BACKGROUNDUp to now, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer simutaneously involving carina, heart and great vessels is still regarded as contraindication for surgical treatment. However, the prognosis is very poor in these patients treated with chemotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy. The aim of this study is to summarize the clinical experiences of carinoplasty combined with heart and great vessel plasty in the treatment of 84 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer involving carina, heart and great vessels or both in our hospital.

METHODSFrom March, 1988 to December, 2004, carinal resection and reconstruction combined with heart, great vessel plasty was performed in 84 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer involving carina, heart and great vessels simutaneously. The operative procedures in this series included as follows: (1) Right upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinal resection and reconstruction, and right pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty in 9 patients; (2) Right sleeve pneumonectomy combined with partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium, and superior vena cava resection and Gortex grafts in 3 cases; (3) Left upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, left pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty and partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 3 cases; (4) Right upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, right pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty and partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 10 cases; (5) Left upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty and left pulmonary artery angioplasty in 9 cases; (6) Left upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, left pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty and resection of the aorta arch sheath in 6 cases; (7) Right upper-middle sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty and right pulmonary artery sleeve angioplasty in 3 cases; (8) Left upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, left pulmonary artery angioplasty, resection of the aorta arch sheath and partial resection and reconstruction of left artium in 8 cases; (9) Right upper sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, right pulmonary artery angioplasty and partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 4 cases; (10) Left sleeve pneumonectomy combined with partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 3 cases; (11) Right upper-middle sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, right pulmonary artery angioplasty and superior vena cava resection and reconstruction with Gortex grafts in 23 casese; (12) Right sleeve pneumonectomy combined with partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 1 case; (13) Right upper-middle sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, right pulmonary artery angioplasty and partial resection and reconstruction of left atrium in 1 case; (14) Right upper-middle sleeve lobectomy combined with carinoplasty, right pulmonary artery angioplasty and right inferior pulmonary vein sleeve resection and reconstruction in 1 case.

RESULTSThere were two operative death in this series. The operative mordality was 2.38%. A total of 32 patients had operative complications. The incidence of operative complications was 38.10%. The 1-, 3-, 5-and 10-year survival rate was 81.34%, 59.47%, 31.73% and 24.06% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS(1) It is feasible in technique that carinal resection and reconstruction combined with heart, great vessel plasty in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer involving carina, heart and great vessels simutaneously; (2) Multiple modality therapy based on carinal resection and reconstruction combined with heart and great vessel plasty can remarkably increase the survival rate, and improve the prognosis and quality of life in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer involving carina, heart and great vessels.