Background: As second pulmonary resections (SecPRs) for lung cancer become more common, their perioperative safety and efficacy require clarification. We aimed to identify 30-day morbidity or mortality, associated risk factors, and oncologic efficacy among SecPR patients.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of individuals ≥18 years old who underwent lung resections for cancer between 2012 and 2023 using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database. Patients were assigned to SecPR and single pulmonary resection (SiPR) cohorts. The primary outcome was 30-day major morbidity (as defined by the Society) or mortality. Efficacy was determined by pathologic margins and lymph node resection. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were performed.
Results: Of 144,919 resections, 2729 (1.9%) were SecPR. R0 resection rates were similar (97.5% vs 96.6%; P = .09). Fewer lymph nodes were resected in SecPR compared with SiPR (median, 7 vs 11; P < .001). Major morbidity or mortality occurred in 4.6% of SecPR vs 5.9% of SiPR (P = .004). Factors associated with morbidity or mortality after SecPR included reduced pulmonary function (odds ratio [OR], 1.15), interstitial fibrosis (OR, 3.34), any complication (OR, 1.99), and unexpected escalation of care after first surgery (OR, 3.28). Compared with wedges, segmentectomies, lobectomies, and pneumonectomies resulted in >2-, 4-, and 8-fold increases in morbidity or mortality, respectively. SecPR was not independently associated with increased morbidity or mortality in propensity score-matched analysis (OR, 0.84; P = .13).
Conclusions: SecPR is efficacious and not inherently associated with short-term risk. Patient selection remains critical.
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