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Abstract: Objective: T4-disease for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes different conditions: mediastinal invasion, neoplastic pleural cytology, and multifocal disease in the same lobe; regarding the last category, no strict criteria allow to differentiate satellite nodules from synchronous multiple primary tumours. Methods: Retrospective study of 56 patients who underwent a complete resection from 1985 to 2006 of a NSCLC graded pT4N0 due to multifocal disease. A small nodule (<1cm) closed to the primary tumour, in a same pulmonary segment with an identical histology was considered as a satellite nodule (pT4sn). Multiple tumours, sized more than 1cm, with an identical histology, located in the same lobe but in different segment were considered as synchronous cancers (pT4sc). Results: There were 44 males and 12 females: 35 patients were graded T4sn and 21 patients T4sc. The median age was 62.5 years. The two groups were similar for sex, age, tobacco consumption, ASA score, NYHA, Charlson''s index, spirometric parameters, cardiovascular comorbidity and history of previous extra-thoracic malignancies. All had a complete anatomic resection with mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Thirty-day mortality rate was 3.6%. Overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 48.2% and 29.9%, respectively. There was a non-significant trend for a worse survival in T4sn group patients when compared to that of T4sc group patients: 42.9% vs 52.3% at 5 years, and 25% vs 34.9% at 10 years (p =0.62). Conclusions: Multifocal T4 stage IIIB disease is a heterogeneous category where overall prognosis is far better than those of other T4 subgroups. Survival rates associated with pT4sn and pT4sc look roughly similar because of the small size of the subgroups usually submitted to comparison in most series. In the present experience, respective survival figures diverge, suggesting different biological behaviours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Controversy continues over the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy for the surgical treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Methods: From 1996 to 2003, 102 transthoracic en-bloc esophagectomy were performed for adenocarcinoma. Based on the 1994 consensus conference of the International Society of Disease of Esophagus, 35 patients underwent standard lymphadenectomy whereas 67 underwent extended lymphadenectomy. Mortality, morbidity and long-term survival were reviewed in each group. Results: Extended lymphadenectomy increased the number of resected lymph nodes and improved the healthy/invaded lymph node ratio. It allowed to detect skip nodal metastasis in 36.4% of the N+ patients. Morbidity was higher following extended lymphadenectomy, with respect to pulmonary complications, and blood transfusions requirement (P=0.04). However, operative mortality was similar in both groups (9 vs. 11%). Overall disease-free survival was 28% at 5 years. Median of survival was higher in N0 than in N+ patients (55 months vs. 20 months; P=0.02). Extended lymphadenectomy was associated with an improving of disease-free survival when compared to standard lymphadenectomy (41 vs. 10% at 5 years; P&#60;0.05), especially in the subgroup of patients with a N0 disease (median of survival 44 months vs. 17 months; P=0.001). Based on multivariable analyses, predictive factors of recurrence affecting disease free-survival were the pT status (P=0.02), standard lymphadenectomy (P=0.05) and extracapsular lymph node involvement (0.04). Conclusions: These results indicate that extended 2-field lymphadenectomy is an important component of the surgical treatment of patients with adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. It increases the likelihood of proper staging and affects patient outcome, while it does not enhance the operative mortality. However, extended lymphadenectomy increases non-fatal morbidity, especially the incidence of pulmonary complications and the need for blood transfusion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To assess the therapeutic effect of the extent of lymph node dissection performed in patients with a stage pI non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We analysed data on 465 patients with stage I NSCLC who were treated with surgical resection and some form of lymph node sampling. The median number of lymph node sampled was 10 and the median number of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node stations sampled was two. We chose to define a procedure that harvested 10 or more lymph nodes and sampled two or more ipsilateral mediastinal stations as a lymphadenectomy, by contrast with sampling when one or both criteria were not satisfied. The effect of the surgical techniques: lymph node sampling (LS; n=207) vs. lymphadenectomy (LA; n=258) on 30-day mortality and overall survival were investigated. Results: A total of 6244 lymph nodes was examined, including 4306 mediastinal lymph nodes. The mean (±SD) numbers of removed lymph nodes were 7±6.1 per patient following LS vs.18.6±9.3 following LA (P=0.001). An average mean of 