Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases. Up to what number?

Specific results on the surgical resection of a large number of pulmonary metastases (PM) are currently unavailable, and the risk-benefit ratio of this aggressive approach may appear questionable. A systematic review of the records of 456 adult patients who underwent thoracic surgery for PM between 1979 and 1990 led to the identification of 44 patients who underwent at least one resection of eight or more PM (range eight to 110), of whom 33 (75%) had PM from osteogenic or soft tissue sarcoma. These 44 patients underwent a total of 77 operations, of which 47 (61%) were bilateral and nine (12%) incomplete resections. The 3- and 5-yr probabilities of survival after the first resection of eight or more PM were 36 and 28%, respectively, and were not significantly different from those of the 412 other patients who underwent surgery for PM over the same period. In this small group of patients, only the quality of resection (complete or incomplete) was found to be a highly significant prognostic factor (p < 0.01). A critical analysis of the reported data supports the view that, at least in patients with osteogenic or soft tissue sarcoma, the prognostic value of the number of PM seems to be more dependent on associated resectability than on the number per se and that, after careful preoperative patient selection, PM that can be resected should be resected, whatever their number.

Localized dumbbell neuroblastoma: a study of 25 cases treated between 1982 and 1987 using the same protocol.

Among the 108 non-metastatic neuroblastomas treated at the Institut Gustave Roussy between 1982 and 1987, 25 dumbbell neuroblastomas were observed. Therapeutics included: 1) an initial laminectomy in forms with neurological deficit; 2) surgical excision of the primary tumor; 3) preoperative chemotherapy in children in which the primary tumor was considered as unresectable at diagnosis and postoperative chemotherapy in cases of incomplete resection; and 4) radiation therapy on macroscopic residual disease. Fifteen out of 25 (60%) presented a neurological deficit. A laminectomy was performed in 14 cases. Neurological recovery was good in 4 cases, partial in 4 cases, and absent in 4 cases. Two patients were worse after the procedure. The event-free survival was 88%. This high survival rate is linked: 1) to the non-metastatic stage; 2) to a high proportion of children under 1 year of age (18/25) (median age = 7 months); and 3) to a high proportion of thoracic location (12/25). The high incidence of macroscopically incomplete excision (13/25) did not jeopardize the prognosis. Out of the 22 survivors, there were 8 cases of major neurological sequellae (36%) and 5 cases of major orthopedic ones (26%). The coexistence of a serious functional prognosis and an excellent vital prognosis for these patients has led us to analyse the therapeutic modalities, to reevaluate the necessity of routine initial neurosurgical removal by laminectomy and to discuss the use of first line chemotherapy.

Nonmetastatic thoracic neuroblastomas: a review of 40 cases.

From 1982 to 1987, 40 children with non-metastatic thoracic neuroblastoma were treated with the same therapeutic regimen. According to TNM staging, there were 11 CS I, 19 CS II, and 10 CS III. All patients underwent surgery; 30 had primary surgical excision; in 10 whose tumors were deemed unresectable, surgery was delayed until after a trial of chemotherapy. Operation was completed by several courses of chemotherapy in case of microscopic residual disease or regional lymph node involvement; radiotherapy was delivered in case of gross residual disease. Using this therapeutic approach, EFS is 92% with a median follow-up of 40 months. Severe complications were rare and sequellae appear to be related to the disease, i.e., neurologic consequences of cord compression.

[Localized thoracic neuroblastoma: the role of surgery and therapeutic results. Apropos of 40 cases]. / Neuroblastomes thoraciques localisées: place de la chirurgie et résultats thérapeutiques. A propos de 40 cas.

From 1982 to 1987, forty children with non-metastatic thoracic neuroblastoma were treated with a same therapeutic regimen. According to TNM staging, there were II CS I, 19 CS II and 10 CS III. All patients underwent surgery; thirty had primary surgical excision; in ten whose tumor were deemed uresectable, surgery was delayed until after a trial of chemotherapy. Operation was completed by several courses of chemotherapy in case of microscomic residual disease or lymph node involvement; radiotherapy was delivered in case of gross residual disease. Using this therapeutic approach. Event Free Survival is 92% with a median follow up of 40 months. Severe complications were rare and sequellae appear to be related to the disease i.e. neurologic consequence of cord compression.

