P3-270: An analysis of surgical skills in pleuro-pneumonectomy of lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion

Abstract

To evaluate the surgical skills in pleuro-pneumonectomy of lung cancer with effusion and the effect of the operation, from Jan.1988 to Jan.2003, 21 patients of primary lung cancer with dissemination and malignant pleural effusion were treated chiefly by operation. The surgical procedures included left pleuro-pneumonectomy in 8 and right pleuro-pneumonectomy in 13 patients. The operative skills include plural dissec-tion en bloc, management of big vessel in hilar, paying attention to disposal of dissemination on pericardium, big vessels and diaphragm, etc. All patients recovered postoperatively. There were no severe surgical complications such as bronchopleural fistula, empyema and hemorrhage. Fol-low-up showed that 16 patients have died at 5 to 34 months after the operation. Other patients were still alive at 24 to 29 months. Mid-lifetime was 18 months. Pleuro-pneumonectomy selectively performed in lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion (IIIb) is safe and manipulatable. Improvement of the surgical skills may reduce the perioperative complications, decrease recurrence of the tumor and so gain a better re-sult.