Long-term results of sleeve lobectomy with continuous suture technique in non-small cell lung cancer

Background: This study aims to investigate the operation-related complications, recurrence frequency, morbidity, mortality and survival rates as well as variables effective on survival of patients undergoing bronchial sleeve lobectomy due to primary non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: A total of 85 patients ( 80 males, 5 females; mean age 59.9±8.4 years; range, 35 to 77 years) of bronchial sleeve lobectomy operated with the same surgical technique by the same team in our clinic between May 2007 and November 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Survival and 30- and 90-day mortality rates were analyzed. Variables effective on survival rate were evaluated statistically. Complications related to bronchial anastomosis and the frequency of local recurrence in postoperative period were investigated.

Results: Twenty-five patients (29.4%) received neoadjuvant therapy and two of these patients (8%) developed complication in the anastomosis line. Local recurrence rate in the postoperative follow-up was 16.5%. Mean duration of follow-up was 35±29.9 months, median survival was 65.2 months, and five-year survival rate was 50.9%. Thirty- and 90-day mortality rates were 1.2% and 2.4%, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients with larger tumors, N2 disease, or those who underwent extended surgery had statistically significantly worse survival rates (p=0.001, p=0.002, and p=0.0001, respectively). In the Cox regression analysis, variables effective on survival were presence of extended surgery and node status (p=0.03 and p=0.012, respectively).

Conclusion: Sleeve lobectomy can be achieved with acceptable anastomotic complications, good survival and low mortality rates using continuous suture technique. When performed due to oncological reasons, its long-term results are not different from pneumonectomy.