Prognostic factors and survival in patients undergoing surgery for T4 nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of T4 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is controversial. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2011, 70 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for T4 NSCLC were evaluated. The patients were divided into four groups: the large vessels group (n = 28), the carinal group (n = 20), the separate tumor nodules group (n = 13) and the mediastinal fat group (n = 9). RESULTS: Overall mortality and morbidity were 12.9% (n = 9) and 35.7% (n = 25), respectively and there was no significant differences between the four groups (p = 0.961, p = 0.750). Complete resection was possible in 47 patients (67.1%). The pathological nodal status was as follows: N0/1 in 58 patients and N2 in 12 patients. Five-year survival rate was 28.9% for all patients and 49.6%, 18.5%, 0% and 20.5% in the carinal, large vessels, mediastinal fat and separate tumor nodule groups, respectively. The carinal group was significantly different from the other groups in terms of survival (p = 0.05). By multivariate analysis, only two factors significantly and independently influenced survival: nodal status (N0/N1 versus N2; p = 0.01) and complete resection (R0 versus R1; p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Resection is not a suitable approach for T4 NSCLC patients with N2 disease or incomplete resection. Resectable T4 NSCLC patients with carinal or tracheal involvement have better survival than do other T4 sub-groups.

Pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma mimicking hydatid cyst: a case report.

We report the case of a pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma radiologically presenting as a cystic lesion. The patient was found to have specific anti-echinococcus immunoglobulin E and therefore the preoperative diagnosis was that of pulmonary hydatid cyst. A surgical resection was performed. Although rarely encountered, pulmonary sclerosing haemangioma may show radiological and serological similarities to a pulmonary hydatid cyst. Both entities necessitate complete removal of the lesion without parenchymal resection.

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for the treatment of postthoracotomy pain: a randomized prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient relief of postthoracotomy pain is a major cause of increased rates of postoperative complications including inadequate coughing, mucous plugging, hypoxia, compromised ventilation or even bacterial lung infection. We aimed to assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients with postthoracotomy pain. METHODS: Forty patients scheduled to undergo posterolateral thoracotomy were randomly allocated to receive either TENS or patient-controlled intravenous morphine. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Prince Henry pain scale. Pulmonary function was evaluated and an intergroup comparison was done. RESULTS: On the first three days following surgery, the VAS intensity of the TENS group did not differ significantly from that of the morphine group ( P > 0.05), and on the first two days following thoracotomy, the Prince Henry scale of the TENS group was not statistically significantly different. However, the VAS intensity was significantly lower than that of the control group on the fourth ( P = 0.044), fifth ( P = 0.016), sixth ( P = 0.009), seventh ( P = 0.008), eighth ( P = 0.004), ninth ( P = 0.002), tenth ( P = 0.001), fifteenth ( P = 0.002), thirtieth ( P < 0.001), forty-fifth ( P < 0.001) and sixtieth ( P < 0.001) days. The Prince Henry scale of the TENS group was found to be significantly diminished from the 3rd to the 60th day. TENS significantly reduced the analgesic requirements from day 5 to 60 ( P < 0.01). No noticeable side effect was observed in the TENS group during the study period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that TENS provided a better pain relief and comfort compared to PCA from the fourth postoperative day onwards, and this pain-reducing effect continued for at least two months postoperatively.