Mesothelioma Surgical Candidates Compare Mortality and Morbidity Rates

Pleural mesothelioma patients considering surgery should be aware of the latest comparison study, detailing the mortality and morbidity rates of aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). Despite advances in all therapies that make up the standard of care for mesothelioma, the EPP surgery still carries stubbornly high mortality and morbidity rates when compared to the less aggressive — but often equally effective — P/D surgery. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in April published the findings of a three-year, multicenter study of surgical morbidity and mortality in both procedures. The significant difference in the rates continues to fuel the simmering debate over which procedure is most advantageous to patients. Both procedures involve removing the thin lining around the lungs, which is where the cancer typically begins spreading. The EPP also involves removing an entire diseased lung, the lining around the heart and major parts of the diaphragm to hopefully remove as much of the disease as possible. The P/D involves removing the entire lining, plus meticulously removing any tumors visible on the lung and throughout the chest cavity. The patient retains both lungs. "I don't think there were any big surprises in the study, but rather what we suspected all along. It confirmed some of the feelings we already had," renowned mesothelioma surgeon Wickii Vigneswaran, M.D., at the University of Chicago Medical Center,...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news