Mediastinal infection after cardiac operation. A simple closed technique.

From March 1984 to March 1987, a simple closed method, previously described for the treatment of osteomyelitis after orthopedic operations, was used to treat deep sternal infection in 11 patients. The basis of this technique is, after meticulous débridement of the wound, to drain all the infected areas with small catheters connected to a bottle inside of which a strong (700 mm Hg) negative pressure is created (Redon drainage device). The method does not require irrigation. The maximum duration of the drainage was 24 days and complete recovery was obtained in all patients without further surgical treatments. The comfort of the patients was optimal.

Anatomic repair of anomalies of ventriculo-arterial connection (REV). Results of a new technique in cases associated with pulmonary outflow tract obstruction.

From November 1980 to November 1986, 63 patients aged 4 months to 13 years (mean 3.4 years) underwent repair of anomalies of ventriculo-arterial connection with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction, using a technique (REV) first described by us in 1982. The selection of patients was based on preoperative criteria, namely the measurement of the distance between the tricuspid and the semilunar valves. These measurements enabled us to select from patients with an abnormal ventriculo-arterial connection, those in whom the anomaly could be repaired by intra-ventricular partition alone. In the remaining cases, REV was indicated in the presence of pulmonary stenosis. The principles of the technique are: (1) resection of the infundibular septum creating a large, direct and subarterial communication between the left ventricle and the aorta; (2) construction of a straight left ventricle to aorta tunnel by intraventricular partition; (3) direct anastomosis of the pulmonary trunk to the right ventricle. There were 12 hospital deaths (19%). The mean follow-up was 32 months. One patient died suddenly 1 year after repair. Six patients required reoperation. All survivors are in NYHA class I, except for 3 patients who are in class II. No stenosis of the left ventricular outflow tract was found but 5 patients had a significant pressure gradient at the pulmonary outflow tract level. Our present experience suggests that in properly selected patients, REV allows anatomic repair in a wide variety of anomalies of the ventriculo-arterial connection associated with VSD and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction with an acceptable rate of mortality and morbidity.

Anatomic repair of anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection associated with ventricular septal defect. II. Clinical results in 50 patients with pulmonary outflow tract obstruction.

From November 1980 to November 1985, 50 patients underwent anatomic repair of anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection associated with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction. The technique used was one that we have previously described, which we call REV. The principles of this technique are resection of the infundibular septum, construction of a tunnel connecting the left ventricle to the aorta, and direct anastomosis, without a prosthetic conduit, of the pulmonary arterial trunk with the right ventricle. The tunnel is situated beneath the aortic valve and occupies very little space in the right ventricular cavity. Age at operation ranged from 4 months to 13 years (mean 3.5 years). Twenty-six patients had a classic type of transposition of the great arteries; all other patients had various types of anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection in which it was impossible, after the intraventricular connection of the left ventricle to the aorta, to use the natural pulmonary orifice for the pulmonary outflow tract reconstruction. There were nine hospital deaths (18%) and one late death. Twenty-six of 29 patients whose follow-up time exceeded 1 year had an excellent clinical result. No stenosis of the aortic outflow tract was found. Four patients had significant pressure gradients on the pulmonary outflow tract. Our present experience with REV suggests that this technique allows anatomic repair in a wide variety of anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection associated with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction, even in infants, with an acceptable rate of mortality and morbidity.

Pulmonary metastases in children: the place of surgery. A study of 134 patients.

A series of 134 children, less than 15 years of age at the time of diagnosis of tumor, treated by one oncology group and one surgeon, have been submitted to thoracotomy for pulmonary metastatic disease between 1961 and 1976. Fifteen had a thoracic exploration only because of the extent of disease and died. Three had a nodule excised which proved to be nonmetastatic at histology and are alive. One hundred and sixteen underwent 152 excisional procedures with 2 operative deaths, 1 postpneumonectomy empyema, 2 transient postoperative complications, and 4 local relapses. Fifty-one are alive 4 to 15 years after the last surgical procedure. The results are best when a single (or a few) metastasis is removed as a primary treatment followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy when indicated. Results are better in Wilms' tumors than in other tumors. Radiotherapy which can lead to long term pulmonary sequelae can be avoided in half of the patients (26/51). Thoracotomy is a safe and simple procedure in children, giving rewarding results when the indications of excision, among the different means of treatment, are carefully chosen.

