Abstract
Purpose: The number of lung cancer patients is increasing in association with the aging of society, and age is associated with the risk of undergoing a thoracotomy procedure. We prospectively investigated the efficacy of a functional operability algorithm that included pulmonary function and exercise test results for determining the indication for surgery in octogenarians. Methods: From April 2001 to October 2008, surgical indications for a total of 45 octogenarians were assessed using our algorithm, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio, predicted postoperative percent of forced expiratory volume in 1 s, Hugh-Jones dyspneic index, and empirical anaerobic threshold obtained during an exercise test. Then the surgical results were reviewed. Results: Thoracotomy was contraindicated in one patient; the remaining 44 patients underwent surgery. Axilloanterior thoracotomy (75%), lobectomy (84%), and mediastinal lymph node dissection (73%) were the major procedures. Altogether, 37 postthoracotomy complica-Received: 13 February 2011 / Accepted: 30 May 2011
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 36-42 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Exercise test
- Functional operability algorithm
- Octogenarian
- Primary lung cancer
- Pulmonary function test
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine