[The efficacy of perioperative administration of steroid and erythromycin in the surgery for lung cancer complicated with interstitial pneumonia].

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy of perioperative administration of steroid and erythromycin in surgery for lung cancer complicated with interstitial pneumonia (IP) to prevent postoperative acute exacerbation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We operated on 21 lung cancer patients with IP for 10 years. The patients were given 400 mg of erythromycin over 1 week before surgery and re-administered on the 1st operative day. The patients were also given 125 mg of methylprednisolone intravenously just before operation and continued until the 2nd operative day. RESULTS: Lobectomy was performed in 16, segmentectomy or partial resection in 2 each, and completion pneumonectomy in 1. Three patients developed acute exacerbation of IP, but it occurred after the re-operation due to postoperative complications in 2. We experienced no operative death within 30 days, however, 2 died during the hospital stay due to multiple organ failure and sepsis. Seven of 21 patients had postoperative complications; air leakage over 1 week in 4, arrhythmia in 3, and atelectasis, postoperative bleeding, and pneumonia in 1 each, the morbidity rate was 33%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the administration of steroid and erythromycin in surgery for lung cancer with IP was suspected the usefulness to prevent a postoperative acute exacerbation of IP.

Transplantation of canine lung allografts preserved in UW solution for 24 hours.

To evaluate the efficacy of University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for lung preservation, we performed canine lung allotransplantation with lungs preserved in UW solution. Donor lungs from eight dogs were flushed with UW solution and lungs from four dogs with Euro-Collins solution, and these were preserved for 24 hr in cold storage at 4-6 degrees C. All recipient dogs were given cyclosporine at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day until death. None of the four dogs that received a lung allograft flushed with Euro-Collins solution survived contralateral pulmonary artery and bronchial occlusion. All eight dogs that received a lung allograft flushed with UW solution were alive between 8 and 21 days postoperatively. Six of them survived until pulmonary function tests were performed. The engrafted lungs functioned well until death between days 10 and 21 posttransplantation. The PaO2 was 428 +/- 26 prior to transplantation, 317 +/- 140 at 60 min after transplantation, and 382 +/- 76 mmHg at 10 to 21 days after transplantation. In the other two dogs, the grafted lungs functioned poorly, and macroscopically revealed diffuse organizing pneumonia. We conclude that UW solution is useful for up to 24 hr of cold preservation prior to lung allografting. However, we recommend that lungs preserved with UW solution be transplanted within 24 hr, because, despite adequate function, microscopic damage occurs in the grafted lung.

Twenty-four-hour preservation in gamma-hydroxybutyrate improves lung function in a canine single-lung allotransplantation.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) when added to the low-potassium University of Wisconsin (LPUW) solution used for the preservation of canine lung for 24 hr. We also examined the effect of pretreatment of donor and recipient dogs with GHB on lung function after transplantation. METHODS: Two groups were investigated. In the LPUW group, donor lungs were flushed with LPUW solution without GHB. In the GHB group, donor and recipient dogs were pretreated with GHB, and donor lungs were flushed with LPUW containing GHB. RESULTS: Posttransplant graft function was best in the GHB group. At 1 hr after reperfusion, PaO2 in the GHB group (475.7+/-96.2 mmHg) was significantly higher than in the LPUW group (188.3+/-102.7 mmHg, P<0.05). Furthermore, the use of GHB resulted in a significant increase in lung compliance (28.3+/-6.5 ml/cm H2O) compared with LPUW group (21.5+/-2.8 ml/cm H2O). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that GHB is potentially useful for functional improvement of hypothermically preserved canine lung allografts after reperfusion.

DNA stemline heterogeneity of non-small cell lung carcinomas and differences in DNA ploidy between carcinomas and metastatic nodes.

Nuclear DNA contents were measured using a flow cytometry technique in non-small cell lung carcinomas and differences in ploidy patterns were compared between primary lung carcinomas and metastatic lymph nodes. Negative node lung cancer revealed diploidy in 82.6% of the 224 non-small cell lung cancers, in contrast with 19.5% in positive node lung cancer. In multi-stemline cells, a high incidence of nodal involvement was seen when compared with single stemline cells. The more the DNA indices increased, the more the lymph nodes were seen to be extensively involved. Furthermore, intratumoral heterogeneity was evaluated in terms of n-categories. In conclusion, it is suggested that nodal metastasis may be caused by tumor cells with high DNA indices in lung carcinomas, in particular for multi-stemline cells.

