The Role of Adjuvant Therapy Following Surgical Resection of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multi-Center Study / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This multi-center, retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the long-term survival in patients who underwent surgical resection for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to identify the benefit of adjuvant therapy following surgery. @*Materials and Methods@#The data of 213 patients who underwent surgical resection for SCLC at four institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy or an incomplete resection were excluded. @*Results@#The mean patient age was 65.29±8.93 years, and 184 patients (86.4%) were male. Lobectomies and pneumonectomies were performed in 173 patients (81.2%), and 198 (93%) underwent systematic mediastinal lymph node dissections. Overall, 170 patients (79.8%) underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, 42 (19.7%) underwent radiotherapy to the mediastinum, and 23 (10.8%) underwent prophylactic cranial irradiation. The median follow-up period was 31.08 months (interquartile range, 13.79 to 64.52 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were 53.4% and 46.9%, respectively. The 5-year OS significantly improved after adjuvant chemotherapy in all patients (57.4% vs. 40.3%, p=0.007), and the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy was significant in patients with negative node pathology (70.8% vs. 39.7%, p=0.004). Adjuvant radiotherapy did not affect the 5-year OS (54.6% vs. 48.5%, p=0.458). Age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.032; p=0.017), node metastasis (HR, 2.190; p < 0.001), and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 0.558; p=0.019) were associated with OS. @*Conclusion@#Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection in patients with SCLC improved the OS, though adjuvant radiotherapy to the mediastinum did not improve the survival or decrease the locoregional recurrence rate.

Predicting Postoperative Complications and Long-Term Survival After Lung Cancer Surgery Using Eurolung Risk Score

Background@#This study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of the parsimonious Eurolung risk scoring system for predicting postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival in Korean patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. @*Methods@#This retrospective analysis used the data of patients who underwent anatomical resection for non-small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2018 at a single institution. The parsimonious aggregate Eurolung score was calculated for each patient. The Cox regression model was used to determine the ability of the Eurolung scoring system for predicting longterm outcomes. @*Results@#Of the 7,278 patients in the study, cardiopulmonary complications and mortality occurred in 687 (9.4%) and 53 (0.7%) patients, respectively. The rate of cardiopulmonary complications and mortality gradually increased with the increase in the Eurolung risk scores (all P < 0.001). When risk scores were grouped into four categories, the Eurolung scoring system showed a stepwise deterioration of overall survival with the increase in risk scores, and this association was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the Eurolung scoring system, classified into four categories, was a significant prognostic factor of overall survival even after adjusting for covariates such as tumor histology and pathological stage (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Stratification based on the parsimonious Eurolung scoring system showed good discriminatory ability for predicting postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival in South Korean patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. This might help clinicians to provide a detailed prognosis and decide the appropriate treatment option for high-risk patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Natural Progression of Ground-glass Nodules after Curative Resection for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background@#This retrospective study investigated the natural course of synchronous groundglass nodules (GGNs) that remained after curative resection for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). @*Methods@#Prospectively collected retrospective data were reviewed concerning 2,276 patients who underwent curative resection for NSCLC between 2008 and 2017. High-resolution computed tomography or thin-section computed tomography data of 82 patients were included in the study. Growth in size was considered the most valuable outcome, and patients were grouped according to GGN size change. Patient demographic data (e.g., age, sex, and smoking history), perioperative data (e.g., GGN characteristics, histopathology and pathological stage of the resected tumours), and other medical history were evaluated in a risk factor analysis concerning GGN size change. @*Results@#The median duration of follow-up was 36.0 months (interquartile range, 23.0–59.3 months). GGN size decreased in 6 patients (7.3%), was stationary in 43 patients (52.4%), and increased in 33 patients (40.2%). In univariate analysis, male sex, the GGN size on initial CT, part-solid GGN and smoking history (≥ 10 pack-years) were significant risk factors. Among them, multivariate analysis revealed that lager GGN size, part-solid GGN and smoking history were independent risk factors. @*Conclusion@#During follow-up, 40.2% of GGNs increased in size, emphasising that patients with larger GGNs, part-solid GGN or with a smoking history should be observed.

