[Treatment of central-type lung cancer with intrapericardial pneumonectomy]

To summarize the clinical results of intrapericardial ligation of pulmonary vessels in the treatment of central-type lung cancer.

Retrospective study was employed in this study.

From 1978 to 1997, 91 patients with central-type lung cancer underwent pneumonectomy by dealing with major pulmonary vessels inside the pericardium. The 1-, 3-, 5-year surival rates were 79. 0%, 37. 3%, 23. 8% respectively. Indications, operative techniques, complications and prognostic factors were discussed in this paper.

Pneumonectomy with intrapericardial management of the pulmonary vessels is a safe and reliable procedure, which increases resection rate of lung cancer and improves the survival of patients with lung cancer . The prognostic factors for this technique are TNM staging , pathological types, resection site, postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.