Nomogram prediction of overall survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer incorporating pretreatment peripheral blood markers.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to build a novel prognostic nomogram in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) incorporating pre-treatment peripheral blood markers beyond known pathoclinical predictors. METHODS: We analysed 7158 patients with NSCLC diagnosed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2012 from a single institution with a uniform medical record and routine follow-up information. Besides common clinicopathological factors, we investigated the prognostic value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, monocytes and haemoglobin level in peripheral blood before treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to training (4772 patients, 66.7%) or validation cohorts (2386 patients, 33.3%). Cox proportional hazards models determined the effects of multiple factors on overall survival (OS). A nomogram was developed to predict median survival and 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year OS for NSCLC. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by a concordance index and calibration curve. RESULTS: In the training cohort, the multivariate Cox model identified the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, monocytes and haemoglobin level before treatment as significant prognostic factors for OS independent of patient age, gender, smoking history of intensity and cessation, performance status, disease stage, tumour cell type and differentiation grade and therapies. All the significant prognostic variables were incorporated into a nomogram. In the validation cohort, the nomogram showed notable accuracy in predicting OS, with a concordance index of 0.81, and was well calibrated for predictions of OS. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed nomogram incorporating peripheral blood markers and known prognostic factors could accurately predict individualized survival probability of patients with NSCLC. It could be used in treatment planning and stratification in clinical trials.

Using an Electronic Perioperative Documentation Tool to Identify Returns to Operating Room (ROR) in a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: The metric "Unplanned returns to operating room (ROR)" is being tracked in surgical quality dashboards; 70% of unplanned RORs may be related to surgical complications. With increasing regionalization of trauma and complex surgical care at tertiary care academic centers, it is unclear if a simple ROR metric is a valid assessment of surgical quality at such centers. METHOD: A real-time electronic tool was used to identify all RORs-planned and unplanned-in a high-volume, high-complexity academic surgical practice at Mayo Clinic-Rochester within 45 days of the index operation. Analysis by ROR type and indication was performed. RESULTS: During the analysis period (June 2014-February 2015) 44,031 operations were performed, with 5,552 subsequent RORs (13%). Of all RORs, 51% (n = 2,818) were planned staged returns, 29% (n = 1,589) were unrelated, 15% (n = 830) were unplanned and 6% (n = 315) were planned because of previous complications. Overall, unplanned reoperations were uncommon (n = 830, 2% of all operations). The most common indications for unplanned RORs included "other" (32%, n = 266), bleeding related (24%, n = 198) and wound complications (20%, n = 166). CONCLUSION: In a high-volume, high-complexity academic surgical practice, RORs occurred after 13% of cases. Unplanned returns were infrequent and usually were associated with complications; most RORs were planned staged or unrelated returns. A simple ROR metric that does not consider planned/unrelated returns is likely not a valid surgical quality measure. Electronic tools designed specifically to identify in real-time RORs, associated indication, and clinical validation should provide more reliable data for public reporting and quality improvement efforts.

External validation of the Ferguson pulmonary risk score for predicting major pulmonary complications after oesophagectomy†.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary complications remain a frequent cause of morbidity in patients undergoing oesophagectomy. Risk screening tools assist in patient stratification. Ferguson proposed a risk score system to predict major pulmonary complications after oesophagectomy. Our objective was to externally validate this risk score system. METHODS: We analysed our institutional database for patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer from August 2009 to December 2012. We analysed patients who had complete documentation of variables used in the Ferguson risk score calculation: forced expiratory volume in the 1 s, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, performance status and age. One hundred and thirty-six patients qualified for analysis in the validation study. Outcome variables measured included major pulmonary complications, defined as need for reintubation for respiratory failure and pneumonia. The risk score was then calculated for each individual based on the model. Incidence of major pulmonary events was assessed in the five risk class groupings to assess the discriminative ability of the Ferguson score. RESULTS: Major pulmonary complications occurred in 35% of patients (47/136). Overall mortality was 6% (8/136). Patients were grouped into five risk categories according to their Ferguson pulmonary risk score: 0-2, 8 patients (6%); 3-4, 24 patients (18%); 5-6, 49 patients (36%); 29 patients (21%); 9-14, 26 patients (19%). The incidence of major pulmonary complications in these categories was 0, 17, 20, 41 and 77%, respectively. The accuracy of the risk score system for predicting major pulmonary complications was 76% (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This pulmonary risk scoring system is a reliable instrument to be used during the preoperative phase to differentiate patients who may be at higher risk for pulmonary complications after oesophagectomy. These data can assist in patient selection, and in patient education/informed consent and can guide postoperative management.