Experience of International Air Transportation and Subsequent Lung Transplant in a Patient with COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: a Case Report

We report an inspiring case of a 55-year-old Korean female diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in Mexico.The patient was assessed for lung transplant as a salvage therapy for treatment-refractory ARDS following no signs of clinical improvement for > 7 weeks, despite best treatment.The patient was transported from Mexico to Korea by air ambulance under venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She was successfully bridged to lung transplant on day 88, 49 days after the initiation of ECMO support. ECMO was successfully weaned at the end of operation, and no bleeding or primary graft dysfunction was observed within the first 72 hours. The patient was liberated from mechanical ventilation on postoperative day 9 and transferred to the general ward 5 days later. Despite the high doses of immunosuppressants, there was no evidence of viral reactivation after transplant.At 3 months post-transplantation, she was discharged to home without complication. Our experience suggests that successful lung transplant for COVID-19-associated ARDS is feasible even in a patient with prolonged pre-transplant ECMO support. Lung transplant may be considered a salvage therapy for COVID-19-associated ARDS that does not respond to conventional treatments.

Long-term Outcomes and Factors Affecting the Survival of Patients with Mucosal Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background/Aims@#Data regarding the prognosis of early esophageal cancer are lacking. This study investigated the long-term outcomes and factors affecting the survival of patients with mucosal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (T1aESCC). @*Methods@#We analyzed the clinical and tumor-specific parameters of 263 patients who received surgical resection (SR; n=63) or endoscopic resection (ER; n=200) for T1aESCC. Underlying comorbidities were scored using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome, and multivariate regression analysis was performed to predict factors for OS. @*Results@#Of the study patients (age, 64.5±8.0 years), the CCI was 1.0±1.4 in the ER group and 0.6±0.9 in the SR group (p=0.107). The 5-year OS rate during follow-up (54.4±20.4 months) was 85.7% (ER group, 86.8%; SR group, 82.4%; p=0.631). The cumulative 5-year incidence of esophageal cancer recurrence was 10.5% in the ER group (vs 0% in the SR group). The overall mortality rate was 12.9% (ER group, 12.0%; SR group, 15.9%; p=0.399). The most common cause of mortality was second primary cancers in the ER group (75%) and organ dysfunction or postoperative complications in the SR group (70%). According to multivariate analysis, only CCI was significantly associated with OS (p2 and in those with a CCI ≤2 was 60.2% and 88.2%, respectively (p<0.001). The treatment method (ER vs SR) was not a significant affecting factor (p=0.238). @*Conclusions@#The long-term prognosis of patients with T1aESCC was significantly associated with underlying comorbidities.

Experience of International Air Transportation and Subsequent Lung Transplant in a Patient with COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: a Case Report

We report an inspiring case of a 55-year-old Korean female diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in Mexico.The patient was assessed for lung transplant as a salvage therapy for treatment-refractory ARDS following no signs of clinical improvement for > 7 weeks, despite best treatment.The patient was transported from Mexico to Korea by air ambulance under venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She was successfully bridged to lung transplant on day 88, 49 days after the initiation of ECMO support. ECMO was successfully weaned at the end of operation, and no bleeding or primary graft dysfunction was observed within the first 72 hours. The patient was liberated from mechanical ventilation on postoperative day 9 and transferred to the general ward 5 days later. Despite the high doses of immunosuppressants, there was no evidence of viral reactivation after transplant.At 3 months post-transplantation, she was discharged to home without complication. Our experience suggests that successful lung transplant for COVID-19-associated ARDS is feasible even in a patient with prolonged pre-transplant ECMO support. Lung transplant may be considered a salvage therapy for COVID-19-associated ARDS that does not respond to conventional treatments.

Long-term Outcomes and Factors Affecting the Survival of Patients with Mucosal Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background/Aims@#Data regarding the prognosis of early esophageal cancer are lacking. This study investigated the long-term outcomes and factors affecting the survival of patients with mucosal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (T1aESCC). @*Methods@#We analyzed the clinical and tumor-specific parameters of 263 patients who received surgical resection (SR; n=63) or endoscopic resection (ER; n=200) for T1aESCC. Underlying comorbidities were scored using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome, and multivariate regression analysis was performed to predict factors for OS. @*Results@#Of the study patients (age, 64.5±8.0 years), the CCI was 1.0±1.4 in the ER group and 0.6±0.9 in the SR group (p=0.107). The 5-year OS rate during follow-up (54.4±20.4 months) was 85.7% (ER group, 86.8%; SR group, 82.4%; p=0.631). The cumulative 5-year incidence of esophageal cancer recurrence was 10.5% in the ER group (vs 0% in the SR group). The overall mortality rate was 12.9% (ER group, 12.0%; SR group, 15.9%; p=0.399). The most common cause of mortality was second primary cancers in the ER group (75%) and organ dysfunction or postoperative complications in the SR group (70%). According to multivariate analysis, only CCI was significantly associated with OS (p2 and in those with a CCI ≤2 was 60.2% and 88.2%, respectively (p<0.001). The treatment method (ER vs SR) was not a significant affecting factor (p=0.238). @*Conclusions@#The long-term prognosis of patients with T1aESCC was significantly associated with underlying comorbidities.

