Objective: To summarize 210 cases of lung cancer that underwent pneumonectomy,and to study the therapy value of pneumonectomy for lung cancer.
Methods: Between January 1993 and December 2004,210 patients (169 males and 41 females) with lung cancer underwent pneumonectomy in our hospital with the mean age of 54.77 years. Out of the 210 cases 144 had left pneumonectomy, and 66 had right pneumonectomy. Among them, 26 experienced intrapericardial pneumonectomy,1 inferior vena cava reconstruction, and 1 carina reconstruction. All bronchial stumps were closed by manual suture,and systemic node dissection was performed routinely.
Results: No one died during the operation, but 59 patients (28.10%) experienced postoperative complications and 9 patients (4.28%) died within 30 days of operation. After exclusion of postoperative deaths, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 66.21%,36.13% and 24.26%, respectively. Only 1 out of the 12 patients with small cell carcinoma survived more than 3 years.
Conclusion: Mortality and morbidity were high in pneumonectomy.If we carefully and properly select the patients, enhance postoperative monitoring and perioperative treatment, and combine with chemo-and/or radiotherapy,pneumonectomy will surely be effective for patients with lung cancer.