Preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery with possible postoperative radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: evaluation of the chemotherapy component.

Twenty-four patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus were entered into a treatment protocol consisting of preoperative chemotherapy (CT), surgical resection (SR), and possible postoperative CT or radiation therapy (RT) beginning August 1981. CT consisted of two cycles of 5-fluorouracil, 1,000 mg/m2, by continuous intravenous infusion for 4 days and cisplatin, 100 mg/m2, on day 4 with mannitol-induced diuresis at 4-week intervals. Postoperatively, RT was administered when resection margins were minimal or if paraesophageal nodes were abnormal; the RT consisted of 5,000 to 5,400 cGy to the tumor area plus a 800- to 1,200-cGy boost to known abnormal tumor margins. Nineteen of 24 patients were resectable (79%). There was one SR death (5%). One of 22 had a normal barium swallow post-CT, no visible tumor at SR, and no pathologic evidence of any residual disease. There was complete radiologic and gross clinical disappearance of tumor post-CT or post-SR in ten of 22 patients (45%). Four of 22 (18%) had greater than or equal to 50% regression, and five of 22 (23%) had no response. Toxicity of CT was mild. Eight of 19 patients (42%) received RT, and six of 19 (32%) received CT postoperatively. Sixteen of 24 (67%) are alive with a median duration of observation of 9.5 months. Eight of 24 (33%) are dead, five of whom had not responded to preoperative CT. Ten of 14 responders are alive and disease free. The mean survival time for nonresponders was 6.70 months and for responders, 20.40 months, with the longest survivor disease free at 45 months.

Potential impact on survival of improved tumor downstaging and resection rate by preoperative twice-daily radiation and concurrent chemotherapy in stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The main objectives of this study were (a) to ascertain the feasibility and toxicity of preoperative twice-daily radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy, surgery, and postoperative therapy in stage IIIA (N2) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and (b) to evaluate tumor response, resection rate, pathologic tumor downstaging, and survival. METHODS: Eligibility included biopsy-proven N2 lesion (stage IIIA) by mediastinoscopy, Karnofsky performance score > or = 70, and weight loss less than 5% in the 3 months before diagnosis. The treatment program consisted of two courses of preoperative cisplatin, vinblastine, and fluorouracil (5-FU); 42 Gy concurrent radiation at 1.5 Gy per fraction in two fractions per day; surgery on day 57; and one more course of postoperative chemotherapy and 12 to 18 Gy of concurrent twice-daily radiation. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC (27 men and 15 women, age 38 to 77 years) were enrolled onto this prospective study. Forty of 42 patients tolerated the intended dose (42 Gy) of preoperative radiation and 37 of 39 resected patients received prescribed postoperative radiation. The intended dose of chemotherapy was given in 100%, 70%, and 60% of patients for the first, second, and third courses of chemotherapy. Marked dysphagia that required intravenous hydration was noted in 14% of patients (six of 42). Myelotoxicities included grade > or = 3 granulocytopenia in 23% and thrombocytopenia in 6% of 113 chemotherapy courses. Febrile neutropenia that required hospital admission was noted in 9% of 113 chemotherapy courses. Surgical resection was performed in 93% of patients. Treatment-related mortality was noted in 7% of patients. The overall survival rates by the Kaplan-Meier method were 66%, 37%, and 37% at 2,3, and 5 years, respectively, with a median follow-up time of 48 months. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen showed a downward shift in tumor extent from stage IIIA (N2) to stage II (N1) in 33%, to stage I (NO) in 24% (10 of 42), and to stage 0 (TONO) in 9.5%, for a total of 67%. The degree of tumor downstaging was also translated into a survival benefit: 5-year survival rates from the time of surgery were 79%, 42%, and 18% for postoperative tumor stages 0 and I, II, and III, respectively (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using twice-daily radiation is an effective induction regimen that resulted in 67% tumor downstaging, and an encouraging 37% 5-year survival rate. The degree of tumor downstaging may be a useful intermediate end point for survival benefit in stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC.