Panel-Reactive and Donor-Specific Antibodies before Lung Transplantation can Affect Outcomes in Korean Patients Receiving Lung Transplantation

Purpose@#Data on the distribution and impact of panel reactive antibodies (PRA) and donor specific antibodies (DSA) before lung transplantation in Asia, especially multi-center-based data, are limited. This study evaluated the prevalence of and effects of PRA and DSA levels before lung transplantations on outcomes in Korean patients using nationwide multicenter registry data. @*Materials and Methods@#This study included 103 patients who received a lung transplant at five tertiary hospitals in South Korea between March 2015 and December 2017. Mortality, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) were evaluated. @*Results@#Sixteen patients had class I and/or class II PRAs exceeding 50%. Ten patients (9.7%) had DSAs with a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) higher than 1000, six of whom had antibodies with a high MFI (≥2000). DSAs with high MFIs were more frequently observed in patients with high-grade PGD (≥2) than in those with no or low-grade (≤1) PGD. In the 47 patients who survived for longer than 9 months and were evaluated for BOS after the transplant, BOS was not related to DSA or PRA levels. One-year mortality was more strongly related to PRA class I exceeding 50% than that under 50% (0% vs. 16.7%, p=0.007). @*Conclusion@#Preoperative DSAs and PRAs are related to worse outcomes after lung transplantation. DSAs and PRAs should be considered when selecting lung transplant recipients, and recipients who have preoperative DSAs with high MFI values and high PRA levels should be monitored closely after lung transplantation.

Infections in Lung Transplant Recipients during and after Prophylaxis

Background@#The timeline of infections after lung transplantation has been changed with the introduction of new immunosuppressants and prophylaxis strategies. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of infectious diseases after lung transplantation in the current era. @*Materials and Methods@#All patients who underwent lung or heart–lung transplantation at our institution between October 29, 2008 and April 3, 2019 were enrolled. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' medical records till April 2, 2020. @*Results@#In total, 100 consecutive lung transplant recipients were enrolled. The median follow-up period was 28 months after lung transplantation. A total of 127 post–lung transplantation bacterial infections occurred. Catheter-related bloodstream infection (25/84, 29.8%) was the most common within 6 months and pneumonia (23/43, 53.5%) was the most common after 6 months. Most episodes (35/40, 87.5%) of respiratory viral infections occurred after 6 months, mainly as upper respiratory infections. The remaining episodes (5/40, 12.5%) mostly manifested as lower respiratory tract infections. Seventy cytomegalovirus infections observed in 43 patients were divided into 23 episodes occurring before and 47 episodes occurring after discontinuing prophylaxis. Of 10 episodes of cytomegalovirus disease, four occurred during prophylaxis and six occurred after prophylaxis.Of 23 episodes of post–lung transplantation fungal infection, 7 were aspergillosis and all occurred after the discontinuation of prophylaxis. @*Conclusion@#Lung transplant recipients experienced a high burden of infection even after 6 months, especially after the end of the prophylaxis period. Therefore, these patients should be continued to be monitored long-term for infectious disease.

