OBJECTIVES The study aimed to determine the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on postoperative morbidity, mortality and long-term survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing pulmonary resection. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of 775 consecutive patients who had undergone lung resection for NSCLC between 2000 and 2009. ILD, defined by medical history, physical examination and abnormalities compatible with bilateral lung fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography, was diagnosed in 37 (4.8%) patients (ILD group). The remaining 738 patients were classified as non-ILD (control group). We also attempted to identify the predictive factors for early and late survival in patients with ILD following pulmonary resection. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (69 vs 66 years), sex (79 vs 72% male), smoking history (93 vs 90% smokers), forced expiratory volume in 1 s % of predicted (89 vs 84%), predicted values of forced vital capacity (FVC)% (92 vs 94%), types of surgical resection and histology. Patients with ILD had a higher incidence of postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 13 vs 1.8%, P < 0.01) and higher postoperative mortality (8 vs 1.4%, P < 0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate was 52% in the ILD and 65% in the non-ILD patients, respectively (P = 0.019). In the ILD group, at the median follow-up of 26 months (range 4–119), 19 (51%) patients were still alive and 18 (49%) had died in the ILD group. The major cause of late death was respiratory failure due to the progression of fibrosis (n = 7, 39%). In the ILD group, lower preoperative FVC% (mean 77 vs 93%, P < 0.01) and lower diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO%; 47 vs 62%; P < 0.01) were significantly associated with postoperative ARDS. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, major lung resection in patients with NSCLC and ILD is associated with an increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Patients with a low preoperative FVC% should be carefully assessed prior to undergoing surgery, particularly in the presence of a lower DLCO%. Long-term survival is significantly lower when compared with patients without ILD, but still achievable in a substantial subgroup. Thus, surgery can be offered to properly selected patients with lung cancer and ILD, keeping in mind the risk of respiratory failure during the evaluation of such patients.

Purpose: A new robotic surgery tool allows intraoperative ultrasound to be performed using a fully robotic technique. Herein, we evaluate the feasibility and reliability of robotically integrated ultrasound to guide resection of malignant hepatic tumors. Material and methods: A consecutive series of ultrasound-guided robotic resections of primary and secondary hepatic malignancies was analyzed in terms of perioperative data and specimen evaluation, focusing on the reliability of the new robot-integrated ultrasound probe. Results: Ten consecutive patients underwent 15 robotic liver resections. Two patients were resected to excise primary hepatocellular cancers and eight underwent resections of liver metastases. R0 resections were achieved for all lesions. The median operative time was 247 min, and blood loss was limited. No mortality occurred. Conclusions: Our present analysis confirmed the reliability of fully robotic liver resection guided via robotically integrated ultrasonic assessment. Robotic surgery, particularly hepatic resection, may benefit greatly from better manageability, and the fact that the surgeon can directly manage both the operative and the diagnostic parts of the procedure.

Background: We analyzed our experience in sternal resections (SRs) for primary or secondary neoplasm focusing on technical aspects of reconstruction, post-operative outcomes and long term survival. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2015, 36 patients (24 males, 67%) underwent surgical excision of primary (chondrosarcoma n=18 patients, 50%; osteosarcoma n=2, 6%; Ewing sarcoma n=1, 3%; other n=2, 6%) or secondary (breast cancer n=7, 19%; kidney carcinoma n=2, 6%) sternal tumour. We performed n=30 partial sternectomy and n=6 total sternectomy with en-bloc resection of the sternocostal cartilages in all patient and extended resection in 7 patients. Stability was obtained with prosthetic material, rigid and non-rigid and a muscular flap: rigid material [Strasbourg Thoracic Osteosynthesis System (STRATOS), MedXpert GmbH] and muscle flap n=11 (30.6%); polytetrafluoroethylene patch and muscle flap n=6 (16.7%); muscle flap alone n=19 (52.8%). Results: The 30-day mortality rate was 0, overall complication rate was 19%. The median ICU stay was 1.5 days and mean hospital stay was 10.6±5.9 days. We obtained a complete (R0) resection in all patients. Overall survival (OS) at 5 and 10 years were 59% and 40%; in the group of primary neoplasm OS rate at 5 and 10 years was 79% and 54%. Disease free survival (DFS) rate at 5 years was 61%. Higher grading was identified as negative prognostic factor. Conclusions: Wide radical resections of anterior chest wall are basilar in a multimodality treatment for primary or metastatic neoplasm of the sternum. Stabilization with titanium bars and clips provides rigidity of chest wall with good functional results.

Background: To evaluate the effect of first-time and eventual reiterative surgery on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in Caucasian patients affected by an invasive adenocarcinoma (ADC) with at least another ground-glass opacity (GGO). Methods: We analysed 47 patients operated on for lung ADC, identified as main cancer (MC), with at least one synchronous GGO, from January 2003 to March 2017. Characteristics associated with the evolution of GGOs were investigated with logistic regression and overall and DFS were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Forty-two (89%) patients received an anatomic resection of the MC, 5 patients were treated by a single or multiple wedge resections. In total, 9 (19.1%) patients had all the lesions resected undergoing simultaneous resection of ipsilateral GGOs at first surgery while the remaining 38 (80.9%) patients still had at least one GGO that was followed up by serial CT scan. At the median follow-up of 41 months, GGO evolved in 16 (42.1%) patients. The presence of solid component at the initial CT scan was the only risk factor for evolution of the GGO. Thirteen patients underwent surgical resection showing an invasive ADC in 9 patients, MIA in 3 and AIS in 1. New GGOs developed in 7 (14.9%) patients, in which three underwent surgery showing the presence of solid ADC, MIA and AAH. OS rate at 5 years was 97.4%. DFS at 3 years was 82% and was significantly influenced by the stage of MC. Conclusions: Patients affected by an invasive ADC with at least another GGO nodule enjoy good OS and DFS with a surgical reiterative approach. Part-solid GGO is associated with GGO progression requiring treatment, but OS is not influenced by the new onset or evolution of GGOs. DFS is affected by the stage of the MC which dictates the treatment strategy.