Effect of postoperative radiotherapy on changes in pulmonary function in patients with stage II and IIIA lung carcinoma.

To assess the pulmonary tolerance to postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with resected lung carcinoma, a prospective study was begun in January 1977, which consisted of (a) initial pulmonary function test (PFT) and arterial blood gases (ABG) at 1 month after surgery, and before beginning of postoperative RT, and (b) follow-up PFT and ABG 1 year after postoperative RT and then every year thereafter. As of December 1987, 137 patients have been enrolled into this study, and 71 patients who were free of recurrence were subjected to the follow-up PFT and ABG. The remaining 66 patients were unable to complete the follow-up studies because of recurrent carcinoma in 60, refusal to participate in the study in 5 patients even in the absence of significant respiratory symptoms, and progressive asbestos-related pleural thickening in 1 patient. The patient characteristics were as follows: Age ranged from 27 to 79 years with the median of 59 years; sex ratio was 1.4 to 1 for male to female; surgical procedures included lobectomy in 49 and pneumonectomy in 22 patients; tumor extent consisted of Stages T1-T2N1M0 in 44, T1-T2N2M0 in 9, and T3N0-N2M0 in 18 patients, respectively. Histologic types included squamous cell carcinoma in 26, adenocarcinoma in 42, small cell carcinoma in 1, and large cell carcinoma in 2 patients. Target volume for RT included the ipsilateral hilum, the mediastinum, and the thoracic inlet including both supraclavicular fossae. A total dose of 54 Gy was delivered in 1.8 Gy of daily fractions, 5 days per week over a period of 6 weeks. Contrary to expectation, there were minor changes in PFT indices in both lobectomy and pneumonectomy patients. The follow-up PFT in the lobectomy group showed small -3% to +2% changes in mean values of ventilatory indices, lung volume, and ABG. The follow-up PFT in the pneumonectomy group also showed small -9% to +13% changes in mean values of ventilatory indices, lung volume, and ABG. Sixteen patients have had more than one PFT during the follow-up period (2 years to 10 years), and there was no significant long term adverse effect of RT on PFT in this subset of patients. Lung scans assessing regional function, which were available in six patients, were not helpful in predicting changes in PFT indices as a result of postoperative RT.

Stage III thymoma: pattern of failure after surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and its implication for future study.

PURPOSE: With the conventional approach of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for patients with Masaoka Stage III thymoma, progress has been slow for an improvement in the long-term survival rate over the past 20 years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of failure and survival after surgery and postoperative radiotherapy in Stage III thymoma and search for a new direction for better therapy outcome. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1975 and 1993, 111 patients with thymoma were treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. Of these, 32 patients were determined to have Masaoka Stage III thymoma. The initial treatment included surgery for clinically resectable disease in 25 patients and preoperative therapy for unresectable disease in 7 patients. Surgical procedure consisted of thymectomy plus resection of involved tissues. For postoperative radiotherapy (n = 23), radiation dose consisted of 45-50 Gy for close resection margins, 54 Gy for microscopically positive resection margins, and 60 Gy for grossly positive margins administered in 1.8 to 2.0 Gy of daily dose fractions, 5 fractions a week, over a period of 5 to 6.6 weeks. In preoperative radiotherapy, a dose of 40 Gy was administered in 2.0 Gy of daily dose fractions, 5 days a week. For patients with large tumor requiring more than 30% of total lung volume included in the target volume (n = 3), a preoperative radiation dose of 30 Gy was administered and an additional dose of 24-30 Gy was given to the tumor bed region after surgery for positive resection margins. RESULTS: Patients with Stage III thymoma accounted for 29% (32/111 patients) of all patients. The median age was 57 years with a range from 27 to 81 years; gender ratio was 10:22 for male to female. The median follow-up time was 6 years. Histologic subtypes included well-differentiated thymic carcinoma in 19 (59%), high-grade carcinoma in 6 (19%), organoid thymoma in 4 (13%), and cortical thymoma in 3 (9%) according to the Marino and Müller-Hermelink classification. The overall survival rates were 71% and 54% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Ten of the 25 patients who were subjected to surgery as initial treatment were found to have incomplete resection by histopathologic evaluation. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 86% and 69% for patients (n = 15) with clear resection margins as compared with 28% and 14% for those (n = 10) with incomplete resection margins even after postoperative therapy, p = 0.002. Survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 100% and 67% for those with unresectable disease treated with preoperative radiation (n = 6) and subsequent surgery (n = 3). Recurrence was noted in 12 of 32 patients and 11 of these died of recurrent thymoma. Recurrences at pleura and tumor bed accounted for 77% of all relapses, and all pleural recurrences were observed among the patients who were treated with surgery initially. CONCLUSION: Incomplete resection leads to poor results even with postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in Stage III thymoma. Pleural recurrence is also observed more often among patients treated with surgery first. These findings suggest that preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy may result in an increase in survival by improving the rate of complete resection and reducing local and pleural recurrences.