Pulmonary Artery Agenesis Associated With Emphysema and Multiple Invasive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers.

Pulmonary artery (PA) agenesis in the absence of associated cardiac abnormalities is a rare congenital abnormality. It may remain undiagnosed until adulthood when patients present with respiratory symptoms such as hemoptysis, dyspnea, repeated respiratory infections, or pulmonary hypertension. Herein we present a case of a 50-year-old woman who was found to have multiple, morphologically distinct non-small cell lung cancers in association with agenesis of the PA. This instance represents the fourth reported case of such association in the English literature.

Bilobectomy Versus Lobectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comparative Study of Outcomes, Long-Term Survival, and Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare long-term survival and quality of life (QOL) outcomes after bilobectomy and lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer patients. METHODS: A cohort of 951 consecutive patients was identified from a single treatment institution, of whom 128 underwent bilobectomy and 823, lobectomy. Propensity score matching (1:3) was applied to balance known confounders between the two surgical groups and resulted in 512 patients (matched cohort). Unmatched and matched analyses were performed to compare clinical outcomes between the two groups, including operative mortality rate, morbidity rate, long-term survival, overall QOL, and specific symptoms. RESULTS: Operative mortality was higher in the bilobectomy group than in the lobectomy group (2.3% versus 0.5%, p = 0.022). Morbidity rates did not differ significantly between the two groups in either unmatched or matched cohort. In the unmatched analysis, the overall survival (OS [p = 0.003]) and disease-free survival (DFS [p = 0.003]) were significantly lower in the bilobectomy group; whereas in the matched analysis, no significant difference was found in either OS (p = 0.473) or DFS (p = 0.387). Using multivariate analysis, the operation type was not found to be a significant factor for either OS (hazard ratio 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 0.91 to 1.52; p = 0.22) or DFS (hazard ratio 1.22; 95% confidence interval: 0.95 to 1.58; p = 0.13). Patients who underwent bilobectomy appeared to have similar measures of QOL as lobectomy patients, except for coughing and dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with bilobectomy had similar morbidity, OS, DFS, and overall QOL as patients treated with lobectomy, but had higher mortality by matched analysis.

Do the number and volume of surgical lung biopsies influence the diagnostic yield in interstitial lung disease? A propensity score analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate whether the number and volume of surgical lung biopsies (SLB) influence the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHODS: Retrospective study of SLB for suspected ILD in patients from the Mayo Clinic from January 2002 to January 2010. Data were collected in the institution and analyzed. RESULTS: 311 patients were studied. Mean number of biopsies was 2.05 (SD 0.6); 1 biopsy in 50 (16%), 2 in 198 (63.7%), 3 in 59 (19%) and 4 in 4 (1.3%). Histopathologic diagnosis was: definitive (specific): 232 (74.6%), descriptive (non-specific): 76 (24.4%), no diagnosis: 3 (1%). After excluding patients without diagnosis (n=3), there were 50 patients with only 1 biopsy, 196 with 2 and 62 with 3 or 4; the definitive diagnostic yield was similar in all 3 groups (37/50; 74%, 150/196; 77%, and 45/62; 73%) (Chi-square, p value 0.8). The propensity score analysis between patients with 1 SLB and patients with more than 1 SLB also showed no difference in diagnostic yield. Regarding the volume of biopsies, mean total volume was 34.4 cm(3) (SD 46): 41.2 cm(3) (3 cases) in patients with no diagnosis; 33.6 cm(3) (232 cases, SD 47) in patients with specific diagnosis; and 36.6 cm(3) (76 cases, SD 44) in patients with descriptive diagnosis. Biopsy volume had no influence on histopathology yield (ANOVA, p value .8). CONCLUSIONS: The number and volume of the biopsy specimens in SLB did not seem to influence diagnosis. Based on our results, we believe a single sample from a representative area may be sufficient for diagnosis. Randomized prospective trials should be performed to optimize SLB for ILD.