1±0.90 mediastinal lymph node station per patient was sampled following LS vs. 2.7±0.8 following LA (P&#60;10−6). Overall 30-day mortality rates were 2.4 and 3.1%, respectively. LA was disclosed as a favourable prognosticator at multivariate analysis (Hazard Risk: 1.43; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.00–2.04; P=0.048), together with younger patient age, absence of blood vessels invasion, and smaller tumour size. Conclusions: Importance of lymph node dissection affects patients outcome, while it does not enhance the operative mortality. A minimum of 10 lymph nodes assessed, and two mediastinal stations sampled are suggested as possible pragmatic markers of the quality of lymphadenectomy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To assess the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the management of a recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax after a prior talc pleurodesis. Methods: From 1996 to 2002, we retrospectively reviewed all patients who were treated for a recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax after a previous talc pleurodesis. Data on the talc procedure and the recurrent pneumothorax, delay between both, and operative features were studied. Conversion rate to a thoracotomy and postoperative complications as well as long-term outcome were reported. Results: We collected 39 patients (28 male) with a median age of 25 years (15–41 years). The initial procedure consisted of thoracoscopic talc poudrage in all cases. The median delay between the talc procedure and the recurrence was 23 months [10 days–13 years]. Size of recurrence involved 10–80% of the hemithorax. The VATS procedure was successfully achieved in 27 patients (69%) while 12 required conversion to a thoracotomy. The main cause for conversion was the presence of dense pleural adhesion at the mediastinal part of the pleural cavity. Postoperative morbidity was limited to pleural complications in the VATS group (n=6, 22%). Median follow-up was 26 months [10–38 months]. One patient treated by VATS developed a partial recurrent pneumothorax at 12 months with a favorable outcome without further surgery. Conclusions: Feasibility, safety and efficacy of VATS for management of recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax following thoracoscopic talc poudrage are strongly suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Analysis of a single institution experience with completion pneumonectomy. Methods: From 1989 to 2002, 55 consecutive cancer patients received completion pneumonectomy (mean age 62 years; 25–79). Indications were bronchogenic carcinoma in 38 patients (4 first cancers, 8 recurrent cancers, 26 second cancers), lung metastases in three (one each from breast cancer, colorectal neoplasm and lung cancer), lung sarcoma in one, and miscellaneous non-malignant conditions in 13 patients having been surgically treated for a non-small cell lung cancer previously (bronchopleural fistula in 4, radionecrosis in 3, aspergilloma in 2, pachypleura in 1, massive hemoptysis in 1 and pneumonia in 2). Before completion pneumonectomy, 50 patients had had a lobectomy, three a bilobectomy, and two lesser resections. The mean interval between the two procedures was 51 months for the whole group (1–469), 60 months for lung cancer (12–469), 43 months for pulmonary metastases (21–59) and 29 months for non-malignant disorders (1–126). Results: There were 35 right (64%) and 20 left (36%) resections. The surgical approaches were a posterolateral thoracotomy in 50 cases (91%) and a lateral thoracotomy in five cases (9%). Intrapericardial route was used in 49 patients (89%). Five patients had an extended resection (2 chest wall, 1 diaphragm, 1 subclavian artery and 1 superior vena cava). Operative mortality was 16.4% (n=9): 11.9% for malignant disease (n=5) and 30.8% for benign disease (n=4). Operative mortality was 20% for right completion pneumonectomies (n=7) and 10% for left-sided procedures (n=2). Twenty-three patients (42%) experienced non-fatal major complications. Actuarial 3- and 5-year survival rates from the time of completion pneumonectomy were 48.4 and 35.2% for the entire group. Three- and five-year survival for patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were 56.9 and 43.4%, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that completion pneumonectomy in the setting of lung malignancies can be done with an operative risk similar to the one reported for standard pneumonectomy. In contrast, in cancer patients, completion pneumonectomy for inflammatory disorders is a very high-risk procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) of the lung is a subtype of adenocarcinoma with pure bronchoalveolar growth pattern and no evidence of stromal, vascular or pleural invasion (1999 WHO criteria), that seems to increase in incidence actually. BAC has its proper clinical spectrum, occurring more frequently in women and in younger patients. BAC also seems to be less dependent on tobacco exposure. Furthermore, original feature of this type of lung cancer is its intrapulmonary spreading and being infrequently systemic. Thus, surgical resection appears to have