Analysis of Pneumonectomy for Benign Disease: A Single Institution Retrospective Study on 59 Patients.

Introduction: Pneumonectomy is the only curative treatment for some benign diseases but the operation is a challenging procedure. Herein, we present our experiences of pneumonectomy for 59 patients.
Methods: The medical records of 59 patients who undergone pneumonectomy for benign lung diseases from 2008 to 2013 at the Division of Thoracic Surgery in Beijing Chest Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: There were 23 male and 36 female patients. Three procedures including pneumonectomy, pleuropneumonectomy and completion pneumonectomy were used. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were statistically different in the patients who undergone different operations. The operative time of the patients with and without tuberculosis had no difference but the intraoperative blood loss was more in the patients with tuberculosis (P = 0.035). The operative type, age and operative blood loss were relevant with the morbidity, the P value were 0.024, 0.042 and 0.027 respectively.
Conclusions: Pneumonectomy for patients with benign disease may be more difficult than for patients with lung cancer, mean while pleuropneumonectomy and completion pneumonectomy may be greater challenges. But with careful patient selection and operative technique, it is a satisfactory treatment method for benign lung disease. The morbidity is acceptable and associated with operative type, age and operative blood loss.