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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;21:74-78
© 2002 Elsevier Science NL

Mediastinal reinforcement after induction therapy and pneumonectomy: comparison of intercostal muscle versus diaphragm flaps

Didier Lardinoisa*, Alexandra Horscha, Thorsten Kruegerb, Michael Dusmetb, Hans-Beat Risb

a Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
b Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland

Received 23 January 2001; received in revised form 24 October 2001; accepted 29 October 2001.

* Corresponding author. Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, CH 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel.: +41-1-255-8802; fax: +41-1-255-8805
e-mail: didier.lardinois{at}chi.usz.ch


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 References
 
Objective: Prospective non-randomised comparison of full-thickness pedicled diaphragm flap with intercostal muscle flap in terms of morbidity and efficiency for bronchial stump coverage after induction therapy followed by pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Between 1996 and 1998, a consecutive series of 26 patients underwent pneumonectomy following induction therapy. Half of the patients underwent mediastinal reinforcement by use of a pedicled intercostal muscle flap (IF) and half of the patients by use of a pedicled full-thickness diaphragm muscle flap (DF). Patients in both groups were matched according to age, gender, side of pneumonectomy and stage of NSCLC. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were recorded. Six months follow-up including physical examination and pulmonary function testing was performed to examine the incidence of bronchial stump fistulae, gastro-esophageal disorders or chest wall complaints. Results: There was no 30-day mortality in both groups. Complications were observed in one of 13 patients after IF and five of 13 after DF including pneumonia in two (one IF and one DF), visceral herniations in three (DF) and bronchopleural fistula in one patient (DF). There were no symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Postoperative pulmonary function testing revealed no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: Pedicled intercostal and diaphragmatic muscle flaps are both valuable and effective tools for prophylactic mediastinal reinforcement following induction therapy and pneumonectomy. In our series of patients, IF seemed to be associated with a smaller operation-related morbidity than DF, although the difference was not significant. Pedicled full-thickness diaphragmatic flaps may be indicated after induction therapy and extended pneumonectomy with pericardial resection in order to cover the stump and close the pericardial defect since they do not adversely influence pulmonary function.

Key Words: Diaphragm • Intercostal muscle • Flap • Pneumonectomy • Induction therapy • Lung cancer


   1. Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 References
 
Bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy remains a serious complication and represents a therapeutic challenge [1]. Several factors such as age, malnutrition, right-sided pneumonectomy, extensive resections, a long residual bronchial stump, and preoperative steroid therapy or induction chemo- or radiotherapy were identified to increase the risk of its development [1–5]. Prevention during surgery includes the creation of a short, vascularised bronchial stump covered by tissue flaps, such as pericardium, pleura, omentum and muscle flaps (intercostal, latissimus dorsi or serratus anterior muscles) [6]. A pedicled flap of the diaphragm has also been described for this purpose [7].

Neoadjuvant induction therapy is increasingly used in combination with resection for advanced lung cancer [8,9], which might increase the risk of bronchopleural fistula by causing immune depression and delayed wound healing [1]. In fact, a recently published report found a markedly increased incidence of bronchopleural fistulas after pneumonectomy without bronchial stump reinforcement following induction therapy, ranging from 8% after chemoinduction up to 19% after radiochemoinduction [10].

Unfortunately, many of the intrathoracic tissues usually harvested for mediastinal reinforcement are either resected during resection for advanced disease or altered by induction therapy and are therefore not amenable for coverage. Alternatives consist of using extrathoracic muscles such as serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi, pectoralis or rectus abdominis [6,11]. The morbidity of these muscle flaps may consist of seromas, chest wall complaints, and winged scapula [1]. The greater omentum also provides good coverage with well vascularised tissue but requires a separate abdominal incision to be prepared [11]. The diaphragm flap may represent a valid alternative [12–15]. Goldstraw et al. reported its use to repair pericardial defects after extensive resection for pulmonary malignancies on the right side to avoid cardiac herniation [16]. In this study, we have prospectively compared the efficiency and morbidity of a full-thickness pedicled diaphragmatic flap and a pedicled intercostal flap in this respect in patients undergoing pneumonectomy following induction therapy for stages IIIa and IIIb NSCLC.


   2. Patients and methods
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
3. Results
 4. Discussion
 References
 
Between 1996 and 1998, a consecutive series of 26 patients undergoing pneumonectomy following induction chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy for stages IIIa and IIIb NSCLC were matched according to mediastinal reinforcement by use of IF and DF (Table 1). The patients were alternately allocated to the groups IF and DF, and were prospectively compared for complications, pulmonary function and gastro-esophageal symptoms.


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  		Table 1. Tumor staging according to the TNM classificationa

 
Induction chemotherapy consisted of three courses with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and docetaxel (85 mg/m2) according to the SAKK 16/96 protocol [4]. Hyperfractionated accelerated thoracic radiation of 30 gy and concurrent chemotherapy (three cycles with cisplatin 60 mg/m2 and vinblastin 6 mg/m2) was delivered to the patients with NSCLC IIIa bulky, multilevel N2 disease and to the patients with stage IIIb.

