Completion pneumonectomy: Indications and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer

This retrospective single-center study aims to review the indications and outcomes of completion pneumonectomy after primary resection due to non-small cell lung cancer.

Of a total of 452 patients who underwent pneumonectomy between January 2004 and August 2017 for non-small cell lung cancer, 29 (24 males, 5 females; mean age 59.9±7.1 years; range, 45 to 72 years) were performed completion pneumonectomy. Patients" indications, factors affecting early and late-term outcomes, operative mortality and survival rates were analyzed.

Operative mortality rate was 24.1%, including two intraoperative and five postoperative deaths. Complication rate was 44.8% and the most frequent complication was bronchopleural fistula with 24.1%. Study population was divided into two groups. While elective completion pneumonectomy group (n=19) consisted of recurrent malignant tumor patients, rescue completion pneumonectomy group (n=10) consisted of patients performed urgent pneumonectomy due to a bronchopulmonary complication developing after an anatomic lung resection. The morbidity and mortality rates for elective completion pneumonectomy and rescue completion pneumonectomy were 26.3% and 21.1%; and 70% and 30%, respectively. The morbidity for rescue completion pneumonectomy was significantly higher than elective completion pneumonectomy (p=0.016). Advanced age and presence of any preoperative risk (comorbidity and neoadjuvant treatment) were related to higher operative mortality (p=0.019 and p=0.049, respectively). The median survival after completion pneumonectomy was 19.5 months (95% confidence interval 17.2 to 21.9 months).

The morbidity and mortality rates of completion pneumonectomy are higher than standard pneumonectomy. Rescue completion pneumonectomy is related to higher postoperative risk, but has better survival. The most significant complication after completion pneumonectomy is bronchopleural fistula. Advanced age and presence of any preoperative risk are related to statistically significantly higher mortality in completion pneumonectomy. Nevertheless, completion pneumonectomy is still a significant treatment option in selected patients.