Infections in Lung Transplant Recipients during and after Prophylaxis

Background@#The timeline of infections after lung transplantation has been changed with the introduction of new immunosuppressants and prophylaxis strategies. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of infectious diseases after lung transplantation in the current era. @*Materials and Methods@#All patients who underwent lung or heart–lung transplantation at our institution between October 29, 2008 and April 3, 2019 were enrolled. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' medical records till April 2, 2020. @*Results@#In total, 100 consecutive lung transplant recipients were enrolled. The median follow-up period was 28 months after lung transplantation. A total of 127 post–lung transplantation bacterial infections occurred. Catheter-related bloodstream infection (25/84, 29.8%) was the most common within 6 months and pneumonia (23/43, 53.5%) was the most common after 6 months. Most episodes (35/40, 87.5%) of respiratory viral infections occurred after 6 months, mainly as upper respiratory infections. The remaining episodes (5/40, 12.5%) mostly manifested as lower respiratory tract infections. Seventy cytomegalovirus infections observed in 43 patients were divided into 23 episodes occurring before and 47 episodes occurring after discontinuing prophylaxis. Of 10 episodes of cytomegalovirus disease, four occurred during prophylaxis and six occurred after prophylaxis.Of 23 episodes of post–lung transplantation fungal infection, 7 were aspergillosis and all occurred after the discontinuation of prophylaxis. @*Conclusion@#Lung transplant recipients experienced a high burden of infection even after 6 months, especially after the end of the prophylaxis period. Therefore, these patients should be continued to be monitored long-term for infectious disease.

Characteristics of Lung Allocation and Outcomes of Lung Transplant according to the Korean Urgency Status

PURPOSE: We investigated the characteristics of lung allocation and outcomes of lung transplant (LTx) according to the Korean urgency status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LTx registration in the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) began in 2015. From 2015 to June 2017, 86 patients who received LTx were enrolled in KOTRY. After excluding one patient who received a heart-lung transplant, 85 were included. Subjects were analyzed according to the Korean urgency status. RESULTS: Except for Status 0, urgency status was classified based on partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood gas analysis and functional status in 52 patients (93%). The wait time for lung allograft was well-stratified by urgency (Status 0, 46.5±59.2 days; Status 1, 104.4±98.2 days; Status 2 or 3, 132.2±118.4 days, p=0.009). Status 0 was associated with increased operative times and higher intraoperative blood transfusion. Status 0 was associated with prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use, postoperative bleeding, and longer mechanical ventilation after operation. Survival of Status 0 patients seemed worse than that of non-Status 0 patients, although differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The Korean urgency classification for LTx is determined by using very limited parameters and may not be a true reflection of urgency. Status 0 patients seem to have poor outcomes compared to the other urgency status patients, despite having the highest priority for donor lungs. Further multi-center and nationwide studies are needed to revise the lung allocation system to reflect true urgency and provide the best benefit of lung transplantation.

Long-Term Outcomes of Adult Lung Transplantation Recipients: A Single-Center Experience in South Korea / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of lung transplants in South Korea has increased. However, the long-term outcome data is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of adult lung transplantation recipients. METHODS: Among the patients that underwent lung transplantation at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between 2008 and 2017, adults patient who underwent deceased-donor lung transplantation with available follow-up data were enrolled. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Through eligibility screening, we identified 60 adult patients that underwent lung (n=51) or heart-lung transplantation (n=9) during the observation period. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (46.7%, 28/60) was the most frequent cause of lung transplantation. For all the 60 patients, the median follow-up duration for post-transplantation was 2.6 years (range, 0.01–7.6). During the post-transplantation follow-up period, 19 patients (31.7%) died at a median duration of 194 days. The survival rates were 75.5%, 67.6%, and 61.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Out of the 60 patients, 8 (13.3%) were diagnosed with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), after a mean duration of 3.3±2.8 years post-transplantation. The CLAD development rate was 0%, 17.7%, and 25.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The most common newly developed post-transplantation comorbidity was the chronic kidney disease (CKD; 54.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (25.9%). CONCLUSION: Among the adult lung transplantation recipients at a South Korea tertiary referral center, the long-term survival rates were favorable. The proportion of patients who developed CLAD was not substantial. CKD was the most common post-transplantation comorbidity.

Recent Trends in Demographics, Surgery, and Prognosis of Patients with Surgically Resected Lung Cancer in a Single Institution from Korea

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, demographics information has changed significantly in patients with surgically resected lung cancer. Herein, we evaluated the recent trends in demographics, surgery, and prognosis of lung cancer surgery in Korea. METHODS: Patients with surgically resected primary lung cancer from 2002 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify prognostic factors for overall survival. The annual percent change (APC) and statistical significance were calculated using the Joinpoint software. RESULTS: A total of 7,495 patients were enrolled. Over the study period, the number of lung cancer surgeries continued to increase (P < 0.05). The proportion of women to total subjects has also increased (P < 0.05). The proportion of elderly patients (≥ 70 years) as well as those with tumors measuring 1–2 cm and 2–3 cm significantly increased in both genders (all P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with adenocarcinoma, video-assisted thoracic surgery, sublobar resection, and pathological stage I significantly increased (P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate of lung cancer surgery increased from 61.1% in 2002–2006 to 72.1% in 2012–2016 (P < 0.001). The operative period was a significant prognostic factor in multivariable Cox analysis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The mean age of patients with lung cancer surgery increased gradually, whereas tumor size reduced. Prognosis of lung cancer surgery improved with recent increases in the frequency of adenocarcinoma, video-assisted thoracic surgery, sublobar resection, and pathological stage I. The operation period itself was also an independent prognostic factor for overall survival.

