Objective: Study the indications, complications and surgical outcome of pneumonectomy for non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Iceland
Material and methods: A retrospective study of all pneumonectomies performed for NSCLC in Iceland from 1988 to 2007. Information was obtained from medical records and data on operative indications, postoperative TNM stage, complications, survival and survival predictors was analysed.
Results: 77 patients (64% males) with mean age of 62.3 yrs. were operated on, 44% on the right side. Mediastinoscopy was performed in 31% of cases. Most patients were stage I or II (58%), but 17 and 21% were stage III A and IIIB, respectively. Mean operation time was 161 min., bleeding 1.1 L and hospital stay 11 days. Atrial fibrillation (21%), pneumonia (6.5%), empyema (5.5%) and respiratory failure (5%) were the most common complications. Three (3.9%) patients died within 30 days from surgery. Five year survival was 20.7%. Age, history of COPD, adenocarcinoma histology and advanced TNM stage were independent predictors of poor survival.
Conclusions: Pneumonectomies for NSCLC in Iceland have a low rate of complications and operative mortality. However, long term survival is lower than expected, and many patients (27%) were in advanced stages. This is most likely due to inadequate preoperative staging.