A Median Sternotomy Approach to Right Extrapleural Pneumonectomy for Mesothelioma
Thursday, September 1st, 2005.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2005;80:1143-1145 [Link]
Antonio E. Martin-Ucar, FRCS Ed, Duncan J. Stewart, FRCS, Kevin J. West, FRCA, David A. Waller, FRCS(CTh) *
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom
Abstract
Although pulmonary resections have been performed through median sternotomy, this approach for extrapleural pneumonectomy in the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma has not been described. We assessed the feasibility of a median sternotomy approach as an alternative to thoracotomy in right-sided resections. Over a 15-month period, this approach was attempted in 10 cases. In 7 of them, the entire procedure was completed without additional thoracotomy access. There were no postoperative deaths in this group. At median follow-up of 8 months, we have not encountered tumor progression in the scars.
Glossary
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- extrapleural pneumonectomy
- (EPP) surgery to remove the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and entire lung involved with the tumor. You can view a web cast from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston of this procedure being done by Dr. David Sugarbaker: see the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) web cast here.