Invasive fibrous tumor of the tracheobronchial tree: clinical and pathologic study of seven cases.

We describe seven cases of invasive fibrous tumors of the trachea and major bronchi with distinctive histologies and patterns of growth. The tumors are composed of proliferating fibroblasts and have moderate nuclear pleomorphism and low mitotic activity. The tumors bear some resemblance to inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung, fibrous histiocytoma, and fibromatosis, but differ from each of these entities. The tumors are neoplastic and invade down to or between plates of cartilage. Because of their proximal location, these tumors are usually amenable to sleeve resection. Recurrence is possible. Metastasis has not occurred. Distinction from more malignant mesenchymal tumors of the trachea and bronchus will prevent unnecessarily radical surgery.

Pathologic staging of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with airway invasion based on the anatomic manner of extension to the trachea: a clinicopathologic study based on 22 patients who underwent thyroidectomy and airway resection.

We received the clinical and pathologic features of 22 cases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid that invaded the trachea and were treated by thyroidectomy and airway resection with or without reconstructive surgery over an interval of 16 years. We studied the fine relationships between lamina propria and lymphatics in the region between the isthmus of the thyroid and the trachea. The manner of invasion of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid was by blunt dissection along blood vessels and collagen fibers oriented perpendicularly to the tracheal lumen between cartilaginous rings. Although lymph node metastases were found in 14 patients (64%), we observed lymphangitic tumor in the tracheal mucosa in only three patients (14%). We devised a staging system for papillary carcinoma of the thyroid based on the extent of invasion of the trachea. Of the 11 patients with stage I, II, or III disease, none of six (0%) followed for 5 years died of thyroid cancer in the 5-year observation period; one patient in this group died later of thyroid cancer. Of the 11 patients with stage IV disease, five of seven (71%) followed for 5 years died of thyroid cancer in the 5-year observation period; one additional patient in this group died later of thyroid cancer.

Surgical treatment of postintubation tracheal injuries.

Two hundred-eight patients underwent tracheal resection and reconstruction for postintubation injuries from 1965 to early 1979. All but seven had received ventilatory assistance. Thirty-three had undergone prior attempts at surgical reconstruction. Twenty-three had had endotracheal tubes only. the patients had 112 cuff lesions, 78 stomal, 13 at both levels, and four lesions of uncertain origin. One hundred ninety-four had stenosis with or without accompanying malacic change, four showed "pure" malacia, nine had tracheoesophageal fistulas, and one had a tracheoinnominate fistula. There were many laryngeal injuries: 25 of these were major injuries to the low subglottic larynx, necessitating partial or complete removal of the anterior cricoid cartilage. Two hundred sixteen reconstructions were dond, eight for restenosis after initial resection. Cervical approach was used in 126, cervicomediastinal in 83, transthoracic in sic, and cutaneous reconstruction in one. The length of resection extended to 7 cm. Techniques for obtaining tension-free anastomosis included cervical flexion in all, laryngeal release in 20, hilar release in two, and use of partial external splinting in four. Fifty-seven required laryngotracheal anastomosis and nine partial laryngoplasty. Concurrent tracheostomy was rare except in the last group. One hundred-two open stomas were variously managed. There were five deaths (2%)-only one in a truly elective patient. Nine failures (5%) occurred. Ninety-three percent (189 patients) showed good (168) or satisfactory (21) results. Granulations at the suture line, necessitating bronchoscopy, were the most common complication, now seemingly avoided by use of absorbable sutures. Only one patient had postoperative innominate arterial hemorrhage.

