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Effect of thoracotomy and lung resection on exercise capacity in patients with lung cancer
  1. A-M Nugenta,
  2. I C Steelea,
  3. A M Carragherb,
  4. K McManusb,
  5. J A McGuiganb,
  6. J R P Gibbonsb,
  7. M S Rileya,
  8. D P Nichollsa
  1. aDepartment of Medicine, bDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, cRoyal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
  1. Dr D P Nicholls.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Resection is the treatment of choice for lung cancer, but may cause impaired cardiopulmonary function with an adverse effect on quality of life. Few studies have considered the effects of thoracotomy alone on lung function, and whether the operation itself can impair subsequent exercise capacity.

METHODS Patients being considered for lung resection (n = 106) underwent full static and dynamic pulmonary function testing which was repeated 3–6 months after surgery (n = 53).

RESULTS Thoracotomy alone (n = 13) produced a reduction in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1; mean (SE) 2.10 (0.16) versus 1.87 (0.15) l; p<0.05). Wedge resection (n = 13) produced a non-significant reduction in total lung capacity (TLC) only. Lobectomy (n = 14) reduced forced vital capacity (FVC), TLC, and carbon monoxide transfer factor but exercise capacity was unchanged. Only pneumonectomy (n = 13) reduced exercise capacity by 28% (PV˙o 2 23.9 (1.5) versus 17.2 (1.7) ml/min/kg; difference (95% CI) 6.72 (3.15 to 10.28); p<0.01) and three patients changed from a cardiac limitation to exercise before pneumonectomy to pulmonary limitation afterwards.

CONCLUSIONS Neither thoracotomy alone nor limited lung resection has a significant effect on exercise capacity. Only pneumonectomy is associated with impaired exercise performance, and then perhaps not as much as might be expected.

  • lung cancer
  • thoracotomy
  • pneumonectomy
  • exercise testing

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Despite recent advances in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgery offers the best prospect of cure in patients with non-metastatic lung cancer1 but the morbidity and mortality associated with thoracotomy and lung resection need to be considered for each patient. It was recognised many years ago that such surgery may result in impairment of cardiopulmonary function2 which can reduce exercise tolerance and affect subsequent quality of life. Previous studies have shown impaired pulmonary function,3 ,4 reduced exercise capacity,5-8 and haemodynamic changes9 ,10after surgery. Factors associated with limited or no lung resection, such as the presence of a thoracotomy scar and deconditioning, may also affect lung function, but few such patients have been studied.3 ,5

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different amounts of lung resection (pneumonectomy, lobectomy, and wedge resection) with thoracotomy alone on exercise capacity in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

Patients admitted for resection of known or suspected lung cancer were prospectively assessed over a four year period (1990–3) during which time 106 patients were studied. All patients gave informed consent for the study.

PROTOCOL

Each patient had a routine full clinical assessment prior to surgery including medical history and physical examination, chest radiography and resting 12 lead electrocardiography. Pulmonary function tests were performed including spirometric indices, total lung capacity (TLC) by whole body plethysmography, and carbon monoxide transfer factor (Tlco). Each patient attended for a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a treadmill. After familiarisation with the equipment11 each patient underwent a symptom limited treadmill test using either a modified Naughton or modified Bruce protocol, depending on the perceived level of fitness of the patient. The test included online measurement of respiratory gas exchange—that is, minute ventilation (V˙e), oxygen consumption (V˙o 2) and carbon dioxide production (V˙co 2). The heart rate was monitored continuously by electrocardiography (CM5 lead; Delmar Avionics) and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (Ohmeda). Blood pressure was recorded at three minute intervals throughout the test and at peak exercise using mercury syphgmomanometry. After completion of the test, patients were asked to rate their perceived level of exertion by means of a Borg score12 on a scale of 0–10 where 0 was the lowest level of exertion and 10 the highest.

Between three and six months after surgery each patient was contacted and invited to return for a repeat treadmill exercise test and pulmonary function tests. Case records for each patient were reviewed, in particular for details of surgery, diagnosis, length of hospital stay, and postoperative outcome. Cardiopulmonary complications and deaths occurring within 30 days of surgery were identified.

