Influence of stapling the intersegmental planes on lung volume and function after segmentectomy.
Dividing the intersegmental planes with a stapler during pulmonary segmentectomy leads to volume loss in the remnant segment. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of segment division methods on preserved lung volume and pulmonary function after segmentectomy.



Using image analysis software on computed tomography (CT) images of 41 patients, the ratio of remnant segment and ipsilateral lung volume to their preoperative values (R-seg and R-ips) was calculated. The ratio of postoperative actual forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) per those predicted values based on three-dimensional volumetry (R-FEV1 and R-FVC) was also calculated. Differences in actual/predicted ratios of lung volume and pulmonary function for each of the division methods were analysed. We also investigated the correlations of the actual/predicted ratio of remnant lung volume with that of postoperative pulmonary function.



The intersegmental planes were divided by either electrocautery or with a stapler in 22 patients and with a stapler alone in 19 patients. Mean values of R-seg and R-ips were 82.7 (37.9-140.2) and 104.9 (77.5-129.2)%, respectively. The mean values of R-FEV1 and R-FVC were 103.9 (83.7-135.1) and 103.4 (82.2-125.1)%, respectively. There were no correlations between the actual/predicted ratio of remnant lung volume and pulmonary function based on the division method. Both R-FEV1 and R-FVC were correlated not with R-seg, but with R-ips.



Stapling does not lead to less preserved volume or function than electrocautery in the division of the intersegmental planes.
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan htao@yamaguchi-hosp.jp.
Hiroyuki
H
Tao
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Toshiki
T
Tanaka
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Tatsuro
T
Hayashi
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Kumiko
K
Yoshida
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Masashi
M
Furukawa
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Koichi
K
Yoshiyama
Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Yamaguchi-Ube Medical Center, Ube, Japan.
Kazunori
K
Okabe
D000368:Aged; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Computed tomography; Pulmonary function; Segmentectomy; Volumetry