Surgical Outcomes of Type A Aortic Dissection at a Small- Volume Medical Center: Analysis according to the Extent of Surgery

Background@#Despite progress in treatment, Stanford type A aortic dissection is still a life-threatening disease. In this study, we analyzed surgical outcomes in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection according to the extent of surgery at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed 98 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection who underwent surgery at our institution between January 2008 and June 2018. Of these patients, 82 underwent limited replacement (hemi-arch or ascending aortic replacement), while 16 patients underwent total arch replacement (TAR). We analyzed in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, the overall 5-year survival rate, and the 5-year aortic event-free survival rate. @*Results@#The median follow-up time was 48 months (range, 1–128 months), with a completion rate of 85.7% (n=84). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 8.2%: 6.1% in the limited replacement group and 18.8% in the TAR group (p=0.120). The overall 5-year survival rate was 78.8% in the limited replacement group and 81.3% in the TAR group (p=0.78). The overall 5-year aortic event-free survival rate was 85.3% in the limited replacement group and 88.9% in the TAR group (p=0.46). @*Conclusion@#The extent of surgery was not related to the rates of in-hospital mortality, complications, aortic events, or survival. Although this study was conducted at a small-volume center, the in-hospital mortality and 5-year survival rates were satisfactory.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Pathologic N2 Metastasis in Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography–Diagnosed N0–1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Accurate mediastinal lymph node staging is vital for the optimal therapy and prognostication of patients with lung cancer. This study aimed to determine the preoperative risk factors for pN2 disease, as well as its incidence and long-term outcomes, in patients with clinical N0–1 non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were treated surgically for primary non-small cell lung cancer from November 2005 to December 2014. Patients staged as clinical N0–1 via chest computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT were divided into two groups (pN0–1 and pN2) and compared. RESULTS: In a univariate analysis, the significant preoperative risk factors for pN2 included a large tumor size (p=0.083), high maximum standard uptake value on PET (p<0.001), and central location of the tumor (p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, central location of the tumor (p<0.001) remained a significant preoperative risk factor for pN2 status. The 5-year overall survival rates were 75% and 22.9% in the pN0–1 and pN2 groups, respectively, and 50% and 78.2% in the patients with centrally located and peripherally located tumors, respectively. In a Cox proportional hazard model, central location of the tumor increased the risk of death by 3.4-fold (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: More invasive procedures should be considered when pre-operative risk factors are identified in order to improve the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic plans and, consequently, the patient’s prognosis.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Pathologic N2 Metastasis in Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography–Diagnosed N0–1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND@#Accurate mediastinal lymph node staging is vital for the optimal therapy and prognostication of patients with lung cancer. This study aimed to determine the preoperative risk factors for pN2 disease, as well as its incidence and long-term outcomes, in patients with clinical N0–1 non-small cell lung cancer.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed patients who were treated surgically for primary non-small cell lung cancer from November 2005 to December 2014. Patients staged as clinical N0–1 via chest computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT were divided into two groups (pN0–1 and pN2) and compared.@*RESULTS@#In a univariate analysis, the significant preoperative risk factors for pN2 included a large tumor size (p=0.083), high maximum standard uptake value on PET (p<0.001), and central location of the tumor (p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, central location of the tumor (p<0.001) remained a significant preoperative risk factor for pN2 status. The 5-year overall survival rates were 75% and 22.9% in the pN0–1 and pN2 groups, respectively, and 50% and 78.2% in the patients with centrally located and peripherally located tumors, respectively. In a Cox proportional hazard model, central location of the tumor increased the risk of death by 3.4-fold (p<0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#More invasive procedures should be considered when pre-operative risk factors are identified in order to improve the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic plans and, consequently, the patient’s prognosis.