MEASUREMENT OF GAS EXCHANGE

Ventilation was measured using a vane turbine placed on the inspiratory side of a non-rebreathing respiratory valve circuit and ventilometer (PK Morgan Ltd.)11 Expired gas was collected in a mixing chamber and sampled continuously to allow measurement of expired oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations by paramagnetic and infrared analysers, respectively (PK Morgan Ltd). The outputs from the ventilometer and gas analysers were fed via an analogue-to-digital converter to an Amstrad computer to allow calculation of ventilation rate, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production. PV˙o 2 was taken as the highest 15 seconds mean value of V˙o 2 calculated by the computer in the final minute of exercise. Respiratory exchange ratios (RER) were also calculated during exercise using the formula: RER =V˙co 2/V˙o 2. Calibration of the turbine and analysers was performed before each test.

All test results were subsequently examined independently by a single experienced observer (MSR) who was not aware of the identity of the subject or of whether the test was preoperative or postoperative. The test was categorised as either maximal (cardiac limitation), maximal (pulmonary limitation), or inconclusive (submaximal). Pulmonary limitation was defined as the presence of three of the following criteria: desaturation on oximetry of 3% or more; stopped by dyspnoea rather than fatigue or pain; exceeded 80% of predicted maximal voluntary ventilation (40 × FEV1); or respiratory exchange ratio at peak exercise of <1.13

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Statistical analysis was performed using two way analysis of variance with repeated measures as appropriate. Bonferroni’s method was used for post hoc comparisons. A p value of less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results are expressed as mean (SE) and differences between groups (tables 3-6) include the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference.

Results

One hundred and six patients were initially assessed and performed a treadmill exercise test but 29 patients were then excluded from the study, 21 because they did not have surgery as the lung tumour was found to be inoperable on completion of investigations or the patient was considered medically unfit; three who had other surgery (plication of the diaphragm in two cases and pleurectomy in one); and five for whom no case records could be found. Thus 77 patients (46 men) were included for analysis, of whom 53 (69%) reattended for postoperative tests.

Table 1 shows the number of patients assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and the type of surgery performed (pneumonectomy, single or bi-lobectomy, wedge resection, or thoracotomy with no lung resection). The latter procedure was performed in 17 cases where the tumour was found to be inoperable, in two cases where no malignancy was found, and in one case where a mediastinal tumour was resected (20 in total). Of the 18 patients with tumours, 15 were central and three peripheral, and 16 had postoperative radiotherapy. Of the 13 who attended for a second test, eight had central tumours and eight received radiotherapy in the period between the two tests.

Table 1

Number of patients assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and type of surgery performed

Most complications occurred in the pneumonectomy group (44%) while most deaths were in the lobectomy group. Of the four perioperative deaths, one was due to respiratory failure following pneumonectomy and three occurred following single lobectomy (two due to pulmonary embolism and one due to pneumonia).

Table 2 shows the clinical characteristics, including preoperative pulmonary function and exercise test results, for each surgical group. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age and weight. Spirometric indices and lung volumes were also similar. Patients about to undergo pneumonectomy had a slightly greater exercise capacity than the other groups studied, and a slightly greater Tlco than patients undergoing lobectomy, but the differences were not significant. There were no significant differences in perioperative complications or mortality between the four groups.

Table 2

Mean (SE) clinical characteristics, preoperative pulmonary function, and exercise test results in each surgical group

Tables 3-6 show pulmonary function tests and exercise test results preoperatively and postoperatively following pneumonectomy, lobectomy, wedge resection, and thoracotomy alone, respectively. In the pneumonectomy group (table 3) there was, as expected, a significant reduction in static lung volumes, as assessed by spirometric tests, with forced vital capacity (FVC) falling by 35%. Exercise ventilation was also reduced and overall exercise performance impaired (PV˙o 2 reduced by 28%). Following lobectomy (table 4) there was a smaller but still significant reduction in lung volumes (FVC down 14%) but exercise performance was not impaired (PV˙o 2 down only 10%). In the patients who underwent wedge resection (table 5) there was no significant change in spirometric indices or PV˙o 2, while in the thoracotomy group (table 6) there was a significant reduction in FEV1 of 11% but no significant change in FVC, TLC or PV˙o 2.

