Pneumonectomy is known as an effective treatment of lung cancer, lung tuberculosis, and damaged lung. But the incidences of complications and mortality are significantly higher in patients undergoing pneumonectomy than those undergoing lobectomy. The complication rate within 30 days after pneumonectomy is 11%-49% and the mortality is 3%-25%. Mortality of right pneumonectomy is triple that of left pneumonectomy. Postpneumonectomy complications include cardiopulmonary failure, bronchopleural fistula and postpneumonectomy syndrome. Besides the symptomatic treatment, which includes flushing drainage, plugging and operation, observation and prompt diagnosis are necessary for prevention. This review is focused on the prevention and treatment of complications after pneumonectomy.
Objective To evaluate the validity of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pneumonectomy in thoracic diseases treatment. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 consecutive patients who underwent VATS pneumonectomy in Xiangya Hospital Central South University between January 2013 and October 2015. There were 26 males and 8 females at age of 35–69 (53.8±7.7) years. Results VATS pneumonectomy was completed successfully in 32 patients (5.8% conversion rate). The average operation time was 182.5±52.4 min. The average blood loss was 217.1±1 834.8 ml. Chest tube drainage flow was 3–11 (6.0±1.7) days and postoperative hospital stay was 5–12 (7.6±1.8) days. Eleven patients got postoperative complications (34.3%), mainly pulmonary infections. The 32 patients were followed up for 10 (1–21) months. Two patients died of lung metastasis 16 or 17 months after the operation. One patient died of sudden cardiac arrest 3 months after operation. Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) happened in one patient after hospital discharge in 2 months. Conclusion VATS is feasible for pneumonectomy. However, further studies and follow-up are needed to verify the benefits of VATS pneumonectomy for lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore an effective and safe drainage method, by comparing open thoracic drainage and conventional thoracic drainage for lung cancer patients after thoracoscopic pneumonectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 147 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pneumonectomy from January 2015 to March 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 128 males and 19 females. Based on drainage methods, they were divided into an open drainage group (open group) and a conventional drainage group (regular group). The incidence of postoperative complications, chest tube duration, drainage volume at postoperative 3 days, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost and quality of life were compared between the two groups.ResultsPostoperative complication rate was lower in the open group than that in the regular group (10.20% vs. 23.47%, P=0.04). The chest tube duration of the open group was longer compared with the regular group (5.57±2.36 d vs. 3.22±1.23 d, P<0.001). The drainage volume at postoperative 3 days was less in the regular group. In the open group, ambulation was earlier, thoracocentesis was less and re-intubation rate was lower (all P<0.001). The postoperative hospital stay in the regular group was significantly longer than that in the open group (8.37±2.56 d vs. 6.35±1.87 d, P<0.001) and hospitalization cost was significantly higher (66.2±5.4 thousand yuan vs. 59.6±7.3 thousand yuan, P<0.001). Besides, quality of life in 1 and 3 months after operation was significantly better than that in the open group (P<0.001).ConclusionCompared with the regular chest drainage, the effect of open thoracic drainage is better, which can help reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of hospital stay, reduce the hospitalization cost and improve the quality of postoperative life. It is worthy of clinical promotion.
A 54-year-old asymptomatic man underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic left pneumonectomy for squamous-cell carcinoma. During the surgery, a complete left pericardial defect was unexpectedly discovered, but no special intervention was made. The preoperative chest CT was reciewed, which showed the heart extended unusually to the left, but the left pericardial defect was not evident. The operation time was 204 min and the patient was discharged from hospital upon recovery 9 days after the surgery. The pathological result indicated moderately differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma (T2N1M0, stage ⅡB), and metastasis was found in the parabronchial lymph nodes (3/5). The patient did not receive chemotherapy after the surgery, and there was no signs of recurrence 6 months after the surgery. Complete pericardial defects usually do not endanger the lives of patients, and if the patient is asymptomatic, pneumonectomy is feasible.