Simultaneous operation for cardiac disease and lung cancer

Concomitant lesions of the heart and lung have been increasing and the issue of performing simultaneous pulmonary resection and cardiac surgery remains controversial. We report a retrospective study of 11 patients (ten male, one female) who underwent simultaneous lung resection and cardiac operation. In all cases the lung resection was performed before heparinization and cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients were discharged in 10 days. We did not have postoperative complications. Follow up mean was 41.2 months/patients. A combined procedure, when possible, avoids other thoracic procedure, permits to improve outcomes and provides economic benefit.