Bilobectomy for lung cancer is considered a high-risk procedure for the increased postoperative complication rate and the negative impact on survival. We analyzed the safety and the oncologic results of this procedure.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent bilobectomy for lung cancer between October 1998 and August 2009. Age, gender, bilobectomy type and indication, complications, pathology, stage, and survival were analyzed.

RESULTS: Bilobectomy was performed on 146 patients (101 men; mean age, 62 years). There were 77 upper-middle and 69 middle-lower bilobectomies. Indications were tumor extending across the fissure in 27 (18.5%) patients, endobronchial tumor in 39 (26.7%), extrinsic tumor or nodal invasion of bronchus intermedius in 66 (45.2%), and vascular invasion in 14 (9.6%). An extended resection was performed in 24 patients (16.4%). Induction therapy was performed in 43 patients (29.4%). Thirty-day mortality was 1.4% (n = 2). Overall morbidity was 47.2%. Mean chest tube persistence was 7 days (range, 6 to 46 days). Overall 5-year survival was 58%. Significance differences in survival were observed among different stages (stage I, 70%; stage II, 55%; stage III, 40%; p = 0.0003) and the N status (N0, 69%; N1, 56%; N2, 40%; p = 0.0005). Extended procedure (p = 0.0003) and superior bilobectomy (p = 0.0008) adversely influenced survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an extended resection (p = 0.01), an advanced N disease (p = 0.02), and an upper-mild lobectomy (p = 0.02) adversely affected prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Bilobectomy is associated with a low mortality and an increased morbidity. Survival relates to disease stage and N factor. Optimal prognosis is obtained in patients with lower-middle lobectomy without extension of the resection.