A Multicenter Retrospective Case-Control Study on Simple vs Extended Sleeve Lobectomies

Background: Sleeve resection is currently the gold standard procedure for centrally located non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Extended sleeve lobectomy (ESL) consists of an atypical bronchoplasty with resection of >1 lobe and carries several technical difficulties compared with simple sleeve lobectomy (SSL). Our study compared the outcomes of ESL and SSL for NSCLC. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study included 1314 patients who underwent ESL (155 patients) or SSL (1159 patients) between 2000 and 2018. The primary end points were 30-day and 90-day mortality, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and complications. Results: No differences were found between the 2 groups in general characteristics and surgical and survival outcomes. In particular, there were no differences in early and late complication frequency, 30- and 90-day mortality, R status, recurrence, OS (54.26 ± 33.72 months vs 56.42 ± 32.85 months, P = .444), and DFS (46.05 ± 36.14 months vs 47.20 ± 35.78 months, P = .710). Mean tumor size was larger in the ESL group (4.72 ± 2.30 cm vs 3.81 ± 1.78 cm, P < .001). Stage IIIA was the most prevalent stage in ESL group (34.8%), whereas stage IIB was the most prevalent in SSL group (34.3%; P < .001). The multivariate analyses found nodal status was the only independent predictive factor for OS. Conclusions: ESL gives comparable short- and long-term outcomes to SSL. Appropriate preoperative staging and exclusion of metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes, as well as complete (R0) resection, are essential for good long-term outcomes.