Reduction of tension at the anastomosis following tracheal resection in puppies.

Inlying tracheal "stay sutures" and submandibular sutures to prevent cervical hyperextension were used separately and in concert to limit anastomotic tension following tracheal resection in puppies. Study of the degrees of stenosis in the mature dogs indicates the effectiveness of the principle.

Carinal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma.

Techniques are available for carinal resection and reconstruction for bronchogenic carcinoma involving the carina. Successful outcome depends on careful patient selection, thorough preoperative evaluation, careful anesthetic management, strict attention to surgical technique, and compulsive postoperative care. Since 1973 we have performed 37 carinal resections for bronchogenic carcinoma: 21 right carinal pneumonectomies, 7 carinal resections, 7 carina plus lobe resections, and 2 carina plus pneumonectomy stump resections. Five patients had diseased N2 nodes and 13 patients had diseased N1 nodes. Complications included pulmonary (8), vocal cord paresis (3), atrial fibrillation (9), anastomotic stenosis (4), and anastomotic separation (3). There were 3 early postoperative deaths (8%). All were related to adult respiratory distress syndrome and were unresponsive to aggressive treatment. There were 4 late postoperative deaths between 2 and 4 months (10.9%). All late postoperative deaths were related to anastomotic complications (stenosis [1] and separation [3]). There are 5 absolute 5-year survivors and an actuarial 5-year survival rate of 19%.

Acquired nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistula.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) caused by cuffed tracheal tubes, surgical trauma, and blunt injuries is an unusual and serious problem. Several differing approaches to management have been proposed. We have repaired such fistulas in 20 patients; 14 of them were related to tracheal intubation, three to blunt trauma, two followed anterior cervical spine fusions, and one resulted from a foreign body. Fistula closure on ventilator-dependent patients was usually delayed until they were weaned from respiratory support. Four patients had esophageal diversion before repair of their fistulas. There was sufficient tracheal damage to require resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 13 patients. The esophageal defect was closed directly in 16 patients, and end-to-end reconstruction of the esophagus was accomplished in four. There were two deaths, and one fistula recurrence required reoperation. These results support our recommendations to delay fistula closure in most ventilator patients, to use esophageal diversion selectively, to employ tracheal resection when there is evidence of extensive damage, and to directly repair the esophagus.

Complications of tracheal reconstruction. Incidence, treatment, and prevention.

Between 1962 and 1982, 416 primary tracheal reconstructions and 21 staged reconstructions were performed. Since then 80 additional tracheal reconstructions have been accomplished (to April of 1985). The first 20 years of our experience (1962 to 1982) have been scrutinized to identify complications and describe their management in patients operated on for tumors or postintubation lesions only. Because the series includes all cases, commencing in 1962 when tracheal surgery was not well developed, many complications reflect a learning experience. The first and second halves of the series have therefore been compared. Measures to prevent complications are discussed.

