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F. Damarco



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    P1.05 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 457)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Early Stage NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
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      P1.05-062 - Is Lung Microwave Thermoablation a Valid Alternative to Surgery in High Risk Patients? A Propensity Match Analysis (ID 5648)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): F. Damarco

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Surgery is considered the best treatment in Stage I non small cell lung cancer. Local non–surgical therapies (radiotherapy, thermoablation) are becoming valid alternative to surgery in high risk patients (poor cardiac or pulmonary function, elderly patients).

      Methods:
      Patients submitted in our Department to Microwave thermoablation (MW) were compared with a cohort of patient submitted to lung lobectomy in the same period of time, abstracted from our database with a propensity match method. The study was retrospective on data recorded prospectively. Primary endpoint was overall survival.

      Results:
      From June 2009 to October 2014 in our Department, 36 patients underwent MW for Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or lung metastasis. From our database were abstracted 41 patients with a propensity match method, submitted to lung lobectomy. Two groups were comparable by age, diagnosis, stage and gender. MW group resulted elder than Surgery group (75,5 vs 72,2 years; p<0,001). Lesion diameter was greater in MW group (20,9 vs 26,5 cm; p<0,001). Overall survival, analyzed by actuarial survival curve, was comparable (Logrank test p=0,2).

      Conclusion:
      In our experience, in a propensity match evaluation, lung MW thermoablation resulted non inferior than lung lobectomy in terms of overall survival. Even though surgery is still considered the first choice in patients affected by Stage I NSCLC or lung metastasis, lung MW thermoablation is confirmed as a valid alternative treatment in high risk patients. Randomized prospective studies are mandatory.

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    P1.08 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 460)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Surgery
    • Presentations: 1
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      P1.08-050 - VATS Lobectomy in Locally Advanced NSCLC: A Single Centre Experience (ID 4793)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): F. Damarco

      • Abstract

      Background:
      VATS lobectomy has become the gold standard in early stage lung cancer treatment, but its role is still debated in case of locally advanced disease (tumor larger than 5 cm, chest wall involvement, hilar adenopathy, need for sleeve resection). The aim of this study was to evaluate the main differences between VATS lobectomy performed for early stage NSCLC and the ones performed for locally advanced disease.

      Methods:
      We retrospectively analyzed patients that underwent VATS lobectomy for tumor resection in our centre, from July 2011 till December 2015. Patients included in the study were similar for demographic characteristics and for number of resected lymph nodes. We performed 136 VATS lobectomies: 124 following standard indications (group A); 12 following “extended” indications (group B). Group B is composed by: 3 VATS sleeve lobectomy; 3 VATS lobectomy followed by limited chest wall resection (hybrid technique); 6 VATS lobectomy for NSCLC larger than 5cm. We evaluated the conversion rate to open surgery, the intraoperative blood loss, the operation lenght, the chest drain maintenance and the length of hospitalization.

      Results:
      Intra-operative conversion rate was higher in group A than in Group B, but not statistically different (13,7% vs 9%; p>0,05). No differences were detected in the intraoperative blood loss. Instead we observed differences in terms of operation length, of chest drain maintenance (4,8 vs 7,4 days; p<0,05) and of length of hospitalization (6,2 vs 10,3 days; p<0,05).

      Conclusion:
      We believe that VATS lobectomy can be proposed even in “complex cases”. Minimal invasive approach didn’t increase the intraoperative blood loss and didn’t imply a significant impact in terms of intraoperative conversion to open surgery. We detected differences in the operation length and in chest drain maintenance. Other studies with an higher population of “complex cases” are needed, but we are trustful that VATS lobectomy indications will be extended in the short term.