Mediastinal lymphadenectomy influences postoperative immune response after lung cancer surgery

The aim of the study was to calculate the amount of surgical injury caused by systematic lymphadenectomy of mediastinum in patients operated on due to non-small cell lung cancer,with uneventful postoperative course.The study group consisted of 11 patients with cancer of the right lung(Group 1).The control group consisted of 12 patients with left lung cancer(Group 2).In patients with right lung cancer systematic lymphadenectomy,while in patients with left lung cancer systematic sampling was performed.Serum IL-6 and IL-1ra concentration was measured before and after surgery,and on postoperative day 1,3,and 7,as well as in sputum at the end of surgery and in pleural fluid on postoperative day 1,by ELISA test.Peripheral blood lymphocyte(PBL) count was measured with flow cytometry.Time of surgery was higher in patients with right than left lung cancer(154.1±31.29) vs(119.6±24.81) min;P=0.008) .The number of resected mediastinal lymph nodes was higher in patients with right than left lung cancer(27.6±7.6) vs(11.1 ±8.1);P=0.00006) .Postoperative decrease of PBL was significantly higher in group 1 than 2(1.25±0.37) vs(1.75 ±0.64) ×103/μL;P=0.04) .No significant differences were found in serum,pleural fluid and sputum concentration of IL-6 and IL -1ra between groups.Negative correlation between concentration of these cytokines in pleural fluid and number of resected mediastinal lymph nodes was found(Spearman test for IL-6:r=-0.723;P<0.001;for IL-1ra:r=-0.768;P<0.001).Number of "positive" N2 lymph nodes did not correlate with pleural fluid concentration of cytokines.Systematic lymphadenectomy of the mediastinum causes immunosuppression,as measured by decreased count of PBL and a negative correlation between number of resected mediastinal lymph nodes and concentration of cytokines in pleural fluid.

Intrathoracic esophagojejunostomy using OrVil^(TM) for gastric adenocarcinoma involving the esophagus

AIM: To demonstrate a new surgical technique of lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy and intrathoracic anastomosis of esophagojejunostomy using OrV il^(TM). METHODS: After a total median phrenotomy, the supradiaphragmatic and lower thoracic paraesophageal lymph nodes were transhiatally dissected. The esophagus was cut off using a liner stapler and OrV il^(TM)was inserted. Finally, end-to-side esophagojejunostomy was created by using a circular stapler. From July 2009,we adopted this surgical technique for five patients with gastric cancer involving the lower esophagus. RESULTS: The median operation time was 314 min(range; 210-367 min), and median blood loss was 210 mL(range; 100-838 mL). The median numbers of dissected lower mediastinal nodes were 3(range; 1-10). None of the patients had postoperative complications including anastomotic leakage and stenosis. Themedian hospital stay was 16 d(range: 15-20 d). The median length of esophageal involvement was 14 mm(range: 6-48 mm) and that of the resected esophagus was 40 mm(range: 35-55 mm); all resected specimens had tumor-free margins.CONCLUSION: This surgical technique is easy and safe intrathoracic anastomosis for the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma involving the lower esophagus.