Three decades of treatment of esophageal squamous carcinoma at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Seven hundred one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who were treated between 1950 and 1979 were retrospectively studied. The percentage of male patients decreased over the three decades (80% to 69%); the proportion of cigarette and alcohol abusers doubled. The esophageal carcinoma was located as follows: upper third, 24.7%; middle third, 52.8%, and lower third, 22.5%. There was disparity in clinical, surgical, and pathologic staging. More than two thirds of the patients thought to have stage II lesions preoperatively proved to have stage III lesions on pathologic examination; nearly one half of patients thought to have stage II disease intraoperatively were found to have pathologic stage III lesions. This "upgrading" of stage was chiefly a result of histologic recognition of nodal metastasis or extension of carcinoma into surrounding tissues. Operation was performed in 411 cases (58.6%) and resection was performed in 261 (37.2% overall). The postoperative death rate after resection fell from 30.5% in the 1950s to 10.4% in the 1970s, with respiratory complications the predominant cause of death. Analyses were based on treatment directed at the carcinoma itself: radiotherapy, 340 cases (48.5%); resection, 176 cases (25.1%); resection plus radiotherapy, 85 cases (12.1%); no definitive treatment, 100 cases (14.3%). Overall survival for the 701 patients was 13% at 2 years and 6% at 5 years (mean survival, 16.4 months); this did not differ by decade. Survival clearly differed by treatment (p = 0.001); resection plus radiotherapy provided the best survival (35% at 2 years; 20% at 5 years; mean of 32.5 months) followed by resection (18% at 2 years; 7% at 5 years; mean of 17.5 months), radiotherapy (9% at 2 years; 3% at 5 years; mean of 12.7 months), and no treatment (0% at 2 years; 0% at 5 years; mean of 2.5 months). Survival in patients who did not have resection did not differ by decade but survival in patients with resections improved in the last two decades. Patients with pathologic stage II lesions had greatly improved survival (54% at 2 years; 25% at 5 years; mean of 42.7 months) compared with patients with stage III disease (12% at 2 years; 6% at 5 years; (mean of 15.1 months) (p = 0.001).

The omentum in the management of complicated cardiothoracic problems.

The pedicled omentum finds use in cardiothoracic surgery for management of complicated problems and prevention of serious complications. Its blood supply is excellent and is capable of inducing neovascularity. Based on the right gastroepiploic artery, it reaches anywhere in the thorax or neck. Its bulk helps to fill infected spaces. Thirty-seven patients have been treated with the pedicled omentum. In 16 patients the goal was preventive, to avoid bleeding, anastomotic leakage, or infection or to provide a source of fibroplasia or neovascularity. In eight patients with cervical exenteration the flap protected against innominate artery erosion and esophageal leakage, generally in an irradiated field. In six patients it permitted primary healing of heavily irradiated trachea--formerly unlikely. It was also used to provide coverage of a chest wall prosthesis in two patients. In 21 patients the omentum was used to obtain healing in the presence of infection. Bronchopleural fistulas were successfully closed in eight of nine patients. Six mediastinal infections that developed after cardiac operations were successfully treated. Four unusual vascular infections necessitated the use of omentum. Two patients had closure of esophageal perforations buttressed with omentum. This series demonstrates the efficacy of the omentum in the management of complex cardiac, vascular, esophageal, tracheal, bronchial, pleural, and chest wall problems.

Expiratory collapse of the trachea presenting as worsening asthma.

A 50-year-old woman with lifelong asthma had nearly total expiratory collapse of her distal trachea. The signs and symptoms were similar to those of asthma except for a pronounced upper airway component to her wheezing and the immediate onset of dyspnea on exertion. Surgical repair led to significant improvement in symptoms and resolution of tracheal collapse on expiration. Ultrafast computed tomography was a valuable adjunct to bronchoscopy in diagnosis and management. Expiratory collapse of the trachea should be considered in the differential diagnosis of wheezing and intractable reactive airway disease.

Temporary and permanent restoration of airway continuity with the tracheal T-tube.

