Bronchial mucosal ablation for bronchial stump closure in right pneumonectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial fistula is a severe complication of pneumonectomy with a high mortality rate. We previously reported a technique for bronchial closure to prevent bronchial fistula in a canine model. We described that mucosal ablation could result in primary wound healing and involve mucosal tight adhesions histologically. In this paper, the pathologic findings of one patient, who underwent autopsy 4 years after surgery, were reviewed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and underwent right extra-pleural pneumonectomy. The right main bronchus was cut using a scalpel. When closing the bronchial stump, the bronchial mucosa was ablated by electric cautery and sutured manually using 3-0 absorbable sutures. The bronchial fistula was not found after pneumonectomy. Four years after surgery, the patient died of recurrent malignant pleural mesothelioma and underwent autopsy. Macroscopic evaluation showed tight adhesions and white scars on the bronchial stump. Microscopic findings showed few inflammatory cells and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this case suggested that bronchial mucosal ablation leads to robust agglutination of bronchial stump over years. This technique is not only simple but also reliable to prevent bronchial fistula.

Investigation of surgical technique for bronchial stump closure after lobectomy in animal model.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchial fistulae following lung surgery are associated with high mortality. We examined the histological effects of mucosal ablation as a technique for closing bronchial stumps to prevent bronchial fistulae in an animal model. METHODS: Left lower lobectomy was performed in beagles under general anesthesia. The bronchial stumps were closed using one of the following four methods: (A) manual suturing using 3-0 absorbable sutures, (B) ablation of bronchial mucosa with electric cautery and manual sutures, (C) stapling and reinforcement with manual sutures, or (D) ablation and stapling followed by reinforcement with manual sutures. Bronchial stumps were histologically evaluated on postoperative day 14. RESULTS: No bronchial fistulae were noted in the animals during the observation period. Histologically, there were no adhesions between the bronchial mucosae at the suture and staple lesions in groups A and C. The bronchial mucosae were adherent at the ablation sites in groups B and D. Inflammatory cells, myofibroblasts, and neovascular vessels were abundant around the ablated lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchial mucosal ablation may play a key role in mucosal adhesion and tight union of the bronchial stump.

[Strategy for the treatment of Stage IV gastric cancer with preoperative chemotherapy].

In 2007, we began using neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of Stage IV gastric cancer and then performing R0/1 surgery in patients in whom chemotherapy was effective. Here, we evaluate the use of this therapeutic strategy combining chemotherapy and surgery for the treatment of Stage IV gastric cancer. The subjects of our investigation were 46 patients with Stage IV gastric cancer treated from 2007 through 2012. We divided these patients into the NAC group (19 patients), in whom we performed R0/1 surgery after chemotherapy, and the Cx group (27 patients), who continued chemotherapy. We also included 79 patients with Stage IV gastric cancer treated from 2001 to 2006, divided into the OPE group (36 patients), in whom we performed R0/1 surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the NC group (43 patients), in whom we performed R2 surgery. We plotted the survival curves of these 4 groups. The chemotherapy protocols used were S-1+cisplatin( CDDP) and S-1+docetaxel( DOC). The disease control rate of these chemotherapies was 72%, and R0/1 surgery was performed in 53.8% of patients with liver metastasis, 62.5% of those with paraaortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis, 29.4% of those with peritoneal metastasis, 100% of patients with T4N2 disease, and 0% of patients with distant metastasis. The 2-year survival rates of the NAC, OPE, Cx, and NC groups were 69%, 55%, 0%, and 20%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of the NAC, OPE, Cx, and NC groups were 35%, 30%, 0%, and 5%, respectively.