A meta-analysis of the impact of bronchial stump coverage on the risk of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy.

The occurrence of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The incidence of BPF in historical patients not subjected to bronchial stump coverage (BSC) was between 6 and 12% after pneumonectomy for lung cancer surgery or benign disease. BSC is considered an important prophylactic measure against BPF and is widely used, but its efficacy remains unknown. Our aim was to systematically review the literature, in order to quantify BPF risk in patients receiving or not receiving BSC with any tissue after pneumonectomy. We performed a systematic review in PubMed, for papers published between 1999 and 2012, analysing series of patients treated with pneumonectomy and including both patients receiving coverage and patients not receiving coverage. Both randomized and non-randomized series were eligible. Proportion of failures (i.e. BPF) was analyzed separately in the two groups (patients receiving BSC and patients not receiving BSC). For each study and for the overall series, 95% confidence interval (CI) (without continuity correction) of the observed proportion was calculated. Overall, 21 series were eligible, with 3879 patients (1774 receiving BSC and 2105 not receiving coverage). The decision to perform or not the BSC was randomized only in one small trial, limited to diabetic patients, showing a significant reduction of BPF in favour of coverage. In the 20 remaining studies, baseline risk of BPF in the group of patients receiving BSC and in the group of patients who did not receive coverage was different. In patients receiving coverage, the proportion of BPF was 6.3% (95% CI: 5.3-7.5%). In patients not receiving coverage, the proportion of BPF was 4.0% (95% CI: 3.2-4.9%). In recently published series, the vast majority of patients considered at high risk for BPF received BSC. This common practice hinders an unbiased estimate of the efficacy of BSC in reducing BPF risk. Results of this meta-analysis show that, despite a clear negative selection, the incidence of BPF in patients considered at high risk and receiving coverage was only slightly higher compared with patients considered at low risk and not covered. A randomized trial would help answer the question.

The prognosis of pulmonary metastasectomy depends on the location of the primary colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Rectal cancer has a higher risk of developing lung metastasis compared with colon cancer. It is unclear whether the prognosis after pulmonary metastasectomy for these distinct tumors is different. METHODS: Patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal carcinoma were analyzed for survival and patterns of recurrence depending on the location of the primary colorectal cancer. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify clinical variables predictive of survival after pulmonary metastasectomy. RESULTS: Between 1985 and 2012, 698 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Complete information was available in 626 patients. These patients were divided into groups based on whether the primary tumor was colon or rectal in origin. Median follow-up was 45.5 months (range, 23 to 287 months). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of number of lung metastases, tumor size, or lymph node involvement. There was no difference in overall survival (p = 0.545). Five-year disease-free survival for colon cancer patients was 67.2% compared with 60.1% for rectal cancer (p = 0.004). The most common sites of recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy were liver in colon cancer and lung in rectal cancer. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that rectal cancer (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 1.83; p = 0.015) and multiple metastases (>3; hazard ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.89; p = 0.027) were independent adverse risk factors affecting disease-free survival after pulmonary metastasectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Disease-free survival and site of recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal carcinoma are dependent on the site of the primary tumor. Lung metastases from rectal cancer have a worse disease-free survival compared with colon cancer. This may influence treatment and follow-up strategies.

