Perioperative pneumoperitoneum after lobectomy -- bilobectomy operations for lung cancer: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to identify the effectiveness of perioperative pneumoperitoneum to prevent air leak after the lobectomy-bilobectomy operations for lung cancer.


METHODS
A prospective study was designed on consecutive 50 patients who had lobectomy-bilobectomy operations for lung cancer and whose remnant lung had failed to fill the half of the hemithoracic cavity under 30 cm H(2)O positive pressure ventilation during the operation with totally relaxed diaphragm. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (25 patients) with perioperative pneumoperitoneum, group 2 (25 patients) without perioperative pneumoperitoneum.


RESULTS
The statistical analysis between the two groups did not show any significant difference in terms of age, preoperative FEV1, and the type of resection. Perioperative pneumoperitoneum significantly reduced the duration of postoperative air leak (2.2 +/- 1.15 days vs. 6.04 +/- 3.27 days p < 0.0001) and total chest tube drainage time (3.84 +/- 0.98 days vs. 7.88 +/- 3.16 days p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative pneumoperitoneum after lobectomy-bilobectomy operations for lung cancer is an effective method to decrease air leak and chest tube drainage time.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey. aetoker@superonline.com
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Toker
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Dilege
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Tanju
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Kiyan
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Kalayci
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey