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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome
Published on: January 23, 2026
Long-term surgical outcome in patients with lung cancer and coexisting severe COPD
T Nakajima1, Y Sekine, Y Yamada
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Background:
The functional criteria for curative surgery for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain controversial. We aimed to clarify long-term outcomes after resection.
Methods:
Between January 1990 and April 2005, 36 consecutive patients with NSCLC and severe COPD underwent pulmonary resection. All had severe (30-50 % pred FEV1) or very severe COPD (30 % > pred FEV1) preoperatively. Survival, short- and long-term complications were analyzed retrospectively. Prognostic factors were also analyzed.
Results:
The 5-year survival rate of these patients was significantly worse than that of patients with better pulmonary function (50 % < pred FEV1) ( P < 0.0001). Patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP) had a significantly poorer prognosis ( P = 0.0099). With regard to long-term complications three months after surgery, 30 % of patients reported worsening of dyspnea, and 20 % experienced pneumonia recurrence. No deaths were related to COPD progression.
Conclusion:
Patients with stage IA NSCLC and severe COPD may undergo curative surgical resection; however, postoperative complications and long-term survival remain unsolved problems. IP is a contraindication for surgery in patients with severe COPD.
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