Shigeki Yamagishi

Resection of Sternal Tumors and Reconstruction of the Thorax: A Review of 15 Patients

PurposeWe report our experience of resecting sternal tumors, followed by reconstruction of the skeletal and soft-tissue defects, and discuss the usefulness of sandwiched Marlex and stainless-steel mesh.MethodsFifteen patients underwent resection of a sternal tumor and chest wall reconstruction with autologous bone grafts, sandwiched Marlex and stainless-steel mesh or a titanium plate, and musculocutaneous flaps. The sternal tumors were from locally recurrent breast carcinoma in ten patients, metastasis from other organs in three, and primary chondrosarcoma in two.ResultsAll patients were extubated without paradoxical respiration just after surgery. There was no operative mortality. A wound infection developed in the acute phase after a sandwiched Marlex and stainless-steel mesh reconstruction in one patient. A second repair with Marlex and stainless-steel mesh was required in two patients; for flail chest after an autologous bone graft in one; and following re-recurrence of breast carcinoma in another patient who had undergone a musculocutaneous flap repair. No signs of breakdown, dislodgment, severe depression, or deformity were seen in any of the six patients who underwent reconstruction with Marlex and stainless-steel mesh during a median follow-up period of 56 months.ConclusionsWide resection of sternal tumors provides good local control. Reconstruction with Marlex and stainless-steel mesh seems to be the most effective technique for repairing a wide anterior chest wall defect.

Video-assisted lobectomy for a lung cancer patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVES This retrospective study was conducted to see whether a video-assisted lobectomy is beneficial in lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease regarding preservation of pulmonary function compared to lobectomy by standard thoracotomy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Between 1982 and 2002, 67 patients who underwent lobectomy for primary lung cancer showed 55% or less of preoperative forced expiratory volume in one second/vital capacity. Among them, 25 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. The remaining 42 patients were excluded because of no presence of a postoperative pulmonary function test. Nine of 25 patients underwent a video-assisted lobectomy between 1994 and 2002 and the remaining 16 patients who underwent a lobectomy by standard thoracotomy between 1982 and 1994 were employed as a historical control. Perioperative conditions and changes in pulmonary function were compared between two groups. RESULTS A parameter of chest wall damage was minor in video-assisted lobectomy compared to that in lobectomy by standard thoracotomy. Changes between pre- and postoperative percent of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second and maximal ventilatory volume showed significantly minor deterioration or even improvement in video-assisted lobectomy patients. Predicted postoperative pulmonary function tended to be underestimated for postoperative values in video-assisted lobectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS Video-assisted lobectomy seemed to be profitable in preservation of pulmonary function in lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prediction of postoperative pulmonary function should be revised due to the underestimation for postoperative values in video-assisted lobectomy, which could offer profitable surgical treatment for lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Surgical Treatment of Superior Sulcus Tumors

PurposeTo access the clinical outcome of patients with superior sulcus tumor.MethodsWe reviewed the records of 16 patients who underwent surgery for a superior sulcus tumor between 1988 and 2003, focusing on the type of surgery.ResultsAll 16 patients underwent en bloc lung and chest wall resection, which was done as pneumonectomy in 1 patient and lobectomy in 15. Complete resection was achieved in 11 patients, but incomplete resection was done in 5 patients because microscopic examination revealed positive surgical margins. Eight patients underwent partial vertebrectomy and 1 patient had combined resection of the subclavian artery. There was no postoperative mortality. All patients received pre- or postoperative adjuvant therapy, or both. The overall 5-year survival rate was 31.0%. The 5-year survival rate was higher after complete resection than after incomplete resection (59.3% vs 0%, P = 0.08). Patients who underwent complete resection for vertebral invasion and those who did not had 5-year survival rates of 66.7% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.17). Patients who underwent preoperative induction therapy followed by complete resection and those who did not had 5-year survival rates of 80% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.009).ConclusionAlthough superior sulcus tumors are still complex, preoperative induction therapy followed by complete resection seemed effective for prolonging survival.

Mitral Valve Replacement and Preservation of Subvalvular Apparatus Using Cox's Maze Operation

A 58-year-old female with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation underwent mitral valve replacement. The subvalvular apparatus was successfully preserved by the Coxs maze operation. The postoperative course was uneventful. One year postoperatively, she is doing well and remains in sinus rhythm. The combined operative techniques are discussed.