Evaluation of the surgical fat-filling procedure in the treatment of refractory cough after systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in patients with right lung cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To evaluate the efficacy of the surgical fat-filling procedure (SFFP) in the treatment of refractory cough and quality of life (QOL) after systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in patients with right lung cancer.

METHODS:

This is a blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate refractory cough and QOL in patients after mediastinal lymphadenectomy for lung cancer. One hundred eligible lung cancer patients were randomly divided into two groups: the fat-filling group and non-filling group. In the fat-filling group, post-lymphadenectomy residual cavities (PLRCs) were filled with fatty tissue autografts after lymph node dissection. In the non-filling group, the PLRCs remained unfilled. Clinical endpoints were postoperative cough score and QOL.

RESULTS:

The SFFP did not increase intraoperative bleeding, extend operation time, or hospital stay. Further, night cough was significantly improved after 4 wk in the fat-filling group after the removal of a chest drainage tube. QOL issues, such as emotional condition, functional status, and additional concerns, demonstrated a remarkable improvement in the fat-filling group at postoperative 1 mo compared with the non-filling (control) group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates that filling PLRCs with fatty tissue autografts is a safe and partially effective treatment for refractory cough after major pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. This novel procedure significantly improved patient QOL and may prove useful as a relatively safe preventive surgical adjunct operation for refractory cough.

• Authors: Jia Huang, Qingquan Luo, Qiang Tan, Hao Lin, Liqiang Qian, Zhengping Ding
• Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res) Vol. 187 Issue 2 Pg. 490-5 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1095-8673 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24300131 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (transplantation)
• Aged
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (surgery)
• Cough (etiology, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (surgery)
• Lymph Node Excision (adverse effects, methods)
• Male
• Mediastinum (surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Pneumonectomy (methods)
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Single-Blind Method
• Transplantation, Autologous
• Treatment Outcome