The advantages of the tracheal T-tube compared with a regular tracheostomy tube are a physiologic direction of air flow, preservation of laryngeal phonation, and superior patient acceptance. Between 1968 and 1991, 140 patients aged 7 months to 95 years underwent placement of T-, TY- (n = 7), or a modified extended T-tube (n = 4). Primary diagnosis was postintubation stenosis in 86 patients, burn injury in 13 patients, malignant airway tumors in 12 patients, and various disorders in 29 patients. Stenting with a silicone rubber tube was temporary in 31 patients and 14 underwent later operative reconstruction. Definitive permanent insertion was performed in 49 patients. A modified tube was used in 4 patients with left main bronchial stenosis with effective long-term palliation in 3. Postoperative airway obstruction prompted placement in 32 patients. Positioning of the T-tube above the vocal cords in 12 patients for subglottic stenosis was effective in 10. The T-tube was not tolerated in 28 patients (20%) because of obstruction of the upper limb or aspiration. Five of 10 patients under the age of 10 years had airway obstruction necessitating tube removal. Long-term intubation in 112 patients exceeded 1 year in 49 patients and 5 years in 12 patients. Only 5 patients required tube removal for obstructive problems more than 2 months after placement. The tracheal T-tube restores airway patency reliably with excellent long-term results and represents the preferred management of chronic airway obstruction not amenable to surgical reconstruction.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis. Treatment and results.

A total of 503 patients underwent 521 tracheal resections and reconstructions for postintubation stenosis from 1965 through 1992. Fifty-three had had prior attempts at surgical resection, 51 others had undergone various forms of tracheal or laryngeal repair, and 45 had had laser treatment. There were 251 cuff lesions, 178 stomal lesions, 38 at both levels, and 36 of indeterminate origin. Sixty-two patients with major laryngeal injuries required complete resection of anterior cricoid cartilage and anastomosis of trachea to thyroid cartilage, and 117 had tracheal anastomosis to the cricoid. A cervical approach was used in 350, cervicomediastinal in 145, and transthoracic in 8. Length of resection was 1.0 to 7.5 cm. Forty-nine had laryngeal release to reduce anastomotic tension. A total of 471 patients (93.7%) had good (87.5%) or satisfactory (6.2%) results. Eighteen of 37 whose operation failed underwent a second reconstruction. Eighteen required postoperative tracheostomy or T-tube insertion for extensive or multilevel disease. Twelve died (2.4%). The most common complication, suture line granulations (9.7%), has almost vanished with the use of absorbable sutures. Wound infection occurred in 15 (3%) and glottic dysfunction in 11 (2.2%). Five had postoperative innominate artery hemorrhage. Resection and reconstruction offer optimal treatment for postintubation tracheal stenosis.

Bronchial sleeve resection with and without pulmonary resection.

Sleeve resection with and without pulmonary resection is safe, effective, and appropriate treatment for a wide range of endobronchial lesions including neoplasms of low-grade malignant potential and selected cases of bronchogenic carcinoma. Sixty-three patients underwent 64 sleeve resection procedures (47 with concomitant pulmonary resection and 17 without) at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1962 in 1986 with a 30 day mortality rate of 4.7%. Applicability of the technique for bronchial lesions which do not require concomitant pulmonary resection is emphasized. Types of disease included a heterogeneous collection of 31 benign tumors, neoplasms of low-grade malignant potential, and bronchostenosis and 33 bronchogenic carcinomas. Actuarial disease-free survival rate for the former group was 100% at 5 years. Quality of life was excellent for this group. Five-year survival rates for bronchogenic carcinoma (24 squamous cell, seven adenocarcinoma, two undifferentiated) were 58% +/- 25% (+/- standard error), 69 +/- 18%, and 38% +/- 13% in Stages I, II, and III, respectively. The 5 year survival rate of 31% +/- 16% in 14 patients selected because of decreased respiratory reserve compared with 60% +/- 14% in 19 patients for whom sleeve was the operation of choice on the sole basis of anatomic suitability. Sleeve resection is the ideal form of excisional therapy for benign endobronchial tumors, bronchostenosis, tumors of low-grade malignant potential, and for selected cases of carcinoma.