A case of solitary pulmonary lymphangioma.

Solitary pulmonary lymphangiomas are rare benign lesions thought to result from the development of abnormally proliferating lymphatic vessels. This report describes a case of solitary pulmonary lymphangioma resected under video assisted thoracoscopic surgery and diagnosed using histological and immunohistochemical investigations.

Thymic cystectomy through subxyphoid by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

In this paper we present a new technique for thymic cystectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery. The thoracoscope was inserted using a Vein Harvest (Ethicon Endo-Surgery Co, Ltd, Cincinnati, OH) through a 5-cm subxyphoid incision. A Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery) and Cherry Dissector (Ethicon Endo-Surgery) were used for dissection. The thymic cyst was successfully removed through the incision without thoracotomy. The advantage of this technique is that it is less invasive than video-assisted thoracic surgery through the thorax, removing the need for a thoracotomy.

Management of anastomotic complications after sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer.

One hundred twelve patients (102 male and 10 female) underwent sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer from January 1969 to December 1991. Bronchopleural fistula occurred in 6 (5.6%), bronchovascular fistula in 2 (1.8%), pulmonary arterial occlusion in 2 (1.9%), anastomotic stricture or stenosis in 7 (6.3%), and local recurrence in 7 patients (6.3%). Early repair of bronchopleural fistula combined with an omentopexy achieved permanent closure of the fistula. Two patients who underwent a completion pneumonectomy for a pulmonary arterial occlusion died of respiratory failure. Two patients experienced uncontrollable bleeding into the bronchial tree through a bronchovascular fistula and sudden death. Completion pneumonectomy is indicated for a stricture due to scar formation. If pneumonectomy is precluded by poor pulmonary reserve, endoscopic excision using biopsy forceps is an alternative. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice for suture granulomas. Complications associated with bronchial or vascular anastomoses are serious and frequently fatal.

Developments in inhaled immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of pulmonary graft rejection.

Cyclosporin is the main immunosuppressive treatment for lung and heart-lung transplantation. When combined with azathioprine and oral corticosteroids, repeated episodes of acute rejection are limited to a minority of transplant patients. Despite early successful transplantation, many patients developed a disabling and fatal condition called obliterative bronchiolitis. This is currently thought to be a result of chronic rejection. The principal risk factor for the development of obliterative bronchiolitis is undercontrolled acute rejection in the first 3 months after transplantation. Frequent early acute rejection increases the later risk of death and disability. A new approach to immunosuppressive therapy is needed to prevent this complication. Simply increasing the dosage of cyclosporin or oral corticosteroids results in the major complications of opportunistic infection and renal failure. Targeted immunosuppressive treatment delivered to the transplanted organ may offer certain advantages, since a high topical inhaled dosage should be relatively free from systemic complications. The lung as a transplanted organ is easily accessible to targeted therapy by means of inhalation. Inhaled nebulised corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in preventing obliterative bronchiolitis in patients at risk after heart-lung transplantation. Similarly, inhaled cyclosporin has also been reported to be more effective than oral administration, with substantially lower blood concentrations. Such new approaches to targeting immunosuppressive treatment could have specific advantages in long term therapy of lung and heart-lung transplant recipients. They might also be of use in other types of solid organ transplantation.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension with the continuous infusion of a prostacyclin analogue, iloprost.

OBJECTIVE: To compare prostacyclin with an analogue, iloprost, in treatment of severe pulmonary hypertension. PATIENTS: Eight patients with severe pulmonary hypertension: primary in five, thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in three. METHODS: All patients underwent right heart catheterisation. Mean (SEM) right atrial pressure was 9.9 (2.2) mm Hg, mean pulmonary artery pressure 67.4 (3.0) mm Hg, cardiac index 1.75 (0.13) l/min/m2 and mixed venous oxygen saturation 59.1(3.1)%. Continuous intravenous epoprostenol (prostacyclin, PGI2) or iloprost was given for phase I (three to six weeks); the patients were then crossed over to receive the alternate drug in an equivalent phase II. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Exercise tolerance was measured at baseline and at the end of phase I and II with a 12 minute walk; distance covered, rest period, percentage drop in arterial oxygen saturation (delta Sao2%) and percentage rise in heart rate (delta HR%). RESULTS: Walking distance covered rose from (mean (SEM)) 407.5 (73) to 591 (46) m with PGI2 (p = 0.004) and to 602.5 (60) m while on iloprost (p = 0.008). Rest period decreased from 192 (73) seconds at baseline to 16 (16) seconds with PGI2 (p = 0.01) and to 58 (34) seconds with iloprost (p = 0.008). Delta HR% was 37.5(6)% at baseline, 35(3)% on PGI2, and 24(6)% on iloprost (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Both intravenous PGI2 and iloprost caused significant improvement in exercise tolerance. Iloprost offers an alternative to PGI2 treatment of severe pulmonary hypertension.