Laparoscopic repair for failed antireflux procedures.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive procedures have become common, and more reoperations for failed antireflux procedures are performed laparoscopically. We wanted to study the outcomes of laparoscopic reoperations for reflux. METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent reoperation without esophageal resection after previous antireflux procedures between January 2000 and October 2012 were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were included in this report: 56 (77%) women and 19 (23%) men. Median age was 58 years. The previous operation was laparoscopic antireflux procedures in 65 (87%) patients. The median interval between the last antireflux procedure and laparoscopic reoperation was 42 months. The median body mass index (BMI) was 28.7. All patients were symptomatic. Intraoperative findings included recurrent hiatal hernia in 47 (63%) patients, incompetent fundoplication in 14 (19%) patients, tight fundoplication in 8 (11%) patients, and tight crura in 2 (3%) patients. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication was performed in 57 (76%) patients, partial posterior fundoplication was performed in 12 (16%) patients, partial anterior fundoplication was performed in 3 (4%) patients, removal of crural stitches was performed in 2 patients, and a combination of partial posterior fundoplication and removal of crural stiches was performed in 1 patient. Complications occurred in 13 (15%) patients. Improvement in symptoms was observed in 70 (93%) patients in early postoperative follow-up and in 59 (78%) patients in long-term follow-up. Functional results were classified as excellent in 59 (78%) patients, good in 6 (7%) patients, fair in 7 (8%) patients, and poor in 3 (4%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic reoperation for failed antireflux operations is a complex procedure, but it is safe and effective in selected patients. Reoperation after a failed antireflux repair results in excellent or good functional status in a majority of patients, but these results may deteriorate over time.

Prior thoracoscopic surgery may improve reoperative pulmonary resection.

OBJECTIVES: although video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary resection appears to be associated with more favorable postoperative outcomes than thoracotomy, no reports have discussed its benefit at subsequent reoperative pulmonary resection. METHODS: between January 2000 and December 2009, 144 patients underwent reoperative pulmonary resections for benign and malignant nodules at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Their data were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty-three (16%) patients had prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and 121 (84%) had undergone a prior open thoracotomy. Intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups, using the chi-square test or Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: overall reoperative mortality was 1.38% and morbidity was 49.3%. Intraoperative factor analysis showed that the prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group more often underwent anatomical resection (p = 0.0011) and showed a tendency towards a lower conversion rate from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to thoracotomy at reoperative pulmonary resection (p = 0.051). Short-term postoperative outcomes showed that the prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group had a significantly lower morbidity rate (p = 0.013), significantly shorter hospital stay (p = 0.002), and a tendency for a shorter duration of chest tube drainage (p = 0.09). CONCLUSION: our results suggest that prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may lead to improved postoperative outcomes at subsequent reoperative pulmonary resection. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be favored for future potential reoperative pulmonary resections.

Primary and prosthetic repair of acquired chest wall hernias: a 20-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Chest wall herniation has been described after thoracotomy, trauma, and violent coughing episodes. Few studies have examined risk factors associated with chest wall herniation or predictors of complications after surgical repair. METHODS: A divisional database identified all patients who underwent chest wall herniorrhaphy between 1992 and 2011. Data were collected on patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), cause and location of hernia, comorbidities, duration and technique of herniorrhaphy, postoperative complications, and hospital length of stay. Risk factors for chest wall herniation were then examined, and primary repair was compared with prosthetic repair for differences in postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients underwent chest wall herniorrhaphy. Hernias most commonly occurred on the right side, in the fifth intercostal space, contained lung, and were chronic in nature. Pain was the presenting symptom in all but 4 patients. The most frequently observed comorbidities were obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), oral steroid use, and diabetes mellitus. Primary repair was performed in 18 patients and mesh repair in 9 patients, with a median operative time of 116 minutes. Excluding the 4 acute hernias repaired during the same admission as the initial thoracotomy, postoperative complications occurred in 22% of patients who underwent prosthetic repair and 42% of patients who underwent primary repair (p=0.4). Median hospital stay did not differ between herniorrhaphy techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Previous thoracotomy, obesity, COPD, steroid use, and diabetes mellitus are common in patients in whom chest wall hernias develop. Prosthetic herniorrhaphy is not associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications relative to primary repair.