Reoperative tracheal resection and reconstruction for unsuccessful repair of postintubation stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to analyze characteristics and results of redo tracheal resection and reconstruction. METHODS: Seventy-five patients were operated on between 1966 and 1997 after unsuccessful initial repairs for postintubation tracheal stenosis. RESULTS: Sixteen of these patients came from a group of 32 patients with unsuccessful repair among the 450 primary resections and reconstructions performed at our institution. Fifty-nine patients were referred to us after unsuccessful initial repair elsewhere. Initial management was a T-tube or tracheotomy in 39 patients. The length of repeat resection ranged from 1.0 cm to 5.5 cm (mean 3.5 cm). A laryngeal release was used in 19 patients (25%) to reduce anastomotic tension. Complications occurred in 29 patients (39%) and were most frequent in the group requiring laryngeal release (12/19, 63.2%). Overall outcome was good in 59 patients (78.6%) and satisfactory in 10 (13.3%). The repair was unsuccessful in four patients (5.3%), and two patients died (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite difficulties encountered in reoperative surgery after failed tracheal reconstruction for postintubation stenosis, successful outcome may be achieved in a large number of cases.

Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula after sutured bronchial closure: incidence, risk factors, and management.

OBJECTIVE: Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula remains a morbid complication after pneumonectomy. The incidence, risk factors, and management of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula were evaluated in 256 consecutive patients who underwent pneumonectomy with a standardized suture closure of the bronchus. METHODS: Pneumonectomy was performed for lung cancer in 198 cases, for other malignancy in 20 cases, and for benign causes in 38 cases. The bronchial stump was closed with interrupted simple sutures to emphasize a long, membranous wall flap. All stumps were covered by autologous tissue. RESULTS: The incidence of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula was 3.1%. Risk factors for bronchopleural fistula were the need for postoperative ventilation (p = 0.0001) and right pneumonectomy (p = 0.04). Five patients had bronchopleural fistulas as a result of pulmonary complications necessitating ventilation; the cause in the remaining three cases appeared to be technical. Reclosure was successful in five cases (mean postoperative day 12); in one case a pinhole fistula was healed by drainage alone. Two (25%) of the eight patients who had bronchopleural fistulas died. CONCLUSIONS: Careful, sutured closure of the main bronchus with a tissue buttress after pneumonectomy yields excellent results. The most significant risk factor for bronchopleural fistula is a pulmonary complication necessitating ventilation. Contrary to previous reports, reclosure is usually successful even if performed late.

Resection for bronchogenic carcinoma involving the carina: long-term results and effect of nodal status on outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchogenic carcinoma in close proximity to or involving the carina remains a challenging problem for thoracic surgeons. The operative procedures to allow complete resection are technically demanding and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Little is known about long-term survival data to guide therapy in these patients. METHODS: We conducted a single-institution retrospective review. RESULTS: We have performed 60 carinal resections for bronchogenic carcinoma: 18 isolated carinal resections for tumor confined to the carinal or proximal main stem bronchus; 35 carinal pneumonectomies; 5 carinal plus lobar resections, and 2 carinal resections for stump recurrence after prior pneumonectomy. Thirteen patients (22%) had a history of lung or airway surgery. The overall operative mortality was 15%, improved from the first half of the series (20%) to the second half (10%), and varied according to the type of resection performed. Adult respiratory distress syndrome was responsible for 5 early deaths, and all late deaths were related to anastomotic complications. In 34 patients, all lymph nodes were negative for metastatic disease; 15 patients had positive N1 nodes, and 11 patients had positive N2/N3 nodes. Complete follow-up was accomplished in 90%, with a mean follow-up of 59 months. The overall 5-year survival including operative mortality was 42%, with 19 absolute 5-year survivors. Survival was highest after isolated carinal resection (51%). Lymph node involvement had a strong influence on survival: patients without nodal involvement had a 5-year survival of 51%, compared with 32% for patients with N1 disease and 12% for those with N2/N3 disease. CONCLUSIONS: This constitutes one of the largest single-institution reports on carinal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma involving the carina. Morbidity and mortality rates are acceptable. The overall survival including operative mortality is 42%. Positive N2/N3 lymph nodes may be a contraindication to surgery because of poor prognosis.