Extended resection for lung cancer invading mediastinal organs.

We analyzed 49 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer invading mediastinal organs such as the left atrium (15), superior vena cava (13), trachea (11), aorta (5), thoracic vertebral body (4) and esophagus (1). Lung resection included lobectomy (37), pneumonectomy (8) and limited resection (4). Twenty-seven patients underwent carina- or bronchoplasty. Complete resection was possible in 35 patients. Operative mortality was 12% and overall 5-year survival was 13%. Median survival time was 519 days. Factors significantly affecting survival were the completeness of resection, node status, and histological type. Five-year survival was 18% with complete resection and 0% with incomplete resection (p < 0.0001). Five-year survival for patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 36% and for those with other types of lung cancer, 0% (p < 0.02). Five-year survival for patients classified pathologically as N0 or N1 was 36% and, for those classified as N2 or N3, 0% (p < 0.05). We concluded that aggressive resection for lung cancer invading the mediastinal organs involves a high mortality rate, making selectivity important. Patients undergoing complete resection, classified as N0 or N1, and having squamouse cell carcinoma may benefit most from surgery.

Completion pneumonectomy for recurrent or second primary lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We studied 8 patients undergoing completion pneumonectomy for recurrent or second primary lung cancer. METHODS: Subjects were men who averaged 62 years of age. Of these 6 had p-stage I, and 2 p-stage II disease at initial operation. At the second operation, we diagnosed 3 with second primary lung cancer and 5 with recurrent lung cancer. We predicted postoperative pulmonary function by calculating the predicted forced expiratory volume in 1.0 second (FEV1.0) from residual numbers of subsegments after completion pneumonectomy. All predicted FEV1.0 in our 8 cases ranged from 544 to 926 (773 +/- 144) ml/m2. RESULTS: Six patients experienced postoperative complications and morbidity was 75%. One patient undergoing completion sleeve pneumonectomy after radiation therapy for local carina recurrence died on 7th postoperative day due to anastomotic dehiscence and pneumonia. Overall operative mortality was 12.5% (1/8). Four remain alive and actuarial 5-year survival was 37.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Careful consideration is needed in determining operative indications for completion pneumonectomy for patients after radiation therapy. Patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma who have p-stage I disease at initial operation and those with second primary lung cancer and p-stage I or II disease can expect relatively a long-term survival, and we concluded that completion pneumonectomy could be conducted in these cases with a satisfactory prognosis.

[Basilar artery aneurysm associated with agenesis of unilateral internal carotid artery: two case reports].

Two patients presented with a basilar artery aneurysm associated with agenesis of the right internal carotid artery. In both cases, the right middle cerebral artery was supplied by the basilar artery via the enlarged right posterior communicating artery, and the right anterior cerebral artery was supplied by the left internal carotid artery via the anterior communicating artery. The first patient was a 65-year-old woman who suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of a basilar bifurcation aneurysm, which was demonstrated as a "de novo" aneurysm 13 years after successful clipping of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Delayed surgery was planned, but she died due to recurrent hemorrhage. The second patient was a 67-year-old woman who had had a history of progressive left sided weakness over the previous few years. Conventional angiography and 3 dimensional CT angiography showed a large aneurysm of the basilar artery trunk with a wide neck. Endovascular embolization was performed with mechanically detachable coils, and the aneurysm was incompletely occluded. The patient regained complete strength in the left arm after the treatment, but the follow-up angiography at 5 months disclosed recanalization of the treated aneurysm, associated with shift of the packed coils. Hemodynamic stress resulting from unique collateral circulation with agenesis of the internal carotid artery may cause a predisposition to "de novo" aneurysm formation or recanalization of an occluded aneurysm with coils.