Outcomes in patients requiring mechanical ventilation following pneumonectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the outcomes of patients who require post-pneumonectomy mechanical ventilation (PPMV). METHODS: The medical records of all 548 patients who underwent pneumonectomy between January 1994 and December 2009 were reviewed. PPMV was defined as mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube following thoracotomy (continued PPMV) or reintubated and started within 30 days of the pneumonectomy (reintubated PPMV) and continued for longer than 24 h. Perioperative characteristics, indications, management, complications and outcomes [weaning at hospital dismissal and overall survival (OS)] were compared between the two groups using the χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney U-test or Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. Potential prognostic factors were analysed with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Twenty-two (4.0%) patients required continued PPMV and 69 (12.6%) required reintubated PPMV. Although significant differences were noted in perioperative characteristics, indications and management, the rate of complication of PPMV (P = 0.46), the rate of weaning at hospital dismissal (P = 0.98) and OS (P = 0.12) were not significantly different between the two groups. In reintubated PPMV patients, in univariate analysis, a lower fraction of inhaled oxygen was a significant factor of improved OS (P = 0.032) and weaning (P = 0.005), and a less positive fluid balance was a significant factor of weaning (P = 0.007) and showed a tendency for improved OS (P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that continued PPMV patients may have a rate of weaning at hospital dismissal and OS comparable to reintubated PPMV patients. A lower fraction of inhaled oxygen and less positive fluid balance may be favoured managements in reintubated PPMV patients.

Clinical outcomes and changes in lung function after segmentectomy versus lobectomy for lung cancer cases.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the clinical outcomes and changes in pulmonary function test (PFT) results after segmentectomy or lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: The retrospective study included 212 patients who had undergone segmentectomy (group S) and 2336 patients who had undergone lobectomy (group L) from 1997 to 2012. The follow-up and medical record data were collected. We used all the longitudinal PFT data within 24 months postoperatively and performed linear mixed modeling. We analyzed the 5-year overall and disease-free survival in stage IA patients. We used propensity score case matching to minimize the bias due to imbalanced group comparisons. RESULTS: During the perioperative period, 1 death (0.4%) in group S and 7 (0.3%) in group L occurred. The hospital stay for the 2 groups was similar (median, 5.0 vs 5.0 days; range, 2-99 vs 2-58). The mean overall and disease-free survival period of those with T1a after segmentectomy or lobectomy seemed to be similar (4.2 vs 4.5 years, P=.06; and 4.1 vs 4.4 years, P=.07, respectively). Compared with segmentectomy, lobectomy yielded marginally significantly better overall (4.4 vs 3.9 years, P=.05) and disease-free (4.1 vs 3.6 years; P=.05) survival in those with T1b. We did not find a significantly different effect on the PFTs after segmentectomy or lobectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical types were safe. We would advocate lobectomy for patients with stage IA disease, especially those with T1b. A retrospective study with a large sample size and more detailed information should be conducted for PFT evaluation, with additional stratification by lobe and laterality.

Feasibility and safety of outpatient medical thoracoscopy at a large tertiary medical center: a collaborative medical-surgical initiative.

BACKGROUND: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is performed by relatively few pulmonologists in the United States. Recognizing that an outpatient minimally invasive procedure such as MT could provide a suitable alternative to hospitalization and surgery in patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions, we initiated the Mayo Clinic outpatient MT program and herein report preliminary data on safety, feasibility, and outcomes. METHODS: All consecutive patients referred for outpatient MT from October 2011 to August 2013 were included in this study. Demographic, radiographic, procedural, and histologic data were recorded prospectively and subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: Outpatient MT was performed on 51 patients, with the most common indication being an undiagnosed lymphocytic exudative effusion in 86.3% of the cohort. Endoscopic findings included diffuse parietal pleural inflammation in 26 patients (51%), parietal pleural studding in 19 patients (37.3%), a normal examination in three patients (5.9%), diffuse parietal pleural thickening in two patients (3.9%), and a diaphragmatic defect in one patient (2%). Pleural malignancy was the most common histologic diagnosis in 24 patients (47.1%) and composed predominantly of mesothelioma in 14 (27.5%). Nonspecific pleuritis was the second most frequent diagnosis in 23 patients (45.1%). There were very few complications, with no significant cases of hemodynamic or respiratory compromise and no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient MT can be integrated successfully into a busy tertiary referral medical center through the combined efforts of interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. Outpatient MT may provide patients with a more convenient alternative to an inpatient surgical approach in the diagnosis of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions while maintaining a high diagnostic yield and excellent safety.

