Bertrand De Latour

Comparison of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart and heart–lung transplantations: A 15-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major factor limiting long-term survival after heart transplantation (HTx). Specific determinants of CAV and long-term outcome after CAV occurrence have been poorly investigated after heart-lung transplantation (HLTx). METHODS Between January 1996 and December 2006, 79 patients underwent HLTx (36.3 ± 12.2 years old; 47% men) and 141 patients underwent HTx (49.2 ± 12.3 years old; 77% men) at two different institutions. CAV grading was reviewed in both groups according to the 2010 standardized nomenclature of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. The mean post-transplant follow-up was 94 (1 to 181) months. RESULTS Overall 10-year survival rate was 58% after HTx and 43% after HLTx (p = 0.11). The Grade 1 (or higher) CAV-free survival rate was 95% at 4 years and 69% at 10 years after HLTx, and 77% and 39%, respectively, after HTx (p < 0.01). Mean cyclosporine blood levels were similar between the groups at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. The main causes of mortality beyond 5 years after HTx and HLTx were malignancies and bronchiolitis obliterans, respectively. By multivariate analysis, recipients who developed >3 acute myocardial rejections during the first year post-transplant were exposed to a higher risk of CAV (95% CI 1.065 to 2.33, p = 0.02). Episodes of acute pulmonary rejection and bronchiolitis obliterans were not associated with an increased risk of CAV (p = 0.52 and p = 0.30). CONCLUSION HLTx recipients appeared protected from CAV compared with HTx patients in this retrospective study. Repeated acute cardiac rejections were independent predictors of CAV. Unlike bronchiolitis obliterans, CAV had a very low impact on long-term survival after HLTx.

Surgical outcomes in patients with primary mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumours and elevated post-chemotherapy serum tumour markers

OBJECTIVE Platinum-based chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of residual masses has become the standard treatment of patients with primary mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCTs). Persistent serum tumour marker (STM) elevation after chemotherapy usually indicates a poor prognosis. We retrospectively assessed surgical outcomes in patients with high STM levels after chemotherapy for primary mediastinal NSGCT. METHODS Between 1983 and 2010, residual tumour excision was performed in 21 patients, 20 men and one woman with a median age of 30 years (range: 19-49 years), with primary mediastinal NSGCTs and high STM levels after platinum-based chemotherapy, followed by second-line chemotherapy in 11 patients. RESULTS Alpha-fetoprotein was elevated in all 21 patients and β-human chorionic gonadotropin in three patients. Permanent histology demonstrated viable germ cell tumour (n=13), teratoma (n=3) or necrosis (n=5). After surgery, the STM levels returned to normal in 11 patients. Eight patients are alive with a median follow-up of 98 months. The 5-year survival rate was 36% and was not significantly affected by the use of preoperative second-line chemotherapy. At univariate analysis, only postoperative STM elevation and residual viable tumour, indicating incomplete resection, were significantly associated with lower survival (P=0.018 and P=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION In patients with primary mediastinal NSGCTs and elevated post-chemotherapy STMs, surgery is warranted when complete resection is deemed feasible. In specialized oncology centres, this aggressive approach can provide a cure in some patients.

Parietal tumor recurrence of lung metastasis after radiofrequency ablation

Metastasis is the most common form of malignant lung tumor. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new treatment for single pulmonary tumors. However, RFA can be complicated by iatrogenic and parietal recurrence. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with a single pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer diagnosed two years previously and locally controlled by left hemi-colectomy. The metastasis was treated by RFA. Four months after the procedure, a positron emission tomography scan revealed parietal chest contamination. Surgical resection enabled the diagnosis of parietal tumor expansion and confirmed successful treatment of the initial metastasis. This case highlights the risk of iatrogenic parietal contamination after RFA. To our knowledge no similar case has been published to date. The most appropriate steps to prevent this type of complication still have to be defined.

Surgical Treatment of an Acute Isthmus Traumatic Rupture

Acute traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is, indeed, a life-threatening lesion which deserves surgical repair. It is, however, generally associated with other severe life-threatening lesions and may be hidden among those. It, therefore, justifies early, active, exhaustive diagnostic procedures in the case of polytraumatism. Should the patient show evidence of impending rupture or major distal malperfusion, emergency surgical repair is mandatory. But in some instances, surgical treatment of the aortic rupture must be delayed under strict monitoring. This attitude allows management of other severe life-threatening lesions which, otherwise, would deeply increase the risk of the aortic repair, and which are responsible for the major contributor to hospital mortality in those patients. Whatever the circumstances of surgery, distal perfusion downstream from the aortic cross-clamping must be maintained, using either CPB or a heparinless centrifugal pump.

