The Simultaneous Bilateral Surgical Procedure for Bilateral Primary Lung Cancer

At present, the incidence of synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (SMPLC) is increasing, and the treatment is still a challenge. This study aims to investigate the appropriate surgical procedure for treating bilateral primary lung cancer simultaneously. A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 32 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral lung cancer surgery in our team. This data included patient characteristics, pulmonary function indicators, surgical procedures, operation duration, chest tube removal time, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Out of the 32 patients, 15 were male, and 17 were female, with an average age of 56.4 ± 8.8 years. The average maximum diameter of the main and minor tumors was 1.8 ± 1.0 cm and 1.0 ± .5 cm, respectively. All surgeries were performed thoracoscopically through intercostal approach. The procedure for the minor tumor was performed first, followed by the main tumor operation after turning over. One case was converted to thoracotomy during the main tumor operation because of bleeding. Postoperative complications occurred in one patient. No instances of respiratory insufficiency or failure were observed after the operation, and there were no perioperative deaths or readmissions within 90 days. Simultaneous bilateral thoracoscopic surgery is deemed a secure and feasible option for eligible patients with bilateral primary lung cancer, and it is advisable to commence the operation on the minor tumor first.