Completion pneumonectomy for lung cancer

Completion pneumonectomy is a trully challenging operation associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to present a series of 18 patients who underwent completion pneumonectomy for lung cancer during a 15-year period and to evaluate the postoperative outcomes and long-term results.

Between January 1985 and December 2000,18 patients underwent completion pneumonectomy for lung cancer; 10 for local recurrence ,6 for second primary lung tumor and 2 for lung tumors in patients who had previously been operated on for benign disease.

No intraoperative deaths occurred. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were 11.11% and 33.33%, respectively. The median operational time was 212.7 minutes. The mean blood loss during the procedure was 1.042,5 ml. The complication rate was 33.33%. The 5-year survival was 18.75% for all patients. The 5-year survival was 25% for the local recurrence group and 50% for the primary lung cancer group. The 5-year survival of the patients in the second primary tumor group has not been reached yet.

Completion pneumonectomy can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality rate and offers a second chance for cure to patients with lung cancer. Although complications are common ,they can successfully be managed with proper understanding of them.