Randomized Comparison of Awake Nonresectional Versus Nonawake Resectional Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Randomized Comparison of Thoracoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Performed by Resectional Surgical Technique Under General Anesthesia or by a Non-Resectional Technique in Awake Patients Under Sole Epidural Anesthesia

Lung volume reduction surgery is effective in improving pulmonary function and quality of life in selected patients with severe emphysema although the morbidity of this surgical procedure is still considerable. Morbidity is mainly addressed to general anesthesia-related adverse effects and surgical trauma deriving from lung resection. Having developed an awake nonresectional lung volume reduction surgery technique, which is performed under sole thoracic epidural anesthesia, we have hypothesized that it could offer satisfactory clinical results and reduced morbidity rate when compared with the conventional surgical procedure.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pulmonary Emphysema
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: awake nonresectional LVRS; Procedure: Nonawake resectional LVRS

Detailed Description

There is increasing scientific evidence that resectional lung volume reduction (LVR) can induce long lasting clinical improvements in selected patients with upper-lobe predominant emphysema and that clinical benefit and survival are better than those achieved with maximized medical treatment. The most widely employed surgical technique entails unilateral or bilateral staple resection of the most emphysematous lung tissue performed under general anesthesia through open or thoracoscopic approaches.

However, the type of surgical approach did not modify the considerable procedure-related morbidity, which can be mainly addressed to general anesthesia and surgical trauma deriving from resection of emphysematous lung tissue. Indeed, following resectional LVR expected mortality and pulmonary morbidity are 5.5% and 30%, respectively. Time spent for postoperative recovering is often prolonged with about 30% of patients still hospitalized or in rehabilitation facilities at 1 month and 15% still not at home 2 months after the operation. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of LVR continue to be questioned.

In recent years, the concept of nonresectional LVR is being investigated and new bronchoscopic approaches have been developed in an attempt of reducing the typical shortcomings of resectional LVR. Within the framework of the proposed nonsurgical methods which differ somewhat in physiopathologic bases and mechanism of LVR, a common denominator is that, so far, all needed general anesthesia.

We have developed an awake nonresectional LVR surgery technique, which respects the basic concepts of resectional LVR but adds some theoretical advantages and is performed under sole thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Following an initial pilot study to assess feasibility and early results, we want to analyze in a randomized fashion the perioperative morbidity and comprehensive 2-year results of thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery performed by the awake nonresectional or nonawake resectional surgical techniques.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Rome, Italy, 00133
    • Policlinico Tor Vergata University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Severe smoking-related emphysema with upper-lobe predominance
• Severe disability (MMRC dyspnea grade>=3) despite maximized medical therapy including respiratory rehabilitation
• No clinically significant sputum production, bronchiectasis or asthma postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in onee second (FEV1)<40% predicted
• Residual volume (RV)>180% predicted at body plethysmography
• Total Lung capacity>120% predicted
• No instable angina or ventricular arrythmia
• Peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure <50 mmHg at echocardiocolordoppler
• Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2)<50 mmHg
• Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO)> 20% predicted
• Quit smoking since at least 4 months
• ASA score<=3
• Body mass index >18 <29
• No comorbid condition that would significantly increase operative risk or negatively affect participation in a vigorous respiratory rehabilitation program
• No neoplastic disease with life expectancy < 12 months
• No previous pleurodesis or thoracotomy in the more affected hemithorax

Exclusion Criteria:

• Radiologic evidence of extensive pleural adhesions with pleural scarring and calcifications on site targeted for LVRS
• Patients refusal or noncompliance to thoracic epidural anesthesia and awake surgery
• Patients refusal or noncompliance to general surgery and one-lung ventilation
• Unfavorable anatomy for thoracic epidural anesthesia
• Previous surgery of the cervical or upper thoracic spine
• Compromised coagulation (thromboplastin time<80%, prothrombin time>40 sec, platelet count<100/nL or bleeding disorder

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1	Procedure: awake nonresectional LVRS; Thoracoscopic nonresectional lung volume reduction surgery carried out in awake patients under sole epidural anesthesia through plication of most emphysematous target areas of the lung
Active Comparator: 2	Procedure: Nonawake resectional LVRS; Thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery carried out under general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation through nonanatomic resection of the most emphysematous target areas of the lung

