Simultaneous surgery for concomitant lung cancer and diffuse coronary atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the early outcomes of simultaneous surgeries in patients with concomitant lung cancer and coronary artery disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 37 consecutive patients who underwent CABG with adjunct endarterectomy (n=21) or long segmental coronary artery reconstruction (n=25) and lung resection between 2003 and 2019. Mean age was 61.4±6.7 (range 58-71) years. Males prevailed (n=32, 86.4%). Median sternotomy was used in all patients. Myocardial revascularization was followed by on-pump lung resection. The most common procedure was lobectomy (94.6%) of the right upper lobe (83.7%). Lymph node dissection was performed in all patients. RESULTS CPB time was 162±19.3 min, aortic cross-clamping time 71±14.2 min. There was no in-hospital mortality. Incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 5.4%. Postoperative complications were atrial fibrillation (n=6, 16.6%), re-exploration for bleeding (n=1, 2.7%), pneumonia (n=2, 5.4%). Mean hospital-stay was 14.4 days (range 11-21). CONCLUSION Simultaneous lung resections and coronary artery reconstruction is a safe and reliable surgical method in patients with diffuse coronary atherosclerosis and lung cancer. The developed system of choice, evaluation and surgical treatment of patients with concomitant cardiopulmonary pathology is fundamental for successful treatment of these difficult patients. We need larger randomized studies for certainty.