When is a patient high risk for resection? A changing paradigm with minimally invasive lung surgery.

Abstract

e20059 Background: The predicted post-operative forced expiratory volume after 1 second (FEV1) and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) are predictors of postoperative complications and survival. Despite the benefits of minimally invasive surgery in patients with marginal lung function current practice guidelines advocates non-surgical approach for treatment from evidence derived from patients undergoing thoracotomy. It is necessary to define what should be minimum acceptable lung function for resection in the era of minimally invasive surgery. Methods: Single institution retrospective study of 61 patients with pre-operative predicted FEV1 and DLCO < 60% that underwent lung resection for pulmonary lung nodules suspected to be malignant between January 2017 to June 2018. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected and the 30-day or in-hospital morbidity and mortality were assessed. Results: 28 (46%) patients with pre-operative predicted FEV1 < 60% and 33 (54%) with DLCO < 60% were reviewed. 10 patients had both FEV1 and DLCO < 60%. There were 12 patients (28% in FEV1, 12% in DLCO group) who had < 40% of pre-operative predicted values. 15 (65%) of FEV1 group and 15 (45%) of DLCO group had anatomic lung resections with either a lobectomy or a segmentectomy. 24 (39%) of cases were done robotically and the remaining with VATS. 80% of patients had cancer in their final pathology. Patients were 68± 7 years old, 34 (56%) were male. Significant baseline clinical findings include high incidence of smoking (82% in FEV1, 97% in DLCO group), HTN (71% in FEV1, 81% in DLCO group), COPD (61% in FEV1, 48% in DLCO group), CAD (25% in FEV1, 30% in DLCO group), and a total of 2 patients suffered previous CVD. Most common complications included persistent air leak > 5 days (21% in FEV1 and DLCO group) and arrhythmia (14% in FEV1, 15% in DLCO group). Of those with an air leak, 50% in the FEV1 group and 29% in the DLCO group had predicted values < 40%. Three patients developed pneumothorax post chest tube removal necessitating chest tube replacement, all of whom had predicted values < 40%. One patient developed acute DVT and PE and another patient required mechanical ventilation for > 48 hours. There were no 30-day mortalities. Conclusions: Lung resection using minimally invasive technique had low rates of 30-day morbidity in patients with reduced pulmonary function. Majority of complications observed were minor. Minimally invasive lung resection is possible and may be extended to selected patients with pre-operative predicted DLCO or FEV1 < 40% suspected of malignancy.