Table 3

Mean (SE) results of pulmonary function tests and exercise tests preoperatively and postoperatively following pneumonectomy (n = 13)

Table 4

Mean (SE) results of pulmonary function tests and exercise tests preoperatively and postoperatively following lobectomy (n = 14)

Table 5

Mean (SE) results of pulmonary function tests and exercise tests preoperatively and postoperatively following wedge resection (n = 13)

Table 6

Mean (SE) results of pulmonary function tests and exercise tests preoperatively and postoperatively following thoracotomy alone (n = 13)

Table 7 identifies the reason for stopping exercise in all patients in whom both preoperative and postoperative exercise tests were available. Three patients changed from cardiac to pulmonary limitation after pneumonectomy, but otherwise there was no major change in pattern.

Table 7

Reason for stopping exercise in patients before and after lung operation

Discussion

Exercise capacity as assessed by PV˙o 2 was reduced by 28% after pneumonectomy. Previous studies have shown reductions of 16%,8 20%,7and 28%.6 Our patients did not appear to feel more uncomfortable with the exercise, as manifest by similar preoperative and postoperative Borg scores. The peak ventilation rates were lower postoperatively but the ventilatory reserves were similar. Peak heart rate and respiratory exchange ratios were lower, reflecting the lower work load achieved. These results would suggest a ventilatory rather than circulatory limitation to exercise, with patients stopping exercise when a similar relative level of ventilation was reached. Other studies have suggested reduced ventilatory reserve,6 reduced stroke volume index,10 and pulmonary hypertension14 as causes of impaired exercise tolerance after pneumonectomy.

Lobectomy caused reductions in lung volumes of 15–20% which is in keeping with previous studies,6 ,7 ,10 but exercise capacity was not impaired, whereas other studies have found small but significant reductions in PV˙o 2 after lobectomy.7 ,8 Wedge resection produced no changes in static lung measurements or in exercise capacity.

After thoracotomy alone the only effect on spirometric indices was a small reduction in FEV1, despite the fact that in 17 cases no resection was performed because of inoperable tumour. It is possible that tumour progression in the interval between the two tests could have produced some degree of airways obstruction and radiotherapy may produce initial swelling followed by fibrosis, with a corresponding decline in lung function. There was also a small and non-significant fall in exercise capacity (PV˙o 2). This could be explained in part by two additional subjects performing submaximal tests, possibly related to general debility from tumour progression. Despite the limitations inherent in interpretation of data from such ill patients, we felt that it was important to include this group as no previous study has examined the effect on exercise capacity of simply opening and closing the chest, although one study has reported the effect on lung volumes.3 The group acts as a control and thoracotomy alone is almost the equivalent of the “sham” operation in animal studies.

Appropriate assessment of patients prior to surgery is very important. As well as a technically operable tumour, the patient should be considered fit to tolerate thoracotomy and lung resection. Many studies have suggested that exercise testing with measurement of PV˙o 2 is a useful predictor of postoperative outcome,5 ,15-19 although this is not a universal finding.20 ,21 Patients with PV˙o 2 less than 15–20 ml/min/kg have been found to be more likely to have postoperative complications.8 ,22 The responses to a submaximal exercise load may also give useful prognostic information.23 In the present study complications were highest in patients who had a pneumonectomy, in agreement with the findings of previous studies,24-26 but there were more postoperative deaths in patients who had a lobectomy which may reflect more careful selection of fitter patients for pneumonectomy with a higher initial PV˙o 2.

In conclusion, only patients who have had a pneumonectomy have reduced exercise tolerance, with a reduction in PV˙o 2 of around 28%. There is no significant impairment of exercise capacity following lobectomy, wedge resection, and thoracotomy with no resection, although small changes in static pulmonary function may occur.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr K Prasanna for help with exercise testing and to Sister E Crawford for her help with patient care.

References