Long-Term Outcomes of Adult Lung Transplantation Recipients: A Single-Center Experience in South Korea / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND@#Recently, the number of lung transplants in South Korea has increased. However, the long-term outcome data is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of adult lung transplantation recipients.@*METHODS@#Among the patients that underwent lung transplantation at a tertiary referral center in South Korea between 2008 and 2017, adults patient who underwent deceased-donor lung transplantation with available follow-up data were enrolled. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed.@*RESULTS@#Through eligibility screening, we identified 60 adult patients that underwent lung (n=51) or heart-lung transplantation (n=9) during the observation period. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (46.7%, 28/60) was the most frequent cause of lung transplantation. For all the 60 patients, the median follow-up duration for post-transplantation was 2.6 years (range, 0.01–7.6). During the post-transplantation follow-up period, 19 patients (31.7%) died at a median duration of 194 days. The survival rates were 75.5%, 67.6%, and 61.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Out of the 60 patients, 8 (13.3%) were diagnosed with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), after a mean duration of 3.3±2.8 years post-transplantation. The CLAD development rate was 0%, 17.7%, and 25.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The most common newly developed post-transplantation comorbidity was the chronic kidney disease (CKD; 54.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (25.9%).@*CONCLUSION@#Among the adult lung transplantation recipients at a South Korea tertiary referral center, the long-term survival rates were favorable. The proportion of patients who developed CLAD was not substantial. CKD was the most common post-transplantation comorbidity.

Surgical Outcomes of Radiographically Noninvasive Lung Adenocarcinoma according to Surgical Strategy: Wedge Resection, Segmentectomy, and Lobectomy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of surgical resection in patients with radiographically noninvasive lung adenocarcinoma according to the surgical strategy. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 128 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for ground-glass opacity (GGO)–dominant nodules measuring ≤2 cm with a consolidation/tumor ratio ≤0.25 based on computed tomography between 2008 and 2015. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 128 patients, wedge resection, segmentectomy, and lobectomy were performed in 40 (31.2%), 22 (17.2%), and 66 patients (51.6%), respectively. No significant differences were found among the groups in the mean size of tumors (p=0.119), the rate of pure-GGO nodules (p=0.814), the consolidation/tumor ratio (p=0.695), or the rate of invasive adenocarcinoma (p=0.378). Centrally located tumors were more common in the lobectomy group (21.2%) than in the wedge resection (0%) or segmentectomy (0%) groups (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in the 5-year DFS rate (100%, 100%, 92.7%, respectively; p=0.76) or 5-year OS rate (100%, 100%, 100%; p=0.223) among the wedge resection, segmentectomy, and lobectomy groups. CONCLUSION: For radiographically noninvasive lung adenocarcinoma measuring ≤2 cm with a consolidation/tumor ratio ≤0.25, wedge resection and segmentectomy could be comparable surgical options to lobectomy.

Long-Term Survival and Tumor Recurrence in Patients with Superficial Esophageal Cancer after Complete Non-Curative Endoscopic Resection: A Single-Center Case Series

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To report the long-term survival and tumor recurrence outcomes in patients with superficial esophageal cancer (SEC) after complete non-curative endoscopic resection (ER). METHODS: We retrieved ER data for 24 patients with non-curatively resected SEC. Non-curative resection was defined as the presence of submucosal and/or lymphovascular invasion on ER pathology. Relevant clinical and tumor-specific parameters were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 24 study patients was 66.3±8.3 years. Ten patients were closely followed up without treatment, while 14 received additional treatment. During a mean follow-up of 59.0±33.2 months, the 3- and 5-year survival rates of all cases were 90.7% and 77.6%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates were 72.9% in the close observation group and 82.1% in the additional treatment group (p=0.958). The 5-year cumulative incidences of all cases of recurrence (25.0% vs. 43.3%, p=0.388), primary EC recurrence (10.0% vs. 16.4%, p=0.558), and metachronous EC recurrence (16.7% vs. 26.7%, p=0.667) were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-curatively resected SEC showed good long-term survival outcomes. Given the similar oncologic outcomes, close observation may be an option with appropriate caution taken for patients who are medically unfit to receive additional therapy.