Natural History of Localized and Locally Advanced Atypical Lung Carcinoids after Complete Resection: A Joined French-Italian Retrospective Multicenter Study

Background: The natural history and the best modality of follow-up of atypical lung carcinoids (AC) remain ill defined. The aim of this study was to analyze recurrence-free survival (RFS) after complete resection (R0) of stage I-III pulmonary AC. Secondary objectives were prognostic parameters, the location of recurrences, and the modality of follow-up. Methods: A retrospective review of 540 charts of AC patients treated between 1998 and 2008 at 10 French and Italian centers with experience in lung neuroendocrine tumor management was undertaken. The exclusion criteria were MEN1-related tumor, history of another cancer, referral after tumor relapse, and being lost to follow-up. A central pathological review was performed in each country. Results: Sixty-two patients were included. After a median follow-up time of 91 months (mean 85, range 6-165), 35% of the patients experienced recurrence: 16% were regional recurrences and 19% were distant metastases. Median RFS was not reached. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rate was 90, 79, and 68%, respectively. In univariate analysis, lymph node involvement (p = 0.0001), stage (p = 0.0001), mitotic count (p = 0.004), and type of surgery (p = 0.043) were significantly associated with RFS. In multivariate analysis, lymph node involvement was significantly associated with RFS (HR 95% CI: 0.000-0.151; p = 0.004). During follow-up, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, fibroscopy, and abdominal examination results were available for 22, 12, and 25 patients, respectively. The median time interval for imaging follow-up was 10 months. Conclusions: After complete resection of AC, recurrences were observed mostly within the first 5 years of follow-up, within bronchi, mediastinal nodes, the liver, and bones. In R0 patients, lymph node involvement could help to stratify follow-up intervals. Suboptimal imaging is evidenced.

Small pulmonary nodule localization with cone beam computed tomography during video-assisted thoracic surgery: a feasibility study

OBJECTIVES To describe a non-invasive guidance procedure, using intraoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and augmented fluoroscopy to guide lung resection during video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). METHODS Patients with solitary or multiple lung nodules between 5 and 20 mm in size were included. Under general anaesthesia, a moderate pneumothorax allowing the CBCT acquisition was first performed. Then a segmentation of the lesion was performed on a 3D reconstruction. A projection of this 3D reconstruction was then integrated into the digital workspace and automatically registered into the fluoroscopic images, creating an augmented fluoroscopy. The procedure was continued under classic video-thoracoscopic vision taking account of the augmented fluoroscopy to locate the targeted nodule. RESULTS Eight patients were included (mean age 61 ± 11.7 years): 7 patients had an isolated lesion and 1 patient had two lesions (mean size 13.2 ± 5.1 mm). Their mean depth to the pleura was 21.4 ± 10.7 mm. Four patients underwent a wedge resection associated with lymph node resection. Two patients had an initial wedge resection followed by a complementary lobectomy associated with lymph node resection (primary lung tumour). One patient had a wedge resection in the upper lobe and a lobectomy of the inferior lobe associated with lymph node resection. One patient underwent a conversion and a bilobectomy due to vascular injury. The mean global operating time was 100.6 ± 36.7 min. All the nodules have been identified on the CBCT acquisitions. The segmentation of the lesion has been performed in all cases. We have been able to detect all the nodules and to successfully perform the resection in all cases owing to the augmented fluoroscopy. The mean fluoroscopic time was 134.2 ± 55.0 s. The mean imaging time, between the incision and the final nodule localization, was 11.8 ± 3.8 min. CONCLUSIONS This paper is the first describing a clinical application of CBCT performed during thoracic surgery. Associated with augmented reality, it offers a significant progress in VATS resection of subpalpable lung nodules. This preliminary experience highlights the potential of the proposed CBCT approach to improve the perception of targeted small tumours during VATS.

Traumatic false aneurysms of the left ventricle after an attempt at video-thoracoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVES Video-thoracoscopic surgery (VTS) has been accepted as a safe and credible technique since 1990. Lung injury is one of the main perioperative complications. Few data are available about cardiac trauma and VTS-related false aneurysm of the left ventricular (LV) wall has not yet been reported. METHODS A 62-year old woman presented with a left thoracic empyema. Video-thoracoscopy was attempted for bacterial sampling and surgical drain of the pleura. A rapid conversion to open thoracotomy was necessary to control massive bleeding after the first thoracic port intrusion. An apical systolic murmur was found 2 weeks later during a systematic clinical examination. The patient was asymptomatic and had no personal history of cardiac disease. RESULTS Colour Doppler imaging showed two spurious aneurysms on the LV wall without any haemopericardium. Pericardial enhancement around the left ventricle was observed on the chest computerized tomography scan with the injection of contrast. After the careful excision of the two false aneurysms, a surgical repair was strengthened with a suture under a cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was safe at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of LV traumatic false aneurysms secondary to an attempt of a video-thoracoscopic procedure. This is a rare but life-threatening complication because of the risk of spontaneous rupture. Left persistent thoracic empyemas associated with the ipsilateral mediastinum deviation carry a high risk of myocardial damage related to the trocar port intrusion.

Combined thoracic and hepatobiliary surgery for iatrogenic bronchobiliary fistula

Bronchobiliary fistula is a rare pathology mainly caused by hepatic tumors, bile duct obstruction, or hepatic hydatid disease. A 70-year-old man developed a bronchobiliary fistula after biliary stenting. After failure of conservative treatment including endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, he underwent a combined operation with a two-level approach. Both a thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed, allowing pulmonary resection, diaphragmatic repair, and bile duct reconstruction during the same operation. Postoperative follow-up at one year showed optimal healing of the fistula.

Classification and Decision Algorithm of Posttraumatic Chronic Lesions of the Isthmus and the Descending Thoracic Aorta

The management of acute and chronic lesions of the isthmus and the descending aorta has markedly evolved with advances of imaging and intensive care.