T4 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) were deemed unresectable. Advances in surgery have challenged this dogma. We describe technical aspects and result on superior vena cava (SVC), carinal, ...thoracic inlet tumor surgeries, and resection under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). SVC reconstruction requires hemodynamic control to reverse SVC clamping cerebral effects and excellent cephalic venous bed patency. Among 50 SVC resections, including 25 carinal pneumonectomies, post-operative mortality rate was 8%. In the N0–N1 group, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 46.6 and 37.7%, respectively. Right carinal pneumonectomy was performed through right thoracotomy. Sternotomy was favored for left carinal pneumonectomy or carinal resection alone. Among 138 carinal resections, including eight right upper lobectomies, 123 right pneumonectomies, four left pneumonectomies, and three isolated carinal resections, the post-operative mortality rate was 9.4%. In the N0–N1 patients, 5-year survival rate was 47%. 191 patients underwent resections of thoracic inlet tumors through a transclavicular cervicothoracic anterior approach combined in 63 patients with a posterior midline incision for limited spine invasion. In N0–N1 group, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 41.5 and 29.7%, respectively. CPB allowed resection of tumors invading the heart or great vessels in 13 patients. R0 resection and post-operative mortality rate were 94.4 and 5.5%, respectively. In this series of 388 T4 NSCLC, the post-operative mortality rate was 4%. In the R0 and N0–N1 groups, the 5-year survival rates were 44 and 41%, respectively. Surgical resection of T4 locally advanced NSCLC is worth being performed in selected N0–N1 patients, provided that a radical resection is expected.
Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) carries a poor prognosis and lung transplantation is the only curative treatment. In PVOD, epoprostenol therapy is controversial, as this condition may be ...refractory to specific therapy with an increased risk of pulmonary oedema. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, functional and haemodynamic data of 12 patients with PVOD (10 with histological confirmation) treated with continuous intravenous epoprostenol and priority listed for lung transplantation after January 1, 2003. All PVOD patients had severe clinical, functional and haemodynamic impairment at presentation. Epoprostenol was used at low dose ranges with slow dose increases and high dose diuretics. Only one patient developed mild reversible pulmonary oedema. After 3-4 months, improvements were seen in the New York Heart Association functional class (class IV to III in seven patients), cardiac index (1.99+/-0.68 to 2.94+/-0.89 L x min(-1) x m(-2)) and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (28.4+/-8.4 to 17+/-5.2 Wood units x m(-2); all p<0.01). A nonsignificant improvement in the 6-min walk distance was also observed (+41 m, p = 0.11). Two patients died, one patient was alive on the transplantation waiting list on December 1, 2008 and nine patients were transplanted. Cautious use of continuous intravenous epoprostenol improved clinical and haemodynamic parameters in PVOD patients at 3-4 months without commonly causing pulmonary oedema, and may be a useful bridge to urgent lung transplantation.
Hyperplasia of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) is a hallmark pathological feature of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Here we found that PA-SMCs from patients with PPH grow faster ...than PA-SMCs from controls when stimulated by serotonin or serum and that these effects are due to increased expression of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), which mediates internalization of indoleamine. In the presence of 5-HTT inhibitors, the growth stimulatory effects of serum and serotonin were markedly reduced and the difference between growth of PA-SMCs from patients and controls was no longer observed. As compared with controls, the expression of 5-HTT was increased in cultured PA-SMCs as well as in platelets and lungs from patients with PPH where it predominated in the media of thickened pulmonary arteries and in onion-bulb lesions. The L-allelic variant of the 5HTT gene promoter, which is associated with 5-HTT overexpression and increased PA-SMC growth, was present in homozygous form in 65% of patients but in only 27% of controls. We conclude that 5-HTT activity plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PA-SMC proliferation in PPH and that a 5HTT polymorphism confers susceptibility to PPH.
To investigate the physiological correlates of indices of RV function in a model of chronic pressure overload.
Chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) was induced in piglets by ligation of the left ...pulmonary artery (PA) followed by weekly embolization of right lower lobe arteries for 5 weeks (the PH group, n = 11). These animals were compared with sham-operated animals (controls, n = 6). At 6 weeks, a subgroup of five PH pigs underwent surgical reperfusion of the left lung and four others were followed until 12 weeks without treatment. Right ventricular function was assessed using echocardiography and conductance catheter measurements. At 6 weeks, mean PA pressure was higher in PH group compared with controls (35 ± 9 vs. 14 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.01). Although RV elastance (Ees) increased at 6 weeks in the PH group (0.55 ± 0.09 vs. 0.38 ± 0.05 mmHg/mL, P < 0.001), ventricular-arterial coupling measured by the ratio of Ees on PA elastance (Ea) was decreased (0.68 ± 0.17 vs. 1.18 ± 0.18, P < 0.001). There was a strong direct relationship between Ees/Ea and indices of RV function, while relationship between Ees and indices of RV function was moderate. Changes in indices of RV function with time and after left lung reperfusion were associated with changes in Ees/Ea.