Surgical Options for Malignant Mesothelioma: A Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND: We investigated the surgical outcomes of patients who underwent therapeutic surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at a single center. METHODS: A retrospective review of 21 patients who underwent therapeutic surgery for MPM from January 2001 to June 2015 was conducted to assess their outcomes. The patients' characteristics and postoperative course, including complications, mortality, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival, were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who underwent therapeutic surgery, 15 (71.4%) underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy, 2 pleurectomy (9.5%), and 4 excision (19.1 %). The median age was 57 years (range, 32–79 years) and 15 were men (71.4%). The mean hospital stay was 16 days (range, 1–63 days). Median survival was 14.3 months. The survival rate was 54.2%, 35.6%, and 21.3% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. In patients' postoperative course, heart failure was a major complication, occurring in 3 patients (14.3%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 2 of 21 (9.5%) due to a case of severe pneumonia and a case of acute heart failure. CONCLUSION: A fair 5-year survival rate of 21.3% was observed after surgical treatment. Heart failure was a major complication in our cohort. Various surgical methods can be utilized with MPM, each with its own benefits, taking into consideration the severity of the disease and the comorbidities of the patient. Patients with local recurrence may be candidates for surgical intervention, with possible satisfying results.

The First Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation in Korea: a Case Report

Lung transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage lung disease, but the problem of donor shortage is unresolved issue. Herein, we report the first case of living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) in Korea. A 19-year-old woman patient with idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension received her father's right lower lobe and her mother's left lower lobe after pneumonectomy of both lungs in 2017. The patient has recovered well and is enjoying normal social activity. We think that LDLLT could be an alternative approach to deceased donor lung transplantation to overcome the shortage of lung donors.

Clinical Outcomes of Lung Transplantation: Experience at Asan Medical Center

BACKGROUND@#Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure in patients with end-stage lung disease, and is increasingly performed in Korea.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of patients who received a lung transplant at Asan Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2016. Thirteen of 54 patients experienced multiorgan transplantation; the remaining 41 who received only lung grafts were included.@*RESULTS@#The mean age of the lung transplant recipients was 44.6 years; 27 were men and 14 were women. The most frequent reasons were idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (21 of 41 patients, 51.2%), interstitial lung disease (9 of 41, 22.0%), and bronchiolitis obliterans after bone marrow transplantation (7 of 41, 17.1%). The median waiting time was 47 days, and many patients received preoperative intensive care (27 of 41, 65.9%), ventilator support (26 of 41, 63.4%), or extracorporeal life support (19 of 41, 46.3%). All 41 patients received bilateral lung grafts. Ten deaths occurred (24.3%), including 5 cases of early mortality (12.2%) and 5 cases of late mortality (12.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 78.9%, 74.2%, and 69.3%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Despite a high percentage of patients who required preoperative intensive care, the transplantation outcomes were acceptable.

Clinical Outcomes of Lung Transplantation: Experience at Asan Medical Center / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure in patients with end-stage lung disease, and is increasingly performed in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of patients who received a lung transplant at Asan Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2016. Thirteen of 54 patients experienced multiorgan transplantation; the remaining 41 who received only lung grafts were included. RESULTS: The mean age of the lung transplant recipients was 44.6 years; 27 were men and 14 were women. The most frequent reasons were idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (21 of 41 patients, 51.2%), interstitial lung disease (9 of 41, 22.0%), and bronchiolitis obliterans after bone marrow transplantation (7 of 41, 17.1%). The median waiting time was 47 days, and many patients received preoperative intensive care (27 of 41, 65.9%), ventilator support (26 of 41, 63.4%), or extracorporeal life support (19 of 41, 46.3%). All 41 patients received bilateral lung grafts. Ten deaths occurred (24.3%), including 5 cases of early mortality (12.2%) and 5 cases of late mortality (12.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 78.9%, 74.2%, and 69.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite a high percentage of patients who required preoperative intensive care, the transplantation outcomes were acceptable.