The diaphragmatic flap was fashioned with a full-thickness U-shape incision by use of a stapling device. The flap was based on the uncut mediastinal margin with the blood supply to the flap keeping intact by the pericardiophrenic artery or inferior phrenic arteries. The diaphragmatic pedicled flap was buttressed to the bronchial stump with interrupted sutures and sewn along its edges to the neighbouring tissues such as pleura or pericardium (Fig. 1). The major lateral part of the resulting diaphragmatic defect was closed with a running Prolene® suture. A mersilene mesh (polyethylen-terephthalat) was then adapted to the medial remaining part of the defect and sewn to the edge of the diaphragm and to the basal peritoneal surface of the flap (Fig. 2). The use of a mersilene mesh was introduced after three patients presented with visceral herniations. In these patients diaphragmatic defect had been primarily completely sutured with a running, non-resorbable suture. Probably, excessive tension on the suture line lead to its breakdown and was followed by herniation.



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  		Fig. 1. Mediastinal reinforcement by use of a pedicled diaphragm flap following extended pneumonectomy; superior vena cava (SVC), azygos vein (AV), diaphragm flap (DF).

 


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  		Fig. 2. Technique of diaphragmatic repair: (1) diaphragm flap; (2) mersilene mesh; and (3) suture line.

 
The intercostal muscle flap was fashioned in the 5th intercostal space without any removal of a rib. The periostium of the lower border of the 5th rib was incised and the flap was prepared by keeping contact with the rib to avoid injury of the intercostal blood supply. The anterior edge of the flap was then placed on the hilum and adapted with interrupted sutures. All the operations were performed by the same surgical team, consisting of two surgeons, independently of the muscle flap.

The postoperative course of all patients of both groups was recorded by physicians who were blind to the group allocation. A clinical examination and pulmonary function testing were performed on each patient 6 months after the operation. The clinical evaluation included subjective assessment of chest wall and shoulder girdle complaints, symptoms of GERD and a physical examination of chest wall integrity and shoulder girdle function. Pulmonary function was assessed, and the differences between predicted and measured postoperative FEV1 values of both groups were compared by use of the Wilcoxon-rank sum test. Significance was accepted at P<0.05.


   3. Results
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
4. Discussion
 References
 
Each group consisted of 13 patients (ten male, three female). The mean age of the DF and IF patients was 62 years (range 46–73) and 59 years (range 49–70 years), respectively. A right pneumonectomy was performed in eight of 13 patients (61.5%) in both groups. The indication for pneumonectomy was a centrally localised non-small cell lung cancer in all patients.

The 30-day mortality of the whole series was 0%. Complications were observed during follow-up in six patients (23%) and included atelectasis and pneumonia of the contralateral lung in one patient in each group, three visceral herniations after left pneumonectomy in the DF group (Fig. 3a, b), and one bronchial stump insufficiency in the DF group. All patients with visceral herniation underwent re-thoracotomy and closure of the diaphragmatic defect. These herniations were observed in the early phase of our experience, when the diaphragmatic defect was closed primarily without using a mersilene mesh for repair. All three patients recovered uneventfully.



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  		Fig. 3. Postoperative chest X-ray revealing diaphragmatic herniation following left sided pneumectomy and use of a diaphragmatic flap: (a) lateral view; and (b) p.-a. view.

 
Bronchial stump insufficiency was observed 2 months after surgery in a patient with synchronous NSCLC of the upper right lobe and the trachea. The patient initially underwent a right upper lobectomy with adjuvant radiochemotherapy, including 60 gy of external irradiation in combination with endotracheal brachytherapy. Twelve months later, chronic infection and destruction of the remaining middle lobe was observed and a completion right pneumonectomy was performed. The mediastinum and bronchial stump were covered with a diaphragmatic flap. A bronchopleural fistula was observed 2 months after operation. The bronchial stump was debrided and closed with a pedicled serratus anterior muscle flap. The chest cavity was left open and daily wet-to-dry dressings were done. After 4 weeks the Clagett procedure was performed and the patient had an uneventful recovery.

Six months follow-up was performed in 24/26 (92%) patients. Chest wall complaints were observed in two patients in each group (15.4%), consisting of intermittent discomfort in one patient of each group, and constant pain in two patients. Both of the latter patients underwent radiotherapy prior to surgery. The shoulder girdle function was normal and symmetrical in 22/26 (85%) patients. In two patients in each group, the abduction of the involved upper extremity was limited to 90° and 110°, respectively. Two of these patients had undergone a postoperative radiotherapy. Clinical signs for gastro-oesophageal reflux were not noted in any patient in either group. Pulmonary function testing revealed no statistical significance in the analyse of the differences between predicted and recorded FEV1 in both groups (P=0.7; Table 2).


