Completion pneumonectomy: Outcomes for benign and malignant indications

Background: Past series have identified completion pneumonectomy (CP) as a high-risk operation. We evaluated factors affecting outcomes of CP with a selective approach to offering this operation. Methods: We analyzed a prospective institutional database and abstracted information on patients undergoing pneumonectomy. Patients undergoing CP were compared with those undergoing primary pneumonectomy (PP). Results: Between January 2000 and February 2011, 211 patients underwent pneumonectomy, of which 35 (17%) were CPs. Ten of 35 (29%) CPs were for benign disease and 25 of 35 (71%) for cancer. Major perioperative morbidity was seen in 21 of 35 (60%) with 4 (11%) perioperative deaths. In univariate analysis, postoperative bronchopleural fistula (p = 0.05) and benign diagnosis (p = 0.07) tended to be associated with perioperative mortality. All 10 patients undergoing CP for benign disease developed a major complication compared with 11 of 25 (44%) with malignancy, p = 0.002. A bronchopleural fistula (4 of 35, 11%) was more likely to occur in patients undergoing CP shortly after the primary operation (interval between lobectomy and CP; 0.28 vs 4.5 years; p = 0.018) with a trend toward a benign indication for operation (p = 0.07). Median survival after CP for benign and malignant indications was 24.3 months and 36.5 months, respectively. Comparing CP patients to those undergoing PP (n = 176), CP patients were more likely to undergo an operation for benign disease (10 of 35, 29% vs 14 of 176, 8%, p = 0.001). Perioperative mortality for PP was 10 of 176 (5.7%), and was statistically similar to CP (11%). Conclusions: Despite a selective approach, CP remains a morbid operation, particularly for benign indications. Rigorous preoperative optimization, ruling out contraindications to operation and attention to technical detail, are recommended.