Modified Robicsek procedure for pectus excavatum in adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the short-term and mid-term outcomes of the modified Robicsek procedure using polypropylene mesh for adult pectus excavatum patients. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed. Between 2001 and 2012, 46 consecutive adult patients underwent modified Ravitch repair using polypropylene mesh for pectus excavatum at our institution. There were 30 males and 16 females, with a median age of 25.5 (range: from 17 to 60). Potential risk factors for perioperative complications and early failure in pectus repair were analysed with χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test. Potential risk factors for postoperative mid-term recurrence were analysed using Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: The postoperative follow-up interval was 7.0 ± 15.1 months (mean ± standard deviation). No mortality and 11 patients (24.0%) of morbidity, including 2 patients with temporary mesh infection, were noted. A lower preoperative %FEV1.0 predicted was a significant factor (P = 0.0088) of morbidity in multivariate analysis. Regarding chest morphology, early failure in 1 patient (2.2%) and mid-term recurrence in 1 patient (2.2%) were seen. Previous pectus repair (P = 0.0324) and severe asymmetry (P = 0.04) were significant factors of early failure in multivariate analysis, while no significant factor for mid-term recurrence was found. CONCLUSIONS: Modified Robicsek procedure with a polypropylene mesh is associated with low incidences of early failure and mid-term recurrence. The procedure is recommended for adult pectus excavatum patients, including those with asymmetric or combined deformity as an initial or reoperative procedure.

Long-term outcome after laparoscopic myotomy for achalasia.

OBJECTIVES: Achalasia has a variety of therapeutic options. We sought to determine the long-term outcome of laparoscopic myotomy in a large group of patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective record review of 500 patients who underwent laparoscopic myotomy and follow-up with a standardized dysphagia questionnaire. RESULTS: Between April 1998 and June 2011, 276 men and 224 women underwent a laparoscopic myotomy. Their median age was 51 years (range, 8-89 years). Preoperative symptoms included dysphagia in 472 patients (94.4%), regurgitation in 382 patients (76.4%), heartburn in 203 patients (40.6%), chest pain in 168 (33.6%) patients, and weight loss (median, 10 kg) in 264 patients (52.8%). Prior therapy (dilation in 239, botulinum toxin type A in 135, or myotomy in 30) had been performed in 303 patients (60.6%). Preoperative manometry was available in 413 patients (82.6%) and revealed a median lower esophageal sphincter pressure of 31 mm Hg (range, 0-50 mm Hg), absent peristalsis in 97.6%, and no lower esophageal sphincter relaxation in 75.1%. A laparoscopic myotomy with partial fundoplication (Toupet n = 268, Dor n = 209) was done in 477 patients (95.4%) and myotomy only in 23 patients (4.6%). Conversion to open was necessary in 16 patients (3.2%). There were 52 (10.4%) esophageal perforations-all repaired during the myotomy-and 26 (5.2%) other complications, including bleeding, atrial fibrillation, and pneumonia. There was no operative mortality. Median length of stay was 2 days (range, 1-20 days). Dysphagia questionnaires were returned by 48.2% of patients (241 out of 500) a median of 77.5 months after myotomy (range, 15-176 months). Eighty patients (32.2%) reported no problems with swallowing at the time of the survey. Of 160 patients who had swallowing problems, 40 patients (22.2%) classified the problem as mild or less, 98 patients classified the problem as moderate (70.0%), and 22 patients classified the problem as severe (15.7%). The question concerning frequency of swallowing problems was answered by 160 patients and occurred once a week or less in 70 patients (43.8%), several times a week in 41 patients (25.6%), and at least daily in 49 patients (30.6%). Analysis of all 241 patients who returned questionnaires revealed that 170 out of 241 (70.5%) reported heartburn, 89 out of 241 (36.9%) reported regurgitation, and 159 out of 241 (66.0%) had taken antacids or histamine 2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors within the past 30 days of the survey. The only factor affecting outcome was age; patients older than age 65 years had a better chance of having no difficulty swallowing at follow-up (P = .0174). Sex, prior therapy, Toupet versus Dor, conversion to open, or esophageal mucosal perforation did not affect long-term swallowing outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic myotomy with partial fundoplication is a safe operation. The long-term outcome is extremely effective and approximately one-third of patients have no evidence of persistent symptoms at follow-up. Furthermore, those who have persistent symptoms rarely have severe or very frequent complaints. Patients older than age 65 years tend to have a better outcome.

