vs. 20.0 months, P < 0.01). In subgroup analysis, SR showed better survival in N0 (P = 0.03) and N1 (P < 0.01) cases, but not in N2 cases (P = 0.36). It also showed better survival in stage I + II patients (P = 0.03), but not in stage III patients (P = 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Although PN could be carried out as safely as SR in patients over 70 years of age with a good pulmonary reservoir, SR is still recommended as a less traumatic procedure, sparing lung parenchyma with better long-term results.

Bronchial and arterial sleeve resection after induction therapy for lung cancer

Lobectomy with reconstruction of the bronchus and pulmonary artery is a viable therapeutic option for patients with centrally located non-small cell lung cancer. Preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy may represent an additional risk factor for postoperative complications because of increased difficulty in surgical dissection and potential impairment of bronchial healing. Although limited data are available in the literature in this setting, a few published studies have reported the possibility of performing even complex bronchovascular reconstructions after neoadjuvant treatment with no increased morbidity and mortality. This article discusses the main technical details and data from the literature.

Reconstruction of the bronchus and pulmonary artery

Sleeve lobectomy (SL) (lobectomy associated with resection and reconstruction of the bronchus, the pulmonary artery, or both) has proved to be a suitable choice for the treatment of centrally sited non-small cell lung cancer. SL for lung cancer is indicated when a tumor or an N1 lymph node infiltrates the origin of a lobar bronchus, the origin of the lobar branches of the pulmonary artery, or both but not to the extent that a pneumonectomy is required. SL can be performed safely and effectively, even after induction therapy, without an increased complication rate.

Sleeve lobectomy compared with pneumonectomy after induction therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

We compared morbidity, mortality, and oncological results of bronchial and/or vascular sleeve lobectomy (SL) with those of pneumonectomy (PN) after induction therapy for lung cancer.

METHODS

Between 1998 and 2011, 82 patients receiving induction therapy (chemo or chemo-radiotherapy) for non-small-cell-lung-cancer underwent sleeve lobectomy (n = 39) or pneumonectomy (n= 43). Only patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy (39 in the SL group and 39 in the PN group) were included in the study. SL was bronchial in 21, vascular in 12, and broncho-vascular in six cases, respectively. Clinical stage before induction therapy was IIb in seven patients (1 in PN group; 6 in SL group), IIIa in 66 (36 in PN group; 30 in SL group), and IIIb in five patients (2 in PN group; 3 in SL group), respectively. N3 patients were not included in this series.

RESULTS

The rate of downstaged patients (pathological complete response and stage I-II) was 79.5% in the SL group and 53.8% in the PN group (p = 0.01).Postpneumonectomy mortality rate was 2.6 %. There was no postoperative mortality after SL. Complications occurred in 12 patients (30.8%) after PN and in 11 patients (28.2%) after SL (p = 0.6). Three-year and 5-year survival rates were 68 ± 3% and 64 ± 8% in the SL group; and 59.5 ± 5% and 34.5 ± 8% in the PN group (p = 0.02). The difference in terms of recurrence rate (locoregional and distant) between the two groups was not significant (p = 0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

SL represents a valid therapeutic option even after induction chemotherapy, providing better long-term survival than PN, with no increase of postoperative complications or recurrence rate. Pathological downstaging is a favorable prognostic factor.

Sleeve lobectomy versus pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

Aim

It is controversial that whether sleeve lobectomy (SL) should be promoted more worthy than pneumonectomy (PN) in suitable patients.

Methods

We searched all studies that had been published in English from PUBMED and Embase which compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of SL and pneumonectomy (PN) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Results

Nineteen studies met our criteria with a combined total of 3878 subjects, of which 1316 (33.9%) underwent SL and 2562 (66.1%) underwent PN. The odds ratio was 0.50 (95% CI: 0.34-0.72) for postoperative mortality, 1.17 (95% CI: 0.82-1.67) for postoperative complications, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.47-1.29) for locoregional recurrences. The risk difference for 1-, 3-, 5- year was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07-0.14), 0.15 (95% CI: 0.06-0.24), 0.15 (95% CI: 0.09-0.20),respectively. The pooled hazard ratio was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.56-0.71) in favor of SL group.

Conclusion

SL is more worthy to be done than PN in suitable patients with less mortality and better long-term survival.

Bronchovascular reconstruction for lung cancer: does induction chemotherapy influence the outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Bronchoangioplastic interventions (BAIs) for lung cancer are challenging procedures associated with a high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The role of induction chemotherapy (IC) in these patients is debated.

METHODS

We reviewed clinical records of patients who underwent a BAI between 1998 and 2009 using a prospective clinical and operative database.

RESULTS

Among 47 patients (39 men; mean age, 66 years) who underwent BAI, 26 (55.3%) received IC for N2 disease or for locally advanced lung cancer. We performed 35 pulmonary artery (PA) sleeve resections (31 partial and 4 circumferential), 10 PA reconstructions with a pericardial patch (8 autologous, and 2 heterologous), and 2 PA reconstructions using heterologous conduit. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.2% (n=2). Morbidity occurred in 19 (40.4%) patients; 5 patients (10.6%) had major complications (3 [6.4%] patients with fatal bronchovascular fistulas and 1 patient each with cardiac dislocation and acute respiratory distress syndrome) (2.2%). Fourteen patients (29.8%) had minor complications: 6 (12.7%) cardiac, 7 (14.9%) pulmonary, and 1 (2.2%) stroke. IC did not influence the complication rate. Overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival was 39.2% and 36.9%, respectively. Early pathologic stage and the absence of nodal involvement significantly influenced survival (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively). Patients receiving IC had a better prognosis (62.7% versus 10.7%; p=0.0003). At multivariate analysis, IC influenced long-term survival (p=0.003 [95% CI, 2.92-8.56]).

CONCLUSIONS

BAIs are feasible and effective surgical procedures with acceptable morbidity and mortality. IC does not influence morbidity and allows good long-term outcomes.