Background: Resection of lung metastases with curative intention in selected patients is associated with prolonged survival. Laser-assisted resection of lung metastases results in complete resection of a high number of lung metastases, while preserving lung parenchyma. However, data concerning laser lung resections are scarce and contradictory. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the utility of laser-assisted pulmonary metastasectomy.
Methods: An electronic search in MEDLINE (via PubMed), complemented by manual searches in article references, was conducted to identify eligible studies.
Results: Fourteen studies with a total of 1196 patients were included in this metanalysis. Laser-assisted surgery (LAS) for lung metastases is a safe procedure with a postoperative morbidity up to 24.2% and almost zero mortality. LAS resulted in the resection of a high number of lung metastases with reduction of the lung parenchyma loss in comparison with conventional resection methods. Survival was similar between LAS and conventional resections.
Conclusion: LAS allows radical lung-parenchyma saving resection of a high number of lung metastases with similar survival to conventional methods.
Keywords: laser; laser-assisted; lung metastases; metastases; morbidity; postoperative complications; pulmonary metastasectomy.