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
mortality	3 months
Hospital stay	2 months
Forced expiratory volume in one second	24 months
Residual volume	24 months
Modified Medical research Council Dyspnea index	24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Arterial carbon dioxide tension (mmHg)	2 days
Arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (PaO2/FiO2)	2 days
Anesthesia satisfaction score (graded from 1=unsatisfactory to 4=Excellent)	1 day (24h post-surgery)
Six minute walking test distance (m)	24 months
Short form 36-item quality of life physical function domain score	24 months
Body mass index (Kg/m2)	24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Rome Tor Vergata
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eugenio Pompeo, MD, Thoracic Surgery Division, Policlinico Tor Vergata University; Study Chair: Tommaso C Mineo, MD, Thoracic Surgery Division, Policlinico Tor Vergata University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Pompeo E, Marino M, Nofroni I, Matteucci G, Mineo TC. Reduction pneumoplasty versus respiratory rehabilitation in severe emphysema: a randomized study. Pulmonary Emphysema Research Group. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Sep;70(3):948-53; discussion 954. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)01646-5.
• Mineo TC, Pompeo E, Rogliani P, Dauri M, Turani F, Bollero P, Magliocchetti N. Effect of lung volume reduction surgery for severe emphysema on right ventricular function. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Feb 15;165(4):489-94. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.165.4.2108129.
• Pompeo E, Mineo TC; Pulmonary Emphysema Research group. Long-term outcome of staged versus one-stage bilateral thoracoscopic reduction pneumoplasty. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2002 Apr;21(4):627-33; discussion 633. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(02)00038-6.
• Mineo TC, Ambrogi V, Pompeo E, Bollero P, Mineo D, Nofroni I; Pulmonary Emphysema Research Group. Body weight and nutritional changes after reduction pneumoplasty for severe emphysema: a randomized study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2002 Oct;124(4):660-7. doi: 10.1067/mtc.2002.123807.
• Pompeo E, De Dominicis E, Ambrogi V, Mineo D, Elia S, Mineo TC. Quality of life after tailored combined surgery for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer and severe emphysema. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Dec;76(6):1821-7. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(03)01302-x.
• Mineo TC, Ambrogi V, Pompeo E, Elia S, Mineo D, Bollero P, Nofroni I. Impact of lung volume reduction surgery versus rehabilitation on quality of life. Eur Respir J. 2004 Feb;23(2):275-80. doi: 10.1183/09031936.03.00025203.
• Mineo TC, Pompeo E, Mineo D, Rogliani P, Leonardis C, Nofroni I. Results of unilateral lung volume reduction surgery in patients with distinct heterogeneity of emphysema between lungs. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Jan;129(1):73-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2004.05.024.
• Tacconi F, Pompeo E, Mineo TC. Late-onset occult pneumothorax after lung volume-reduction surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2005 Dec;80(6):2008-12. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.06.013.
• Mineo TC, Pompeo E, Mineo D, Tacconi F, Marino M, Sabato AF. Awake nonresectional lung volume reduction surgery. Ann Surg. 2006 Jan;243(1):131-6. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000182917.39534.2c.
• Mineo TC, Pompeo E, Mineo D, Ambrogi V, Ciarapica D, Polito A. Resting energy expenditure and metabolic changes after lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Oct;82(4):1205-11. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.05.030.
• Mineo TC, Pompeo E. Long-term results of tailored lung volume reduction surgery for severe emphysema. Clin Ter. 2007 Mar-Apr;158(2):127-33.
• Pompeo E, Mineo TC. Two-year improvement in multidimensional body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity index after nonresectional lung volume reduction surgery in awake patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 Dec;84(6):1862-9; discussion 1862-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.07.007.
• Pompeo E, Rogliani P, Tacconi F, Dauri M, Saltini C, Novelli G, Mineo TC; Awake Thoracic Surgery Research Group. Randomized comparison of awake nonresectional versus nonawake resectional lung volume reduction surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Jan;143(1):47-54, 54.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2011.09.050. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2002
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2007
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2007
• Last Verified: October 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: COPD; VATS; One-lung ventilation; Emphysema; LVRS; Awake surgery; Thoracic epidural anesthesia; Lung surgery
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonary Emphysema; Emphysema
• Other Study ID Numbers: MED2112025; enfis12022

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No