Outcomes of pulmonary resection in single-lung patients.
BACKGROUND
After pneumonectomy, the development of a new lung cancer or a recurrence in the residual lung is a challenge. Surgery often is considered contraindicated. The goal of our study is to assess the morbidity and mortality of lung resection on a single lung.


METHODS
All patients who underwent lung resection after pneumonectomy from January 1996 through December 2012 were reviewed.


RESULTS
There were 12 patients (10 men and 2 women). Mean age was 71 years (range, 54-81 years). Mean preoperative FEV1 was 1,470 ml (52%) and preoperative FVC 2,153 ml (61,5%). Subsequent pulmonary resection was performed after a median follow-up of 34,5 months. Wedge resection was performed in all patients. Diagnosis was pulmonary mestastatic lung cancer in 2 patients, metachronous lung cancer in 6, metastatic extrathoracic cancer in 3 and benign nodule in one. Complications occurred in 4 patients (33,4%) while operative mortality was nil.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung resection on a single lung is a safe procedure associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Careful patient selection is very important.
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: Jl_recuero@hotmail.com.
José Luis
JL
Recuero Díaz
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Juan José
JJ
Rivas de Andrés
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Raúl
R
Embún Flor
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Íñigo
Í
Royo Crespo
Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Elena
E
Ramírez Gil
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Lung resection; Morbidity; Morbilidad; Mortalidad; Mortality; Neumonectomía; Pneumonectomy; Pulmón único; Resección pulmonar; Single lung