[Surgery in complex forms of transposition of the great vessels: long-term results in a series of 100 cases]. / La chirurgie des formes complexes de la transposition des gros vaisseaux: résultats à distance d'une série de 100 cas.

A series of 100 patients with complex forms of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) were operated upon over a 10 year period. Group 1 consisted of 13 TGA with pulmonary stenosis (PS), usually treated by an atrial baffle and direct repair of the stenosis. There was no operative or late mortality in this group and the long-term results were generally good (10/13). Group II comprised 29 TGA with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and PS. Seven Rastelli procedures gave 4 good results. Twenty two operations, associating atrial baffle, repair of VSD and PS (17 direct procedures, 5 left ventricle-pulmonary artery tube) were associated with a high mortality (5 operative and 4 late deaths) and 10 good long-term results. Group III comprised 58 TGA with VSD. Up to 1977 (n = 33) treatment consisted of atrial baffle + repair of VSD +/- removal of previous banding. Mortality was high (11 operative and 8 late deaths) with only 8 good long-term results. Since 1977, these patients have been treated by complete anatomical repair, the operative mortality of which is higher in the period under study (9/23) but the long-term results are much better. The surgical indications in our Department are based on the analysis of these results. In Group I only very significant PS is treated, either by left ventricle-pulmonary artery tube or direct repair depending on the form of the stenosis. In Group II, where the results based on atrial baffle are poor, a Rastelli procedure is preferred and especially its variants which avoid the use of prosthetic materials on the pulmonary trunk. In Group III, anatomical correction at the level of the great arteries is the routine procedure, the only point of discussion being the possibility of prior banding.

[Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases in adult patients (author's transl)]. / Traitement chirurgical des métastases pulmonaires de l'adulte.

During the period 1968-79, a total of 90 thoracotomies for lung metastases was performed in 76 adult patients (42 men and 34 women, aged from 16 to 72 years) treated at the Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris. Forty-three had carcinoma, 29 had sarcoma and 4 had melanoma. Thoracotomy was performed once in 64 patients, twice in 10 patients and 3 times in 2 patients. Complete resection could be performed in 88%. The operative mortality rate was 1.1%. Four benign lesions were encountered. The survival rate was 56% at 2 years and 43% at 3 years. Several prognostic factors were identified. The indications for pulmonary metastasectomy within the overall strategy of metastatic cancer treatment are discussed.

[Role of the excision of thoracic lesions in the treatment of metastatic malignant germinal tumors of the testis]. / La place de l'exérèse de lésions thoraciques dans le traitement des tumeurs malignes germinales métastatiques du testicule.

Among 112 cases of non-seminomatous testicular tumours treated from 1974 to 1978, there were 13 thoracotomies for the excision of thoracic lesions: in 4 cases for recurrence, in 9 for incomplete remission. In 8 cases, one of the 4 recurrences and 7 of the 9 Stages III, a cure was obtained. In all cases thoracic surgery was combined with chemotherapy including bleomycin and cis platinum and in some cases lombo-aortic lymph node dissection. The hope of cure at metastatic stages of non-seminomatous testicular tumours is 50%.

[Correction of cardiac malformations after corrected transposition of the great vessels. A series of 18 cases operated on by an open heart technique]. / Correction des malformations cardiaques sur transposition corrigée des gros vaisseaux. Une série de 18 cas opérés à coeur ouvert.

Recent progress in the surgical treatment of malformations after transposition has been dealt with has been made in three directions: 1. By knowledge of the position of the conducting pathways in relation to ventricular septal defects, so that total atrioventricular block, the first complication of this type of surgery, may be avoided; 2. By appreciation of the proximity of the conductive pathways to the elements contributing to pulmonary stenosis, which may contra-indicate direct removal of such stenosis. In such a case, a valved tube must be placed between the sub-pulmonary ventricle and the pulmonary artery; 3. By appreciating the frequency, the difficulty in diagnosis and the grave consequences of failing to recognise lesions of the atrioventricular valves, with the result that their systematic investigation should form part of the operative technique.