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  		Table 2. Pulmonary function testing 6 months after pneumonectomy and mediastinal reinforcement by use of diaphragm flaps (DF) or intercostal muscle flaps (IF)

 

   4. Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
References
 
Induction therapy followed by resection in patients with NSCLC may require increased awareness for mediastinal reinforcement in order to prevent bronchopleural fistulae since tissues usually used for stump coverage may be altered after induction and not be suitable for this purpose [2,3,10]. Intercostal muscle flap and pedicled diaphragmatic flap have already been used to this respect.

However, a prospective comparison between intercostal and diaphragmatic flap for prophylactic mediastinal reinforcement after pneumonectomy has not been studied until now. No difference concerning wound healing, chest wall complaints and shoulder girdle function was observed between the two groups 6 months after operation. These findings do not surprise, since the surgical approach with a posterolateral thoracotomy was the same in both groups. A total of 15% of the patients complained of chest wall discomfort 6 months after the operation. This corresponds to the results obtained from our prospective study comparing chest wall complaints after thoracotomy and thoracoscopy [17]. Shoulder girdle function was normal and symmetrical in 85% of the patients. Two patients in each group presented limited abduction of the involved upper extremity, probably due to postoperative radiotherapy in two patients. It has also been suggested that impaired shoulder girdle function might be related to inadequate postoperative pain control and physiotherapy rather than to the transection of chest wall muscles [18].

The rate of complications of the whole series was 23%. Major complications were visceral herniations after left pneumonectomy in three patients after diaphragmatic flaps. It was early in the series and part of the ‘learning curve’. In subsequent patients a mersilene mesh was used to close the medial diaphragmatic defect, and no further visceral herniation was observed.

Bronchial stump insufficiency was observed in one patient in the DF group 2 months after right pneumonectomy and induction radiochemotherapy. All other patients of both groups had an uneventful healing of their bronchial suture line, indicating that IF and DF are both efficient to prevent bronchopleural fistulas following induction therapy and pneumonectomy for NSCLC.

Our results also indicate that the use of the DF does not adversely influence the gastro-esophageal motility and pulmonary function as compared to the IF despite the fact that the ipsilateral phrenic nerve was sacrificed in all patients with a DF. This may be explained by the effect of primary closure of the diaphragmatic defect, which is comparable to diaphragmatic plication. Plication of the paralysed hemidiaphragm was described as an effective treatment for postoperative diaphragmatic paralysis after pneumonectomy [19,20]. It seems to improve contralateral hemidiaphragm function by increasing the transdiaphragmatic pressure [21,22].

In conclusion, our results seem to indicate that intercostal muscle flaps and pedicled diaphragmatic flaps are two valuable and effective methods in the prevention of bronchopleural fistulae following induction therapy and pneumonectomy. No statistical difference could be observed between the two groups of patients. The use of IF reinforcement may be preferred due to the easier way to fashion it. Centrally located NSCLC pre-treated by chemoradiotherapy usually requires extensive resection including pericardium in order to obtain adequate resection margins and save control of vessels. In these situation the DF has the advantage to ensure the bronchial stump reinforcement and to cover at the same time the pericardial defect with autologous material. However, careful attention has to be given to technical details in the fashion of the diaphragmatic flap to avoid serious complications like visceral herniations.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 References
 

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  4. SIAK. Swiss Institute for Applied Cancer Research. Bern, Switzerland.
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  6. Pairolero P.C., Arnold P.G., Piehler J.M. Intrathoracic transposition of extrathoracic skeletal muscle. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1983;86:809-817.[Abstract]
  7. Mineo T.C., Ambrogi V. Early closure of the postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula by pedicled diaphragmatic flaps. Ann Thorac Surg 1995;60:714-715.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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  9. Hensing T.A., Detterbeck F., Socinski M.A. The role of induction therapy in the management of resectable non-small cell lung cancer [see comments]. Cancer Control 2000;7:45-55.[Medline]
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  11. Yokomise H., Takahashi Y., Inui K., Yagi K., Mizuno H., Aoki M., Wada H., Hitomi S. Omentoplasty for postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1994;8:122-124.[Abstract]
  12. Mineo T.C., Ambrogi V. The diaphragmatic flap: a multiuse material in thoracic surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:1084-1089.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Westaby S., Shepherd M.P., Nohl-Oser H.C. The use of diaphragmatic pedicle grafts for reconstructive procedures in the esophagus and tracheobronchial tree. Ann Thorac Surg 1982;33:486-490.[Medline]
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  15. Macoviak J.A., Stephenson L.W., Spielman S., Greenspan A., Likoff M., Sutton M.S., Reichek N., Rashkind W.J., Edmunds L.H., Jr Replacement of ventricular myocardium with diaphragmatic skeletal muscle: short-term studies. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1981;81:519-527.[Abstract]
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  19. Takeda S., Nakahara K., Fujii Y., Minami M., Matsuda H. Plication of paralyzed hemidiaphragm after right sleeve pneumonectomy. Ann Thorac Surg 1994;58:1755-1757.[Abstract]
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