Bronchoplastic procedures for lung cancer: clinical study in 136 patients

Between 1969 and 1991 a total of 136 patients (119 men, 17 women) underwent bronchoplastic procedures for lung cancer. A bronchoplastic procedure with angioplasty was performed in 37 patients. Ages ranged from 30 to 79 years (mean 62 years). The histologic type of cancer was squamous cell carcinoma in 97 patients (70.0%). The 30-day mortality was 5.1% (7 patients), and morbidity was 30.1% (41 patients). The most common complications were bronchopleural fistula in nine (6.6%), stricture or stenosis in eight (5.9%) and atelectasis in eight patients. Local recurrence occurred in nine (6.6%) patients. The overall 5-year survival for patients undergoing bronchoplastic procedures was 37.1%: 60.1% for patients with stage I disease (n = 41), 31.7% for stage II (n = 17), and 29.7% for stage IIIA (n = 66). We conclude that bronchoplastic procedures are effective therapy for selected patients with lung cancer.