[Prolactinoma in a child showing high MIB-1 labeling index: a case report].

We report a very rare case of a prolactin secreting pituitary tumor (prolactinoma) which occurred in a 12-year-old boy. The tumor showed an extremely high MIB-1 index. The clinical implication in the postoperative management of childhood prolactinoma is discussed. The patient showed right third nerve palsy, and MRI revealed a pituitary tumor invading the right cavernous sinus. Preoperative hormonal evaluation showed a very high prolactin level (2800 ng/ml). The patient underwent transsphenoidal surgery, and the third nerve palsy disappeared just after the procedure. MIB-1 index obtained by using immunostaining was 18.9%. Postoperative prolactin level remained high (2200 ng/ml), and the patient was treated with 10 mg/day of bromocriptine. Prolactinomas in children with high MIB-1 index show resistance to treatment with bromocriptine. In the postoperative management of a childhood prolactinoma, it should be considered how to control sufficiently high serum prolactin level to expect sexual development while preserving other normal residual pituitary functions. If control with bromocriptine, fails radiation treatment should be adopted with careful observation of the increase in height and the progress of sexual development of the patient.

[Endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms using platinum coils in patients over 80 years of age].

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using plantinum coils was performed in 10 patients over 80 years of age. The patients ranged in age from 81 to 96 years. Preoperative Hunt and Kosnik grading revealed one patient in grade I, 4 in grade II, 3 in grade III, and 2 in grade IV. The aneurysms were located in the internal carotid artery in 6 patients, in the anterior communicating artery in 1, and in the middle cerebral artery in 3 respectively. Intra-aneurysmal occlusion was accomplished in 8 patients with total or subtotal occlusion in 6 and partial occlusion in 2. In one patient with a peripheral middle cerebral artery aneurysm, the parent artery was occluded just proximal to the aneurysm. In the remaining one patient in grade III, an aneurysm associated with wide neck could not be occluded because of coil protrusion into the parent artery. In 9 patients who were successfully treated, all five patients in grade I or II and one in grade III resulted in good outcome, but the other three patients in grade III and IV showed poor outcome. No evidence of recurrent hemorrhage was noted during the follow-up period ranging from 2 months to 4 years. Endovascular coil embolization is a useful therapeutic alternative for treating ruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients over 80 years of age, especially those in Grade I or II.

[Segmentectomy and bronchoplasty for early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the segmental bronchus].

Five cases with hilar type early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the segmental bronchi underwent segmentectomy and bronchoplasty. All were males and the ages with sixties. Locations of early stage lung cancer were the apical bronchus of the right lower lobe (B6) in one patient, the intermediate-lower lobe bronchus in one, the anterior bronchus of the left upper lobe (B3) in two and the lower division bronchus (B4+5) in one. All were diagnosed as early stage squamous cell carcinoma by preoperative bronchoscopic examination. The segments resected were the right S6 in two, left S1+2+3 in one, left S4+5 in one and left S3 in one. There was no postoperative complications related to bronchial anastomosis. One patient died of secondary primary lung cancer 3 years after operation. While, four patients are alive and well one, 6, 12 and 46 months after surgery. Sleeve segmentectomy for the patients with early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the segmental bronchus is a curative operation with preserving pulmonary function.

[Results of carinal resection for primary lung cancer].

Carinal resection for primary lung cancer was clinical evaluated. Carinal resection was performed in 18 patients. Thirteen patients underwent carinal resection and the other 5 sleeve or wedge pneumonectomy. The carinal reconstruction was of montage type in 10 patients and the double-barrel type in 2. There were 2 operative deaths, postoperative mortality rate was 11.1%. The 5-year survival for 16 patients excluding the 2 operative deaths was 38.8%. The 5-year survivals were 41.7% and 21.4% for N0 and N2 disease, respectively. Selected patients with localized lesion without mediastinal lymph node metastasis are the candidate for carinal resection and reconstruction.

[Endoscopic resection of the thoracic sympathetic trunk for the treatment of frequent syncopal attack of idiopathic long QT syndrome].

