Early and Late Outcome, Mortality and Major Morbidity After Lung Cancer Surgery for Primary Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Radical surgical resection of lung cancer with or without adjuvant treatment is still a prerequisitefor cure. Advances in operative and postoperative care led to a decline in complications and mortality rates during the last decades. In spite of different additional modes of treatment, survival is still poor. The aim of study: To examine the operative mortality and morbidity after lung cancer surgery and to identify factors associated with an adverse outcome. Material and methods: The study comprised 968 consecutive patients referred to University Hospital of Lung Disease, “Shefqet Ndroqi” Tirana, Albania, for lung carcinoma, during a 13-years period (January 2004-December 2017). All patients underwent routine laboratory examinations spirometry and preoperative CT- scan of the thorax and upper abdomen. PET-CT, EBUS–EUS, Mediastinotomy or Mediastinoscopy wasn’t performed as routine. Results: Of 968 patients, 690 (70.5%) were male and 278 (28.7%) female. Mean age 65.5±9.4 years (range 15 - 87 years). Lobectomy was the most used surgical modality in 566 (58.5%) patients, meanwhile pneumonectomy was performed in 112 (11.6%) of patients. Minor complications during surgery occurred in 45 (11.7%) ofpatients. Continuous air leakage was the most complication after surgery in 25.3%, followed by lung atelectasis in 21.3% and cardiovascular complications in 17%. Conclusion: our results show low mortality and morbidity after lung cancer surgery. However, patients with reduced lung capacity, older age and those undergoing pneumonectomy should be treated with great care.

Keywords

• outcome
• complications
• lung cancer
• thoracic surgery