Permanent cerebral bypass approach for lung cancer resection with aortic arch invasion

Major vascular reconstructions in thoracic oncological surgery

The replacement of the superior vena cava and thoracic outlet vessels for thoracic malignancies often becomes necessary for radical oncological surgery. The pulmonary artery can be directly infiltrated by the tumor or affected by metastatic hilar lymph nodes. In some cases, it must be resected and reconstructed to achieve oncological radicality and/or avoid pneumonectomy. This study reflects a single-surgeon, retrospective experience spanning 6 years (2017-2023). We reviewed data from patients undergoing early anticoagulant therapy after superior vena cava or thoracic outlet vessels bypass and from patients undergoing early antiaggregation therapy following pulmonary artery reconstruction or resection. This series comprises 41 patients treated by a single surgeon. Fourteen patients underwent superior vena cava and thoracic outlet vessel procedures. Among these, eight patients received superior vena cava replacement (six for thymic malignancies and two for lung cancer), and six patients underwent jugular and subclavian artery/vein resection or replacement (all six had sarcomas). There was one death due to respiratory failure, not associated with bleeding or bypass closure. Additionally, there was one graft closure in a patient with severe coagulopathy and three instances of hemothorax (two patients had undiagnosed complex coagulopathies not evident in pre-operative routine blood tests). Following bleeding incidents, anticoagulation was initiated the next day in one case and based on hematological indications in the two coagulopathic patients. In the pulmonary artery series, 27 patients were involved: 20 underwent direct suture after tangential resection, and 7 received pericardial patch reconstruction. Only one case experienced bleeding necessitating redo-surgery. All these patients received early and chronic antiaggregation therapy after pulmonary artery reconstruction. We conclude that major thoracic oncological vascular surgery is safe and feasible with appropriate technical skills. However, achieving optimal results requires integration with correct early anticoagulant therapy or antiaggregation to maintain the patency of bypasses/grafts and prevent life-threatening risks associated with closure of the "new vessels."

Evaluating vertebral artery dominancy before T4 lung cancer surgery requiring subclavian artery reconstruction

PURPOSES

To evaluate vertebral artery (VA) dominancy and the risk of brain infarction in T4 lung cancer patients with tumor invasion into the subclavian artery.

METHODS

We reconstructed the subclavian artery in 10 patients with T4 non-small cell lung cancer. The histological stages were IIIA in eight patients and IIIB in two patients. We evaluated the VA dominancy by performing a four-vessel study preoperatively and investigated the relationship between the methods of VA treatment and postoperative brain complications, retrospectively.

RESULTS

Seven patients had a superior sulcus tumor (SST) and three had direct invasion into the mediastinum. Based on the tumor location, a transmanublial approach was used in five patients and a posterolateral hook incision was used in the other five. All subclavian artery (SA) reconstructions were done using an artificial woven graft. Preoperative angiography of the VA revealed poor development of the contralateral side in two patients. One of these patients suffered a severe brain infarction on postoperative day 2, which proved fatal. In the other patient, the VA was connected to the left SA graft by a side-to-end anastomosis and there was no postoperative brain complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative SA and VA angiography is mandatory for identifying the need for VA reconstruction in lung cancer patients with major arterial invasion.

[pT4 non-small cell lung cancer: Surgical characteristics in present practice]

INTRODUCTION

pT4 is a group of miscellaneous tumors: our goal was to revisit their surgical reality.

METHODS

The different characteristics and prognostic factors of lung pT4 (n=403) were analysed according to three subgroups: G1 - by direct extension; G2 - by nodule in other ipsilateral lobe; G3 - because of both.

RESULTS

There were 332 males and 71 females mean aged 61.5 years. Surgery [exploratory: 89 (22.1 %), lobectomy: 149 (37 %), pneumonectomy: 169 (41.9 %)] was followed by 26 postoperative deaths (6.5 %), 82 complications (20.3 %) and concerned few pN0 (47.6 %). G1 (n=196) and G3 (n=53) were not different. By comparison with them, G2 (n=53) were mainly females (24\13 %), with less explorative thoracotomy (2.6\34 %), more complete R0 resections (77\29 %), less pneumonectomy (31\47 %), more small sized tumors (mean: 37\57 mm), more adenocarcinoma (67\32 %), more N0 tumors (48\31.7 %) and stages IIIA disease (46.7\56 %). G2 5-year survival rates were higher (G2: 22 %; G1: 13 %; G3: 15 %); G1 rates depended of the invaded structure (20.9 % for the vertebra down to 0 % for the esophagus and carina). pN2 rates were not very high but not different between groups (G1: 13.6 %; G2: 15.6 %; G3: 14.3 %; P=0.52). Multivariate analysis demonstrated completeness and type of resection, stage and age as independent factors of prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Surgery for pT4 is justified provided rigorous selection of extension forms. However, assimilating extension and ipsilateral lobe nodule in a same group does not obey to surgical reality.