Marc Boada

False-negative rate after positron emission tomography/computer tomography scan for mediastinal staging in cI stage non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES To assess the false-negative (FN) rate of positron emission tomography (PET)-chest computed tomography (CT) scan in clinical non-central cIA and cIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for mediastinal staging. METHODS Between January 2007 and December 2010, 402 patients with potentially operable NSCLC were assessed by thoracic CT scan and 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET-CT for mediastinal staging and to detect extrathoracic metastases, of which 153 surgically treated patients (79 cIA and 74 cIB cases) were prospectively included in the study. Central tumours were excluded on the basis of CT scan criteria, defined as contact with the intrapulmonary main bronchi, pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins or the origin of the first segmental branches. CT scan was considered negative if lymph nodes were <1 cm at the smaller diameter. 18FDG PET-CT was considered negative when the high maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) was <2.5. Non-invasive surgical staging was carried out in this group, and curative resection plus systematic mediastinal dissection was performed except in the event of unexpected oncological contraindication. RESULTS Composite non-invasive staging (CT scan, PET-CT) showed a negative predictive value (NPV) of 92% (CI 83.6-96.8) in the cIA group and 85% (CI 74-92) in the cIB group. There were 6 of 79 (7.6%) false-negatives (FNs) in cIA and 11 of 74 (14.8%) in cIB. Multilevel pN2 were detected in four cases, all of them in the cIB group. The most frequently involved N2 was subcarinal (two cases) in cIA and right lower paratracheal (R4) and seven (five cases) in cIB. Occult (pN2) lymph nodes were more frequent in tumour sizes≥5 cm (pT2b, nine cases, four FNs, P=0.03), pN1, adenocarcinoma [excluding minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and lepidic predominant growth (LPA)] (P=0.029) and female patients, but no other risk factors for mediastinal metastases were identified (age, clinical stage, tumour location, central or peripheral, P>0.05). Multilevel pN2 was significantly more frequent in the cIB group (P<0.03). In pT≤1 cm (T1a), NPV was significantly better (NPV=100%, P<0.05) than the other subgroups studied (IA>1 cm and IB). CONCLUSIONS Composite results for non-invasive mediastinal staging (CT scan, PET-CT) showed 11% of FNs in cI stage (7.6% in non-central cIA and 14.8% in cIB). In tumours≤1 cm, NPV makes surgical staging unnecessary. In women with adenocarcinoma and non-central cIB, however, the high FN rate makes invasive staging necessary, particularly in pT2b to decrease the incidence of unexpected pN2 in thoracotomy.

Platelet rich plasma improves the healing process after airway anastomosis

This study investigated whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes healing and reduces anastomotic complications following airway surgery in a pig model. PRP was obtained by spinning down the animals own blood (60 ml) and collecting the buffy coat containing platelets and white blood cells. Fifteen adult pigs were randomized into three groups: (1) sham treatment (cervicotomy), (2) non-PRP group (50% tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis), and (3) PRP group (50% tracheal resection, end-to-end anastomosis and PRP application). Blood samples were taken at baseline and at one, six and 24. Animals were monitored for anastomotic complications, infection and local reactivity. Laser Doppler flowmetry was performed intraoperatively and at 30 days to assess differences in pre- and post-anastomotic blood flow. The tensile strength of the anastomosis was also tested. The platelet level was higher in PRP fluid than in the baseline blood sample (P<0.002). Vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor β-1 and epidermal growth factor immunoassay readings peaked at one and six hours in the animals that had received PRP (P<0.03); these also showed significantly increased transanastomotic flow and stress-strain resistance (P<0.04) at 30 days than the animals that had not received PRP. PRP therefore, accelerates the onset of healing in airway surgery by promoting an earlier release of platelet-derived growth factors that stimulate transanastomotic angiogenesis.

