[Impact of a rescue program on the operability of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Influencia de un programa de rescate en la decisión quirúrgica en pacientes con carcinoma broncogénico y EPOC.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are strongly associated in our setting, occurring together in around 70% of cases. Approximately 60% of COPD patients who require resection for bronchogenic carcinoma are considered unfit for surgery because of seriously impaired lung function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a rescue program could improve lung function in COPD patients who had previously been considered unfit for surgery because of poor lung function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled COPD patients who had not been considered for surgical resection because they had a predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 1 L. All of the patients participated in a 2-week rescue program that involved optimization of drug treatment (inhaled bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids) and intensive respiratory physiotherapy. Lung function was analyzed before and after the program. RESULTS: We evaluated 30 patients (26 men and 4 women) with a mean (SD) age of 66.7 (8.15) years and an initial FEV1 of 1.497 (0.27) mL (FEV1% of 55.7% [20.14%]). None of the patients had respiratory failure (PaO2 of 77.0 [9.4] mm Hg and PaCO2 of 41.6 [2.4] mm Hg). Twenty-four patients (80%) showed significant improvement in lung function (P< .001) after the program and were admitted for resection. Two wedge resections, 18 lobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, and 2 exploratory thoracotomies were performed (based on oncologic indications). Nineteen of the 24 patients who underwent surgery had no complications. Two patients had prolonged air leaks, 1 empyema, and 1 hemothorax. One patient died from sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: A large number (80%) of COPD patients previously considered unfit for surgical resection because of seriously impaired lung function can be admitted for surgery following an intensive drug and respiratory physiotherapy rescue program.

Influencia de un programa de rescate en la decisión quirúrgica en pacientes con carcinoma broncogénico y EPOC / Impact of a rescue program on the operability of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objetivo: La asociación entre carcinoma broncogénico y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) se sitúa en torno al 70% en nuestro medio. Aproximadamente un 60% de los pacientes con dichos diagnósticos son rechazados para cirugía de resección del carcinoma broncogénico debido a la intensa alteración de su función pulmonar. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar el efecto de un programa de rescate en la mejoría de la función pulmonar de pacientes con EPOC y previamente descartados para cirugía por la alteración de su función pulmonar. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyó en el estudio a pacientes con EPOC descartados inicialmente porque se había calculado que su volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (FEV1) tras la intervención quirúrgica sería menor de 1 l. Todos ellos participaron en un programa de rescate de 2 semanas de duración que incluía: optimización del tratamiento farmacológico (broncodilatadores inhalados y/o corticoides) y fisioterapia respiratoria intensiva. Se analizó la función pulmonar antes y después del programa. Resultados: Se evaluó a 30 pacientes (26 varones y 4 mujeres) con una edad media ± desviación estándar de 66,7 ± 8,15 años y FEV1 inicial de 1,497 ± 0,27 ml (FEV1%: 55,7 ± 20,14 l), que no presentaban insuficiencia respiratoria (presión arterial de oxígeno: 77,0 ± 9,4 mmHg; presión arterial de anhídrido carbónico: 41,6 ± 2,4 mmHg). Tras el programa 24 pacientes (80%) pudieron ser aceptados para la resección propuesta al objetivarse una mejoría significativa en la función pulmonar (p < 0,001). Se realizaron 2 resecciones en cuña, 18 lobectomías, 2 neumonectomías y 2 toracotomías exploradoras (por criterios oncológicos). De los 24 pacientes a los que se intervino, en 19 no hubo complicaciones, 2 presentaron fugas aéreas mantenidas, hubo un caso de empiema pleural y otro de hemotórax. Un paciente falleció por sepsis. Conclusiones: El diseño de un programa intensivo farmacológico y de fisioterapia respiratoria permite rescatar para cirugía a un número alto (80%) de los pacientes con EPOC a los que inicialmente se descarta por una alteración importante de la función pulmonar

Objective: Bronchogenic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are strongly associated in our setting, occurring together in around 70% of cases. Approximately 60% of COPD patients who require resection for bronchogenic carcinoma are considered unfit for surgery because of seriously impaired lung function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a rescue program could improve lung function in COPD patients who had previously been considered unfit for surgery because of poor lung function. Patients and methods: The study enrolled COPD patients who had not been considered for surgical resection because they had a predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 1 L. All of the patients participated in a 2-week rescue program that involved optimization of drug treatment (inhaled bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids) and intensive respiratory physiotherapy. Lung function was analyzed before and after the program. Results: We evaluated 30 patients (26 men and 4 women) with a mean (SD) age of 66.7 (8.15) years and an initial FEV1 of 1.497 (0.27) mL (FEV1% of 55.7% [20.14%]). None of the patients had respiratory failure (PaO2 of 77.0 [9.4] mm Hg and PaCO2 of 41.6 [2.4] mm Hg). Twenty-four patients (80%) showed significant improvement in lung function (P<.001) after the program and were admitted for resection. Two wedge resections, 18 lobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, and 2 exploratory thoracotomies were performed (based on oncologic indications). Nineteen of the 24 patients who underwent surgery had no complications. Two patients had prolonged air leaks, 1 empyema, and 1 hemothorax. One patient died from sepsis. Conclusions: A large number (80%) of COPD patients previously considered unfit for surgical resection because of seriously impaired lung function can be admitted for surgery following an intensive drug and respiratory physiotherapy rescue program

Neurofibroma del vago intratorácico en paciente con enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen / Intrathoracic vagus nerve neurofibroma in a patient with Von Recklinghausen disease

Los tumores del vago intratorácico son entidades muy infrecuentes y con muy pocos casos descritos en la bibliografía. Su manejo es quirúrgico. En el presente trabajo presentamos un caso clínico de neurofibroma del vago intratorácico en una paciente afectada de enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen (AU)