Resection for tumors with carinal involvement: technical aspects, results, and prognostic factors

Resection of tumors with carinal involvement remains a challenge because of specific problems of operative technique and airway management. We reviewed our experience with carinal resection and studied factors influencing postoperative course and long-term survival.

Between 1983 and 2002, 65 patients underwent a carinal resection for non-small-cell lung cancers involving the carina (54 squamous cell carcinomas and 11 adenocarcinomas).

Fifty-eight right sleeve pneumonectomies and 2 left sleeve pneumonectomies were performed. In addition, five tracheocarinal resections with double bronchial reimplantation (no lung resection) were also performed. The intraoperative airway management consisted of high-frequency jet ventilation in 83% of patients and intermittent conventional ventilation through the operative field in the remaining 17% of patients. Operative mortality was 7.7%. Resection was complete in 61 patients. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 26.5% and 10.6%, respectively. Patients with N0 or N1 disease had a 5-year survival of 38% compared with 5.3% for those with N2 disease (p < 0.01). At multivariate analysis only nodal status (N0, N1 versus N2; p = 0.0046) had a significant impact on long-term survival.

Carinal resection provides acceptable results in terms of operative mortality and long-term survival rates. Patients should be carefully selected and probably enrolled in a multimodality treatment program in case of anticipated mediastinal lymph node involvement.