The outcome of pulmonary resection for invasive fungal infection complicating haematological malignancy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify clinical outcomes of pulmonary resection of invasive fungal infection (IFI) complicating haematological malignancy. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2010, 28 patients underwent 31 pulmonary procedures for IFI complicating haematological malignancy. Retrospective chart review was performed. Seventeen patients underwent therapeutic resection and 11 patients underwent diagnostic biopsy. Survival and progression of fungal infection were analysed with the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were analysed with the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 9.5 months (range 0-139 months). The rate of operative complications is significantly higher in the therapeutic resection group (P=0.036) in multivariate analysis. Median survival was 12 and 5 months in the diagnostic and therapeutic group, respectively. In the diagnostic group, 10 patients (91%) survived surgery and were cured of fungal infection; the management was changed based on biopsy in 3 patients (27.3%), and preoperative anaemia (P=0.044) adversely affected survival in multivariate analysis. In the therapeutic group, anaemia (P=0.018) and perioperative transfusion (P=0.038) adversely affected survival following therapeutic resection in univariate analysis. The rate of fungal progression in the therapeutic group was 29.4%. In multivariate analysis, only presence of bilateral lesions (P=0.0005) was a significant factor of fungal progression after therapeutic resection. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic biopsy contributes to good diagnostic yield with long-term cure from fungal infection. The long-term outcome (overall survival) of diagnostic and therapeutic patients relied on the severity of anaemia, which appears related to underlying haematological diseases. Presence of bilateral lesions was a significant factor of fungal progression after therapeutic resection.

Bullectomy for symptomatic or complicated giant lung bullae.

BACKGROUND: Giant bullae of the lung are rare. Little is known about functional results after surgical treatment. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent surgical treatment for giant bullae between December 1988 and December 2010. RESULTS: There were 63 patients (51 men, 12 women) with a median age of 56 years (range, 26 to 85 years). Bullae were a median size of 14 cm (range, 9 to 30 cm). Forty-five patients (71%) had underlying diffuse emphysema. The indication for surgical intervention was symptoms alone in 30 patients (48%) and associated complications in 33 (52%). The operation was a bullectomy in 54 patients, lobectomy in 6, plication in 2, and bilobectomy in 1. Complications occurred in 27 patients (43%), and 2 patients (3.0%) died. At the last follow-up, 19 had died and 44 were alive. Of the 43 patients with shortness of breath preoperatively, 29 (67.4%) were improved. Thirty patients (46.1%) had preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function tests with improvement from a median forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 1.0 L preoperatively to 1.4 L postoperatively (p=0.002). Increasing bulla size (p=0.02) and underlying emphysema (p=0.01) were adversely associated with postoperative morbidity. Dyspnea improved in 21 of 33 patients (64%) with underlying diffuse emphysema compared with 5 of 7 patients (71%) without emphysema (p=0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Bullectomy improved pulmonary function in most patients with a symptomatic or complicated giant bulla, or both. However, increasing bulla size and underlying emphysema resulted in increased treatment morbidity. Underlying diffuse emphysema is not a contraindication to bullectomy.