Usual indices of RV function are associated with ventricular-arterial coupling rather than with ventricular contractility in a model of chronic pressure overload.
Background: An increased prevalence of splenectomy has been reported in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Examination of small pulmonary arteries from these subjects has ...revealed multiple thrombotic lesions, suggesting that thrombosis may contribute to this condition. Based on these findings, we hypothesised that splenectomy could be a risk factor for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a condition defined by the absence of thrombus resolution after acute pulmonary embolism that causes sustained obstruction of the pulmonary arteries and subsequent pulmonary hypertension. Methods: The medical history, clinical characteristics, thrombotic risk factors and haemodynamics of 257 patients referred for CTEPH between 1989 and 1999 were reviewed. In a case-control study the prevalence of splenectomy in patients with CTEPH was compared with that of patients evaluated during the same period for idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (n = 276) or for lung transplantation in other chronic pulmonary conditions (n = 180). Results: In patients with CTEPH, 8.6% (95% CI 5.2 to 12.0) had a history of splenectomy compared with 2.5% (95% CI 0.7 to 4.4) and 0.56% (95% CI 0 to 1.6) in cases of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and other chronic pulmonary conditions, respectively (p<0.01). Conclusion: Splenectomy may be a risk factor for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
Mediastinal goiters are frequently diagnosed, particularly in the elderly population. However, factors associated with an increased risk of median sternotomy have not been analyzed systematically.
...Between 1980 and 2004, a total of 185 patients underwent surgery for mediastinal goiters in our institution. There were 126 women and 59 men with a median age of 68 years (range 24 to 94 years). The goiters were left-sided in 77 patients, right-sided in 69 patients, and bilateral in 39 patients.
Clinical presentation was mainly dyspnea (37 %), palpation of a cervical mass (35 %), superior vena cava syndrome (5 %), dysphagia (4 %) and dysphonia (4 %). Goiters measured between 5 and 23 cm (median 10 cm) and were prevascular (38 %), retrovascular and paratracheal (33 %), and retrotracheal (27 %). Aberrant intrathoracic goiters were observed in 4 patients (2 %). The large majority of goiters could be removed transcervically, regardless of the location and extension of the goiters. A sternotomy was required in 13 patients (6 %), mainly because of recurrent goiter ( P = 0.1), ectopic goiter ( P < 0.001), or invasive carcinoma ( P < 0.001). Superior vena cava syndrome, emergent airway compression, dysphagia, retrotracheal goiter, or crossover goiters were not found to be associated with an increased risk of sternotomy. One patient (0.5 %) died postoperatively from massive intraoperative carcinomatous pulmonary emboli. Histology demonstrated a thyroid carcinoma in 18 patients (10 %).
Surgery for mediastinal goiters should always be considered, even in elderly patients because of the high risk of tracheal compression and the low morbidity of the surgery. Most mediastinal goiters are benign and can be removed through a cervical approach. Sternotomy should only be performed in cases of previous cervical thyroidectomy, invasive carcinoma, or ectopic goiter.
Background:
Air leaks after pulmonary resections may contribute to increased patient morbidity, delayed removal of chest drainage tubes, and prolonged hospitalization. Objective: The purpose of this ...study was to investigate the effects of a new synthetic, absorbable sealant on the healing of healthy bronchial and lung tissues (experimental study) and its safety and efficacy to stop air leaks after lung resection (clinical study).
Methods: Fifteen large white pigs underwent a left upper lobectomy. All parenchymal surgical sites were sealed; the bronchial stump was either stapled, sealed, or both (n = 5 each). In the clinical study, 26 consecutive patients were prospectively randomized, intraoperatively, to standard closure of parenchymal surgical sites with (n = 15) or without (n = 11) the sealant.
Results: In the experimental study, no postoperative air leaks occurred, with intact bronchial closures and normal tissues at death. In the clinical study, 100% of intraoperative leaks were sealed versus 18% of control patients (
P = .001). Although 77% (n = 10) of treated patients remained leak-free from the end of the operation to chest tube removal versus 9% (n = 1) of control patients (
P = .001), there was no statistical difference in the duration of postoperative chest tube time, hospital stay, or cost. There were no acute or late undesirable side-effects related to the sealant application.
Conclusions: The surgical adhesive investigated here demonstrated a compelling safety profile and significant clinical efficacy to stop air leaks after lung resections. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:751-8)
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