[Lobectomies enlarged to the main bronchus in the conservative treatment of lung carcinoma. Apropos of 75 cases]

Abstract

From february 1965 to march 1990, 70 squamous cell carcinomas, 3 adenocarcinomas and 2 undifferentiated lung cancer were operated by lobectomy extended to the main bronchus: 44 right upper lobectomies, 22 left upper lobectomies, 5 left lower lobectomies, 2 right lower lobectomies, 1 middle lobectomy and one lower and middle bilobectomy. Respiratory function prevented pneumonectomy in 1 out of 3 patients. The postoperative mortality related to surgery (2.7%) has been eliminated since the introduction of systematic protection of the pulmonary artery from the bronchial suture (1976). The sutures are performed with very fine suture material. Endoscopic follow-up is essential: 11 cases of suture granuloma (1 laser) and 4 cases of fibrotic stenoses, including 1 post-irradiation stenosis (2 lasers). Fifty-three patients were N0 (28 T1, 22 T2, 3 T3) and 22 were T+ (including 4 N2). The actuarial survival for the N0 was 91% at 1 year and 60% at 5 years and decreased to 63% and 40% for N+. Eighty-three percent of the late cancer-related deaths had metastatic disease. Lobectomies extended to the main bronchus do not appear to compromise the oncological value of the resection and they offer the possibility of resection in some respiratory failure patients.