A 22 year old man was diagnosed as having Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), which includes a prolonged QTc, congenital neural deafness, and syncopal attacks or sudden death. In spite of medication with beta blocker, syncopal attack increased in frequency since his sister suddenly had died of JLNS. Because left stellate ganglion block improved the QTc dispersion, left cardiac sympathectomy was scheduled under the video-assisted thoracic surgery. After the premedication with midazolam, anesthesia was induced with thiamylal, and maintained with nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and fentanyl. Serious arrhythmias were not observed throughout the perioperative period. Sympathetic trunk was successfully resected from the top of 1st ganglion to the bottom of 4th ganglion of left thoracic sympathetic trunk. Horner's sign did not appear after the surgery. Although the shortening of QTc was not significant, QTc dispersion during exercise was improved, and syncopal attack was not observed until 6 months after the surgery.

[Comparison of typical and atypical bronchoplasty for bronchogenic carcinoma].

One-hundred and twenty-eight patients who underwent bronchoplasty for bronchogenic carcinoma from 1969 to 1990 were retrospectively analyzed. Ninety-six patients had upper sleeve lobectomy or upper lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty (typical procedure) and 32 underwent bronchoplasty with lobectomy other than upper lobes (atypical bronchoplasty). The two groups were statistically similar in preoperative characteristics including sex, age, cell types and stages. In typical group, right upper sleeve lobectomy was performed in 48 patients, left upper sleeve lobectomy in 27, right upper lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty in 11, left upper lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty in 7 and sleeve bronchoplasty alone in 2. In atypical group, right middle and lower lobectomy with sleeve bronchoplasty in 10 patients, left lower sleeve lobectomy in 5, right lower lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty in 4 and others in 13. Postoperative mortality was 5.2% in the typical group and 9.4% in the atypical group. Postoperative respiratory complications occurred in 16 patients (50%) in the patients with the atypical group and in 33 (34.7%) in those with typical group. Three years and 5 years survival rates in the typical group were 46 and 40% and those in the atypical group, 27 and 18%. However, there was no statistical difference in survival between the two groups. In conclusion, atypical bronchoplasty is useful for preserving the lung parenchyma, but, careful perioperative management and surgical technique of bronchoplasty are mandatory.

[Evaluation of hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastases in resected cases of bronchogenic carcinoma].

To establish a reasonable regional lymph node dissection as curative operation for lung cancer, hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastases were analyzed. From 1982 to December, 1990, 404 patients underwent pulmonary resection with complete mediastinal node dissection. There were 194 adenocarcinomas, 175 squamous cell carcinomas, 14 large cell carcinomas, 13 small cell carcinomas and 8 others. The rates of hilar (N1) and mediastinal lymph node (N2) metastasis were 12.4% and 28.9% in adenocarcinoma, 12.6% and 30.3% in squamous cell carcinoma, 14.2% and 28.6% in large cell carcinoma and 15.4% and 30.8% in small cell carcinoma. In cases with adenocarcinoma, there was a close relationship between mediastinal metastasis and grade. No lymph node metastasis was seen in cases with tumor less than one cm in diameter. However, mediastinal node metastasis was found in cases with one cm or more in diameter of primary lesion and rates of metastasis were increased in proportion to tumor size. Because considerable metastases are found in the mediastinal lymph nodes and exact diagnosis of node metastasis before and during operation is difficult, complete mediastinal node dissection is still standard as curative resection for resectable lung cancer except lesion less than one cm in diameter or early hilar type squamous cell carcinoma.

[Clinical application of the omentum in chest surgery].

The benefit of the omentum in chest surgery was experimentally evaluated on the basis of findings in relation to recanalization of the bronchial artery in bronchoplasty with and without omental wrapping. The arterial blood supply at the anastomotic sites was observed in the early stage following bronchoplasty using the omental wrapping. Clinical application of the omentum in chest surgery was performed by wrapping anastomotic site at tracheobronchoplasty in 3 cases, bronchial stump coverage after lobectomy or pneumonectomy in 2 cases, repair of bronchial fistula following pneumonectomy in 1 case and repair of bronchopleurocutaneous fistula in pulmonary tuberculosis in 1 case. Six of these clinical cases could have favorable postoperative results. Based on these experimental and clinical results, we consider that the omentum is very useful tissue for wound healing in chest surgery.