Lung cancer, comorbidities, and medication: the infernal trio.

Most patients with lung cancer are smokers and are of advanced age. They are therefore at high risk of having age- and lifestyle-related comorbidities. These comorbidities are subject to treatment or even polypharmacy. There is growing evidence of a link between lung cancer, comorbidities and medications. The relationships between these entities are complex. The presence of comorbidities and their treatments influence the time of cancer diagnosis, as well as the diagnostic and treatment strategy. On the other hand, cancer treatment may have an impact on the patient's comorbidities such as renal failure, pneumonitis or endocrinopathies. This review highlights how some comorbidities may have an impact on lung cancer presentation and may require treatment adjustments. Reciprocal influences between the treatment of comorbidities and anticancer therapy will also be discussed.

Anatomic lung resection after immune checkpoint inhibitors for initially unresectable advanced-staged non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Patients with initially unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might experience prolonged responses under immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this setting, Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MTB) seldomly suggest surgical resection of the primary tumor with the ultimate goal to eradicate macroscopic residual disease. Our objective was to report the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent anatomic lung resection in these infrequent circumstances. Methods: We set a retrospective multicentric single arm study, including all patients with advanced-staged initially unresectable NSCLC (stage IIIB to IVB) who received systemic therapy including ICIs and eventually anatomical resection of the primary tumor in 10 French thoracic surgery units from January 2016 to December 2020. Coprimary endpoints were in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Secondary endpoints were the rate of complete resection of the pulmonary disease, major pathologic response, risk factors associated with post-operative complications, and overall survival. Results: Twenty-one patients (median age 64, female 62%) were included. Eighteen patients (86%) progressed after first line chemotherapy and received second line ICI. The median time between diagnosis and surgery was 22 months [interquartile range (IQR) 18-35 months]. Minimally-invasive approach was used in 10 cases (48%), with half of these requiring conversion to open thoracotomy. Nine patients (43%) presented early post-operative complications, and one patient died from broncho-pleural fistula one month after surgery. Rates of complete resection of the pulmonary disease and major pathologic response were 100% and 43%, respectively. In univariable analysis, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was the only factor associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications (P=0.027). After a median follow-up of 16.0 months after surgery (IQR, 12.0-30.0 months), 19 patients (90%) were still alive. Conclusions: Anatomic lung resections appear to be a reasonable option for initially unresectable advanced NSCLC experiencing prolonged response under ICIs. Nonetheless, minimally invasive techniques have a low applicability and post-operative complications remains higher in patients who had lower DLCO values. The late timing of surgery may also contribute to complications.

What are the barriers to the completion of a home-based rehabilitation programme for patients awaiting surgery for lung cancer: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Home-based rehabilitation programmes (H-RPs) could facilitate the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation prior to resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their feasibility has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to identify determinants of non-completion of an H-RP and the factors associated with medical events occurring 30 days after hospital discharge. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. INTERVENTION: All patients with confirmed or suspected NSCLC were enrolled in a four-component H-RP prior to surgery: (i) smoking cessation, (ii) nutritional support, (iii) physiotherapy (at least one session/week) and (iv) home cycle-ergometry (at least three times/week). OUTCOMES: The H-RP was defined as 'completed' if the four components were performed before surgery. RESULTS: Out of 50 patients included, 42 underwent surgery (80% men; median age: 69 (IQR 25%-75%; 60-74) years; 64% Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); 29% type 2 diabetes). Twenty patients (48%) completed 100% of the programme. The median (IQR) duration of the H-RP was 32 (19; 46) days. Multivariate analysis showed polypharmacy (n=24) OR=12.2 (95% CI 2.0 to 74.2), living alone (n=8) (single vs couple) OR=21.5 (95% CI 1.4 to >100) and a long delay before starting the H-RP (n=18) OR=6.24 (95% CI 1.1 to 36.6) were independently associated with a risk of non-completion. In univariate analyses, factors associated with medical events at 30 days were H-RP non-completion, diabetes, polypharmacy, social precariousness and female sex. CONCLUSION: Facing multiple comorbidities, living alone and a long delay before starting the rehabilitation increase the risk of not completing preoperative H-RP. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03530059.

Treatment for Anterior Flail Chest With a Vacuum Bell.

We describe a patient with polytrauma that included anterior chest flail caused by a fall while climbing. As the situation was similar to a pectus excavatum, we attempted to stabilize the depressed chest wall by using a vacuum bell. Deep breath, peak flow, and pectus index were increased when the patient used the vacuum bell. Conservative treatment with a vacuum bell during the day and continuous positive airway pressure during the night was undertaken for 6 weeks. This report documents stabilization of an anterior flail chest using a vacuum bell.

Esophageal emergencies: WSES guidelines.

The esophagus traverses three body compartments (neck, thorax, and abdomen) and is surrounded at each level by vital organs. Injuries to the esophagus may be classified as foreign body ingestion, caustic ingestion, esophageal perforation, and esophageal trauma. These lesions can be life-threatening either by digestive contamination of surrounding structures in case of esophageal wall breach or concomitant damage of surrounding organs. Early diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention are the keys of successful management.

Postoperative systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistula: analysis of three cases.

BACKGROUND: Systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistulas (SAPVF) occur through pleural adhesions from miscellaneous origin. We report 3 cases of acquired SAPVF that developed late after thoracotomy. METHODS: There was one pleurectomy for pneumothorax, one sleeve main bronchial resection, and one lower-middle bilobectomy. These SAPVF were discovered 4, 18, and 21 years after surgery. RESULTS: One patient underwent two unsuccessful embolizations. One patient underwent an unsuccessful attempt at surgical treatment after a previous embolization. Both have persistent SAPVF with minimal clinical discomfort 5 and 13 years later. One patient remains without treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In the literature 13 cases of SAPVF have been reported after lung resection, pleural drainage, axillary abcess drainage, closed chest trauma, parietal pleurectomy, and talc poudrage. Potential treatments of SAPVF include embolization, resection of pleural adhesion, and artery ligation. The effectiveness of these techniques is uncertain and the follow-up is too short to draw any clear conclusions. Embolization seems to be a useful tool in case of a single afferent artery. Surgical treatment seems to achieve more durable results than embolization but carries a higher risk of bleeding in the case of large SAPVF. Because SAPVF are well tolerated and complications are uncommon, clinical follow-up may be warranted in most cases.