Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction Using Autologous Pericardium or Azygos Venae Substitute for Surgical Treatment of Central Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

We evaluated the clinico-surgical significance of pulmonary artery (PA) reconstruction using a patch of autologous pericardium/azygos venae substitute to treat central non-small cell lung cancer in 62 patients with pulmonary arteries invaded by tumor. According to TNM-classification, four patients were stage IIb, 46 were stage IIIa, and 12 were stage IIIb. Depending on tumor infiltration, surgical procedures included partial PA tangential resections/reconstructions by a patch of autologous azygos venae, a patch of autologous pericardium and complete PA sleeve resection and reconstruction by a custom-made autologous pericardial conduit interposition. 47 patients received postoperative chemotherapy and 19 received radiotherapy. There were 2 (3.2%) postoperative early deaths due to bronchial anastomotic leakage. Postoperative complications occurred in 17.7% (11/62) patients and all recovered uneventfully. Mean follow-up time after surgical resection was 49.5 (6-12) months and overall ≤1-, 3-, 5-, and ≥10-year survival rates were 80.2, 44.7, 31.4, and 23.1%, respectively. It was concluded that autologous pericardial patch and azygos vein patch reconstruction of PA were safe and effective. Regarding extended circumferential defects after sleeve resection in which end-to-end anastomosis is not feasible, autologous pericardial conduit interposition may be useful for reconstruction when a tumor extensively infiltrates full circumference of the PA.