title: Pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the mortality, complications and major morbidity of pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to establish the importance of various prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed retrospectively the hospital records of 71 consecutive patients who underwent pneumonectomy for NSCLC between 1992 and 2007 to evaluate the significance of risk factors for an adverse outcome. Patients were divided into two period groups according to the period when they were treated: early (1992-1999; n = 47) and late (2000-2007; n = 24).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the 30-day and the in-hospital mortality rates were 4.2 % (3/71). Complications developed in 31.3 % (22/71) and overall 5-year survival was 23.1 %. Pathological stage III or more, T3 or more, and N2 or more were risk factors of an adverse outcome. Survival was not significantly influenced by histological type, the side of surgery, or curability. The 5-year survival rates for the early and late periods were 19.6 and 32.9 %, respectively. There were more patients with clinical N2 or 3 disease in the early period than in the late period (66.0 vs. 33.3 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumonectomy is associated with acceptable overall morbidity and mortality; however, patients with pathological stage III or more, T3 or more, and N2 or more disease require special consideration. Pneumonectomy should be performed only in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan. y-ichiki@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichiki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chikaishi
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies