Anatomical pulmonary resections for primary lung cancer in octogenarians within a dedicated care protocol

Preoperative frailty screening in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer surgery: an essential step for a good surgical outcome

INTRODUCTION

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a disease commonly diagnosed in the elderly, often in advanced stages. However, elderly patients with lung cancer can benefit from surgery, provided that postoperative risks are assessed appropriately before surgery. Frailty is a measure of age-related impaired functional status and a predictor of mortality and morbidity. However, its importance as a preoperative marker is not well defined.

AREAS COVERED

This systematic review discusses the importance of preoperative frailty screening in elderly patients with NSCLC. A literature search was performed on the MEDLINE database in June 2023, and relevant studies on frailty or preoperative assessment of NSCLC which were published between 2000 and 2023 were retained and discussed in this review.

EXPERT OPINION

Among the types of existing methods used to assess frailty those on the geriatric assessment seem to be the most appropriate; however, they are unable to fully capture the 'surgical' frailty; thus, other instruments should be developed and validated in NSCLC.

Long-term Functional Outcomes Among Older Adults Undergoing Video-assisted Versus Open Surgery for Lung Cancer: A Population-based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the long-term healthcare dependency outcomes of older adults undergoing VATS compared to open lung cancer resection.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Although the benefits of VATS for lung cancer resection have been reported, there is a knowledge gap related to long-term functional outcomes central to decision-making for older adults.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective comparative cohort study of patients ≥70 years old undergoing lung cancer resection between 2010 and 2017 using linked administrative health databases. VATS was compared to open surgery for lung cancer resection. Outcomes were receipt of homecare and high time-at-home, defined as <14 institution-days within 1 year, in 5 years after surgery. We used time-to-event analyses. Homecare was analyzed as recurrent dichotomous outcome with Andersen-Gill multivariable models, and high time-at-home with Cox multivariable models.

RESULTS

Of 4974 patients, 2951 had VATS (59.3%). In the first three months postoperatively, homecare use ranged from 17.5% to 34.4% for VATS and 23.0% to 36.6% for open surgery. VATS was independently associated with lower need for postoperative homecare over 5 years (hazard ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.92). 1- and 5-year probability of high "time-at-home" were superior for VATS (74.4% vs 66.7% and 55.6% vs 45.4%, p < 0.001). VATS was independently associated with higher probability of high "time-at-home" (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.89) compared to open surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to open surgery, VATS was associated with lower homecare needs and higher probability of high "time-at-home," indicating reduced long-term functional dependence. Those important patient-centered endpoints reflect the overall long-term treatment burden on mortality and morbidity that can inform surgical decision-making.

Risks and rewards of the surgical treatment of lung cancer in octogenarians

OBJECTIVES

Surgeons will face an increasing number of octogenarians with lung cancer potentially curable by surgery. The goal of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes after lung resection.

METHODS

We performed a single-centre study of consecutive patients ≥80 years old, surgically treated for suspected lung cancer between 2009 and 2016. Age, sex, performance status, lung function, surgical approach, type of lung resection, complications, in-hospital and 30- and 90-day deaths and long-term survival were analysed.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty-seven patients were enrolled. The median age was 82 years (range 80-97). One hundred and thirty-four patients were treated by thoracotomy and 123 by video-assisted thoracic surgery [10 (8.1%) converted]. Two hundred and thirty-two underwent lobar resection and 25 underwent sublobar resection. There were no intraoperative deaths and 9 admissions to the intensive therapy unit; 112 (43.6%) patients suffered complications: More complications occurred after lobar versus after sublobar resections [45.7% vs 24% (P = 0.037)] and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [57.4% vs 40% (P = 0.02)]. The 30-day mortality was 3.9% (n = 10) and the 90-day mortality was 6.22% (n = 16). One hundred and sixty-seven patients died during the study period; patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 233) had a median survival of 46.5 months with 67.2% alive at 2 years and 40.8% at 5 years. Pathological stage and R status were independent prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery for malignancies in octogenarians is feasible and safe with good long-term outcomes. The risk of postoperative complications, especially in those with COPD, is high but can be minimized with sublobar resection. Postoperative mortality is acceptable, and long-term survival is primarily governed by lung cancer stage. Age is no reason to deny patients surgery for early-stage disease.

Lobectomy versus sublobar resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review

Surgery is the gold standard treatment of lung cancer. The minimally invasive technique does not only concern access to the chest but also the limits of parenchymal resection. The study debates on the safety and oncological adequacy of sublobar resections in bronchogenic carcinoma patients. A systematic analysis of the data in the literature was carried out, comparing the outcomes of patients with resectable non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection. These last interventions include both segmentectomies and wedge resections taking into consideration the following parameters: complications, relapse rate and overall survival. The complication rate is higher in patients underwent lobectomy compared to sublobar resection, especially in presence of high comorbidity index or octogenarian patients (overall values respectively between 0 and 48% and 0 and 46.6%). Contrarily, the relapse rate (6.2% to 32% vs. 3.6% to 53.4%) and overall survival (50.2% to 93.8% vs. 38.6% to 100%) are more favorable in patients undergoing lobectomy. Sublobar resections are particularly indicated in elderly patients and in patients with high comorbidity index or reduced respiratory functional reserve. However, pulmonary lobectomy still remains the safest and oncologically correct method in patients with good performance status or higher risk of recurrence.

[Short-term results of video-assisted lung cancer surgery in octogenarians]

INTRODUCTION

Due to an increase in life expectancy, onco-pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons are more frequently faced with octogenarian patients with lung cancer. In this age group, treatment modalities may need to be revised because of the increasing presence of comorbidities. Surgery remains the reference treatment for early stage disease, but mortality rates and postoperative complications are higher in this group of patients. One of the solutions to reduce the operative risk would be to develop videoassisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resection surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of this form of lung cancer surgery in octogenarians.

METHODS

All patients 80 years old or more who underwent videoassisted lung cancer surgery from 2014 to 2018 at Lyon University Hospital were included. Wedge resections and diagnostic procedures were excluded.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (13 men, 6 women) were included. The median age was 82 years old. All patients had undergone videoassisted lobectomy. Three patients required conversion to thoracotomy (15.8%). All patients underwent complete resection (R0). One patient had N1 lymph node involvement, all others were N0. The postoperative complication rate was 68.4%, the majority of which were grade II of the Clavien classification. Perioperative mortality was 5.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Videoassisted lung cancer resection in a selected population of octogenarians is associated with satisfactory short-term results. It is reasonable to favour minimally invasive techniques in this population, even if the proof of their superiority has not yet been firmly established.