Cardiorespiratory Impact of Transesophageal Endoscopic Mediastinoscopy Compared With Cervical Mediastinoscopy A Randomized Experimental Study

Background. Transesophageal natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) mediastinoscopy has been described as a feasible, less-invasive alternative to video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM). We aimed to investigate hemodynamic and respiratory effects during transesophageal NOTES mediastinoscopy compared with VAM. Patients and methods. This was a short-survival experiment in 20 female pigs randomized to NOTES (n = 10) or VAM (n = 10) mediastinoscopy. In the NOTES group, an endoscopist accessed the mediastinum through a 5-cm submucosal tunnel in the esophageal wall, and CO2 was used to create the pneumomediastinum. Conventional VAM was carried out by thoracic surgeons. A 30-minute systematic exploration of the mediastinum was then performed, including invasive monitoring for hemodynamic and respiratory data. Blood samples were drawn for gas analyses. Results. All experiments except 2 in the NOTES group (one because of technical difficulties, the other because of thoracic lymphatic duct lesion) were completed as planned, and animals survived 24 hours. Also, 3 animals in the NOTES group presented a tension pneumothorax that was immediately recognized and percutaneously drained. VAM and NOTES animals showed similar pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic behavior during mediastinoscopy. Pulmonary gas exchange pattern was mildly impaired during the NOTES procedure, showing lower partial arterial oxygen pressure associated with higher airway pressures (more important in animals that presented with pneumothorax). Conclusions. NOTES mediastinoscopy induces minimal deleterious respiratory effects and hemodynamic changes similar to conventional cervical VAM and could be feasible when performed under strict hemodynamic and respiratory surveillance. Notably, serious complications caused by the injury of pleura are more frequent in NOTES, which mandates an improvement in technique and suitable equipment.

Adverse events of NOTES mediastinoscopy compared to conventional video-assisted mediastinoscopy: a randomized survival study in a porcine model

Background: Safety is a concern in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) mediastinoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare the safety of NOTES mediastinoscopy with video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM). Methods: Twenty-four pigs were randomly assigned to NOTES or VAM. Thirty-minute mediastinoscopies were performed with the identification of seven predetermined structures. The animals were euthanized after 7 days and necropsy was performed. Results: Mediastinoscopy was not possible in one animal in each group. There were more intraoperative adverse events with NOTES than VAM (7 vs. 2, P = 0.04); hemorrhage was the most frequent adverse event (4 and 1, respectively). At necropsy, pathological findings were observed in 13 animals (9 NOTES and 4 VAM; P = 0.03). Inflammatory parameters were not different between groups and were not related to adverse events. Conclusion: Systematic NOTES mediastinoscopy is possible and comparable to VAM in terms of number of organs identified and inflammatory impact. However, the safety profile of NOTES mediastinoscopy has to be improved before it can be adopted in a clinical setting.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la metástasis adrenal única en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Lung cancer (LC) can metastasize the adrenal gland. The objective of this study is to describe our experience in patients undergoing surgery for solitary adrenal metastasis of lung cancer in the past 11 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS It is a retrospective study of patients who underwent the surgical resection of the lung primary tumor and the adrenal metastases. RESULTS We included 7 patients with a median age of 64 years. Five patients underwent lobectomy, and 2, pneumonectomy with adjuvant therapy according to protocol. The single adrenal metastasis appeared synchronously in 3 patients and metachronously in 4, between 10 and 39 months (median 25 months). Two patients are alive and with good quality of life. The mean survival of patients was 41 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 7-74) and median survival was 20 months (95% CI 7-32). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that surgery adrenal metastases from lung cancer increases life expectancy in selected patients according to the available literature.

