Sleeve Pneumonectomy for Lung Cancer — Survival and Complications (Single-center Experience with 42 Patients)

Abstract

Background: Sleeve pneumonectomy is challenging both from the technical and oncological standpoint. The benefit of induction treatment is still under investigation.

Material and methods: The study included 42 patients with sleeve pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer in an eight-year period. Right sleeve pneumonectomy was performed in 39 patients. Squamous cell and adenocarcinoma were found in 33 (78.5%) and 5 (1l.9%) patients, respectively. Overall stage was IIIa for 25 (59.5%) and IIIb for 17 (40.5%) patients, respectively.

Results: Perioperative mortality and morbidity were 16.6% and 35.7%. Leading cause of death was bronchopleural fistula. Five-year survival was 35%. The survival difference between patients with N0+Nl versus N2 lesions was statistically significant (p = 0.01). There were no two-year survivors among patients with N2 lesions. Survival difference between T3 and T4 patients was also significant (p = 0.04). In a multivariate analysis, only T and N components were found significant in terms of prognosis.

Conclusion: Sleeve pneumonectomy should be avoided in patients with N2 lesions confirmed preoperatively. A safe operation can be performed if the surgeon restricts airway resection to a maximum length of 4 cm.

Key Words:

• Lung cancer
• sleeve pneumonectomy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

D. Subotich

D. Subotich Institute for Lung Diseases Clinical Center of Serbia SERB-11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]