Completion Pneumonectomy: Indications, Complications, and Results

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 141 - 146
• Main Authors: McGovern, Eilis M., Trastek, Victor F., Pairolero, Peter C., Payne, W. Spencer
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-08-1988; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Actuarial Analysis; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases - mortality; Lung Diseases - surgery; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pneumonectomy - mortality; Postoperative Complications - mortality; Reoperation; Risk Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the respiratory system; Human; Prognosis; Respiratory disease; Indication; Surgery; Mortality; Lung; Pneumectomy; Morbidity
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(10)65886-9

From 1958 through 1985, a total of 113 consecutive patients had completion pneumonectomy (CP). Indications for pulmonary resection resulting in CP were lung cancer (LC) in 64 patients, pulmonary metastases (PM) in 20, and benign lung disease (BLD) in 29. Operative mortality was 12.4% (14 deaths) but varied according to the indication for CP. Mortality was 9.4% for LC, 0% for PM, and 27.6% for BLD. Forty-three patients (38.1%) had major complications (26 of 64 with LC, 40.6%; 1 of 20 with PM, 5.0%; and 16 of 29 with BLD, 55.2%). Five-year actuarial survival for patients with LC was 26.4% but varied according to stage. Five-year survival for patients with PM was 40.8% and with BLD was 27.2%. We conclude that CP for BLD carries marked operative mortality and morbidity, usually due to intense reaction around hilar structures and concurrent active infection or fistula. In contrast, CP for LC and PM can be performed with low mortality, acceptable morbidity, and gratifying long-term survival.