Prehabilitation in thoracic surgery

Surgical resection remains the best treatment option for patients with early stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it may be responsible of postoperative complication and mortality, especially in patients with impaired pulmonary function. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been focused mainly in minimal invasive surgery approach during lung resection and respiratory rehabilitation after surgery. Preoperative exercise-based intervention (prehabilitation) has demonstrated reduction of morbi-mortality in other surgeries but in thoracic surgery continues to be under discussion. Cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) is the gold standard technique to predict postoperative morbi-mortality. The implementation of a preoperative respiratory rehabilitation could optimize patients physical capacity before surgery and improve outcomes and enhance recovery. The aim of this systematic review of the literature is to identify the effectiveness and safety of prehabilitation programs in thoracic surgery, the type of exercise and its duration, and the group of patients with best benefit. Prehabilitation is a safe intervention without side effects in patients. High-intensity interval training (HIT) with duration of 2 to 6 weeks seems to be the best exercise programme in a prehabilitation intervention but it exists heterogeneity in terms of intensity and duration. Prehabilitation increase exercise capacity and significantly enhances pulmonary function. But the reduction of postoperative complication and mortality has not been clearly demonstrated. Different criteria selection, type of intervention and small sample size, in addition to no randomization, could justify disparate results. It seems that not all patients can benefit from prehabilitation and it could be indicated only in patients with impaired lung function. Further randomized clinical trials with enough patients, correct duration of HIT (2 to 6 weeks) and focused in COPD patients are needed to clarify the suitability of prehabilitation. Meanwhile, safety of prehabilitation and good results of some studies support this intervention in high-risk patients.

Is it appropriate to perform video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for advanced lung cancer?

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has showed benefits in terms of pain, hospital stay and accomplishment of adjuvancy therapy versus open surgery in early stage of non-small-cell lung cancer. Over the last years, the indication of VATS technique has been expanded to advanced lung cancer. In this article, we discuss the definition of VATS and advanced lung cancer, and the safety and feasibility of VATS technique for the resection of advanced tumors.

N2 disease in non-small-cell lung cancer: straight to surgery?

The correct treatment for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and ipsilateral mediastinal involvement (N2) remains a challenge. The heterogeneity of this group of patients has been shown, as well as many different prognostic factors, that will determine a specific management to each of them. Although the standard treatment is based on a multimodality therapy consisting of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, surgery is not always indicated. The selection of patients who are going to be operated, reminds being a key point of the treatment of this disease. Recent reports on operable N2 disease have been reviewed by our group in order to discuss surgery indications and when to bring it about, with the possibility to go straight to surgery.

Posterior thoracic approach for Pancoast tumour resection

Pancoast tumour is an uncommon presentation of lung cancer. Its specific location and surrounding structures invasion characterizes the Pancoast’s syndrome clinical presentation—shoulder pain, radicular arm affection and Horner’s syndrome. At the same time thoracic outlet location makes it difficult to detect by simple chest X-ray and delays the diagnosis. Pancoast tumour is considered a locally advanced lung cancer. In consequence aggressive staging and accurate surgical planning are mandatory. Induction therapy, although no entirely accepted is used to increase resectability in our centre’s protocol. Anterior and posterior approaches have been described to resect superior sulcus tumours. Selection is normally based on tumour location and peripheral structures involvement as well as surgeon’s personal experience and preferences. In the following text we describe the posterior approach technique for tumour resection and the tricks and tips we learned in our experience to minimize surgical risks. We prefer the posterior approach in those tumours with no major vessel involvement evidence. Anterior chest wall resection and posterior costo-vertebral junction disarticulation are carried out before the lobectomy to achieve a complete en bloc resection. Special care must be taken during the dissection and division of the first rib because of thoracic outlet structures proximity. After resection, we prefer not to reconstruct the wall systematically. It is reserved for selected patients who had a large chest wall resection and have higher risk of complications.

Lung parenchymal sparing using cryopreserved allografts for pulmonary artery reconstruction

This chapter details the indications, technique, and pitfalls of double sleeve resection with pulmonary artery (PA) replacement by a cryopreserved allograft. Both bronchial and vascular anastomoses are explained and intraoperative and postoperative allograft management are described, along with the pros and cons of each possible conduit for PA replacement.