Comparison of pulmonary function between sleeve lobectomy and standard lobectomy

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Anastomotic stenosis after sleeve lobectomy (SL) is not well-defined.
• Postoperative pulmonary function following SL requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare postoperative pulmonary function between SL and standard lobectomy (STL).
• Evaluate the incidence and characteristics of anastomotic stenosis after SL.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 44 SL and 825 STL patients (2012-2023).
• Comparison of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) preservation rates.
• Assessment of lung lobe expansion using 3D-CT scans.
• Calculation of bronchus stenosis rate in SL patients via 3D-CT.

Main Results:

• Lung lobe expansion was significantly lower after SL (119.1%) compared to STL (134.6%).
• FEV1.0 preservation rates did not significantly differ between SL and STL groups.
• The average bronchus stenosis rate in SL was 64.3%, irrespective of resection type.

Conclusions:

• Reduced lung lobe volume distal to the anastomosis after SL does not compromise postoperative pulmonary function.
• Anastomotic stenosis after SL is a notable finding, but its severity is not influenced by the type of bronchoplasty.