Commentary on 'pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: Outcomes analysis'

摘要

Pneumonectomy is associated with the highest morbidity and mortality rates of all elective pulmonary resections; thus, Kalathiya and Saha's retrospective outcomes analysis is a welcome addition to this month's issue of the Southern Medical Journal. The postpneumonectomy results of 100 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed from 1998 to 2009. Postoperative mortality was denned as any in-hospital death or within 30 days of surgery if the patient had been discharged. Major morbidity was experienced by 39%, most commonly atrial fibrillation. Operative mortality was 11%. Mortality was highest after neoadjuvant therapy (14.3%), with factors being right-sided surgery (17.4%) and patients older than 70 (18.2%).