a pivotal role. This review of the literature attempted to assess whether or not patients with BAC should be treated according to the same oncological principles as those recommended for other non-small cell lung cancers, i.e. performance of anatomical resection combined with lymphadenectomy, and development of multimodality therapeutic strategies. Unilateral multinodular or pneumonic forms are best removed by lobectomy, or pneumonectomy when appropriate, combined with lymphadenectomy. Segmentectomy or wedge resection is a valuable option for the treatment of solitary lung nodules with pure pathological BAC patterns, provided specific conditions based upon computed tomography scan findings are present. The place of multimodality strategies is still unexplored. Treatment of bilateral BAC is challenging. Incomplete resection may be performed to palliate a severe intrapulmonary shunting. However, one hope of cure is provided by lung transplantation, even though disappointing results with disease recurrence on the grafts have been reported. The lack of large studies including only pure BAC gives a place for future biological and clinical research on this cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid provides a crucial tool for investigation of the cellular component of the deep lung spaces and hence to approach the alloreactive response following lung transplantation. This study investigated whether BAL cell profiles can assist for the diagnosis of certain postoperative complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of both transbronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage materials in a series of 26 consecutive lung transplant recipients (LTR) in relationship with their clinical status at the time of the procedure. BAL fluid was subjected to cell morphology as well as flow cytometric phenotypic analyses. The samples were labeled as follows: normal transplant in clinically stable and healthy recipients, n=58; acute rejection (AR), n=58; infection (INF), n=31; and obliterative bronchiolitis/bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (OB/BOS) n=27. Results: Total BAL cell counts were the highest in INF. Lymphocytic alveolitis was suggestive of both acute allograft rejection and CMV viral infection, with a combined significant increased HLA-DR positive cells in AR. Alveolar neutrophilia with an increased CD4/CD8 ratio was correlated with the diagnosis of OB. The neutrophil percentages, HLA-DR and CD57 positive cells were significantly higher when an infection was present. Conclusion: These findings suggest that BAL cell analysis could give complementary information of histological data and further insight into immunologic events after lung allograft. A longitudinal surveillance of BAL cell profiles in an individual patient may be suggestive for a preclinical state of posttransplant acute rejection, bacterial infection and obliterative bronchiolitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The choice of the colon as an oesophageal substitute results primarily from the unavailability of the stomach. However, given its durability and function, colon interposition keeps elective indications in patients with benign or malignant oesophageal disease who are potential candidates for long survival. The choice of the colonic portion used for oesophageal reconstruction depends on the required length of the graft, and the encountered colonic vascular anatomy, the last being characterised by the near-invariability of the left colonic vessels, in contrast to the vascular pattern of the right side of the colon. Accordingly, the transverse colon with all or part of the ascending colon is the substitute of choice, positioned in the isoperistaltic direction, and supplied either from the left colic vessels for long grafts or middle colic vessels for shorter grafts. Technical key points are: full mobilisation of the entire colon, identification of the main colonic vessels and collaterals, and a prolonged clamping test to ensure the permeability of the chosen nourishing pedicle. Transposition through the posterior mediastinum in the oesophageal bed is the shortest one and thereby offers the best functional results. When the oesophageal bed is not available, the retrosternal route is the preferred alternative option. The food bolus travelling mainly by gravity makes straightness of the conduit of paramount importance. The proximal anastomosis is a single-layer hand-fashioned end-to-end anastomosis to prevent narrowing. When the stomach is available, the distal anastomosis is best performed at the posterior part of the antrum for the reasons of pedicle positioning and reflux prevention, and a gastric drainage procedure is added when the oesophagus and vagus nerves have been removed. In the other cases, a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop is preferable to prevent bile reflux into the colon. Additional procedures include re-establishment of the colonic continuity, a careful closure of the mesentery to avoid a further internal hernia, and routine appendectomy. When applying these technical aids, the chances of achieving a viable and well-functioning colon graft are excellent.

