[Carinal resection for lung cancer]

Between January 1993 and March 2000, 16 patients underwent carinal resection for lung cancer; primary carcinoma in 15 patients and recurrent disease in 1. Age ranged from 41 to 74 years old, and the mean age was 58 years. Sleeve pneumonectomy was performed in 8 patients, right upper sleeve lobectomy in 7, and only carinal resection for the recurrent lesion in 1 patient. Combined resection of the aorta was performed in 2 patients, superior vena cava, in 5, left atrium and esophageal wall, in 1, and panpleura, in 1. The 30-day mortality rate was 25.0% (4/16) and the morbidity rate was 50% (8/16). The causes of death were pneumonia, airway bleeding without vascular fistula, brain edema and acute cardiac failure. Anastomotic complication including tracheo-pulmonary vascular fistula and stricture occurred in 2 patients. The 5-year survival rate was 23%.