Objective: Some patients with localised oesophageal cancer are treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) rather than surgery. A subset of these patients experiences local failure, relapse or treatment-related complication without distant metastases, with no other curative treatment option but salvage oesophagectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the benefit/risk ratio of surgery in such context., Methods: Review of a single institution experience with 24 patients: 18 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 59 years (+/-9). Histology was squamous cell carcinoma in 18 cases and adenocarcinoma in 6. Initial stages were cIIA (n=5), cIIB (n=1) and cIII (n=18). CRT consisted of 2-6 sessions of the association 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin concomitantly with a 50-75 Gy radiation therapy. Salvage oesophagectomy was considered for the following reasons: relapse of the disease with conclusive (n=11) or inconclusive biopsies (n=7), intractable stenosis (n=3), and perforation or severe oesophagitis (n=3), at a mean delay of 74 days (14-240 days) following completion of CRT., Results: All patients underwent a transthoracic en-bloc oesophagectomy with 2-field lymphadenectomy. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality rates were 21% and 25%, respectively. Anastomotic leakage (p=0.05), cardiac failure (p=0.05), length of stay (p=0.03) and the number of packed red blood cells (p=0.02) were more frequent in patients who received more than 55 Gy, leading to a doubled in-hospital mortality when compared to that of patients having received lower doses. A R0 resection was achieved in 21 patients (87.5%). A complete pathological response (ypT0N0) was observed in 3 patients (12.5%). Overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates were 35% and 21%, respectively. There was no long-term survivor following R1-R2 resections. Functional results were good in more than 80% of the long-term survivors., Conclusion: Salvage surgery is a highly invasive and morbid operation after a volume dose of radiation exceeding 55 Gy. The indication must be carefully considered, with care taken to avoid incomplete resections. Given that long-term survival with a fair quality of life can be achieved, such high-risk surgery should be considered in selected patients at an experienced centre.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical relevance of preoperative airway colonisation in patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer after a neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy., Methods: From 1998 to 2005, 117 patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for advanced stage oesophageal cancer. Among them, 45 non-randomised patients underwent a bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL group) prior to surgery to assess airways colonisation. The remaining patients (n=72) constituted the control group. The two groups were similar with respect to various clinical or pathological characteristics., Results: Thirteen of the 45 BAL patients (28%) had a preoperative bronchial colonisation by either potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (PPMs) (n=7, 16%) or non-potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (n=6, 13%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was cultured from BAL in four patients. Pre-emptive therapy was administrated in seven patients: four antiviral and three antibiotic prophylaxes. Postoperatively, 14 patients (19%) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the control group and three (7%) in the BAL group (p=0.064). The cause of ARDS was attributed to CMV pneumonia in six control group patients on the basis of the results of open lung biopsies (n=3) or BAL cultures (n=3) versus none of the BAL group patients (p=0.08). Timing for extubation was shorter in the BAL group (mean 13+/-3 h) as compared with the control group (mean 19.5+/-14 h; p=0.039). In-hospital mortality was not significantly lower in BAL group patients when compared to that of control group patients (8% vs 12.5%)., Conclusions: Airway colonisation by PPMs after neoadjuvant therapy is suggested as a possible cause of postoperative ARDS after oesophagectomy. Pre-emptive treatment of bacterial and viral (CMV) colonisation seems an effective option to prevent postoperative pneumonia.

Background: Long-term outcome of patients treated for a spontaneous esophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome) is seldom reported., Methods: From 1989 to 2004, 62 esophageal perforations were treated in a single institution. Eighteen patients presented with a spontaneous esophageal rupture. Among them, 15 could be treated with a transthoracic primary repair and constituted the material of the present study. A chart review was performed with special attention to survival, residual symptoms, and anatomic and motility disorders., Results: Three patients died postoperatively (20%). At last follow-up, 10 patients were alive and 2 had died from unrelated causes. At a median delay of 13 months (3 to 74), 7 patients accepted to undergo complementary investigations. None of them had any anatomic abnormality as checked by barium swallow. Six patients complained of mild symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux. Six patients (85%) presented with esophageal motility disorders on manometry and 4 (54%) had nocturne chronic reflux disease on pH monitoring. Two patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography, of which one presented with a focal absence of one layer of the esophageal wall within the area of the suture. With time, no patient experienced recurrence, but one developed a cancer in the cervical esophagus., Conclusions: These results suggest that esophageal functional disorders are the rule after primary repair of a Boerhaave's syndrome. Whether or not these findings are causal, coincidental, or related to the surgical treatment remains unclear. However, performance of routine postoperative explorations is strongly encouraged for a better understanding of this challenging condition.