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Biomedical subjects

P L Filosso

Publications and source records attributed to P L Filosso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Lung donors selection criteria: a review.

Lung transplantation has had increasing success worldwide and it became an acceptable treatment modality in end-stage pulmonary diseases. The insufficient supply of donor lungs, resulting in prolonged waiting time, and the significant rise of patients on the waiting list, have forced the most experienced transplantation centers to redefine the acceptable lung donor criteria including marginal allografts. Existing standard lung donor criteria have been established in the first period of lung transplantation activity, based mainly on opinions and individual experiences rather than on existing evidences: the paucity of donors may be also explained by the rigid application of these criteria. The quality of donor organs has a significant impact on early and long-term recipient outcome. Recent studies have demonstrated that the use of marginal donors did not affect early and late recipient outcome, and significantly increased the number of transplants performed. The aim of this paper is to review how the main lung donor selection criteria have been changed and how they influence the recipient outcome.

Brain Death↗
PubMed2004

The significance of associated pre-invasive lesions in patients resected for primary lung neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and clinico/prognostic significance of the presence of pre-invasive lesions in patients resected for primary lung neoplasm. METHODS: From 1993 to 2002, 1090 patients received resection for primary lung carcinomas. Of these, 73 presented an associated pre-invasive lesion in the surgical specimen distant from the primary tumour. Classification of pre-invasive lesions included Atypical Adenomatous Hyperplasia (AAH); Carcinoma In Situ (CIS) either diffuse or at the bronchial resection margin; Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH). Correlation between the presence of pre-invasive lesion and the following variables were calculated by logistic regression analysis: sex, age, median tumour size, histology, histologic differentiation, histologic evidence of invasiveness (vascular and perineural invasion), peritumoural lymphocytic infiltrate, pTNM, lobe location, history of previous malignancy. Survival rates were computed using Kaplan-Meier method and survival differences with the total patient population of resected lung carcinomas were tested using the log-rank method. RESULTS: There were 28 AAH, 42 CIS (5 at the bronchial resection margin) and 3 DIPNECH. Histology of the primary tumor included bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (9 patients), adenocarcinoma (19), squamous cell carcinoma (39), typical carcinoid tumour (3) and adenosquamous carcinoma (3). Overall prevalence of pre-invasive lesion was 6.7%. A strong correlation was found between the presence of AAH and the co-existence of either adenocarcinoma, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or mixed adenocarcinoma-containing tumours (P = 0.00002) between CIS and squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.009) and between DIPNECH and carcinoid tumours (P = 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the presence of any type of pre-invasive lesion and sex, age, median tumour size, histologic differentiation, histologic evidence of invasiveness, pTNM, lobe location and history of previous malignancy or the probability to develop a second primary lung carcinoma in the remaining lobe(s) after resection. Survival rates in the patients with AAH and CIS were not significantly different from those of patients without pre-invasive lesion (P = 0.3 and P = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Associated pre-invasive lesions in patients resected for primary lung neoplasms are not infrequent. AAH is associated with adenocarcinoma, CIS with squamous cell carcinoma, DIPNECH with typical carcinoid tumours. Our experience indicates that in these patients histology, stage distribution and survival do not differ from the total population of resected patients with lung tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

[Chronic inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma. Importance of an early treatment].

Chronic inflammation in asthma stimulates complex repair mechanisms which ultimately lead to deep structural changes in the bronchial tree, defined as airway remodeling, consisting principally in the thickening of the bronchial wall. These processes contribute to progressive airway narrowing with incomplete responsiveness to bronchodilating agents: clinical conditions of patients are irreversibly impaired. There is evidence that remodeling is a process that begins in early childhood and continues into adult life. These observations provide the rationale for early intervention with antiinflammatory drugs like inhaled corticosteroids, which effectively reduce airway inflammation and possibly prevent the progression to lung damage. Several clinical and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that these drugs inhibit cellular processes involved remodeling.

Asthma↗
PubMed2002

Severe hypoglycaemia associated with a giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) of the pleura are a rare neoplasm, with benign biological behaviour. Recurrences are rare, and no distant metastases are described in the literature. SFT can secrete hormone-like substances, responsible for paraneoplastic syndromes. The authors describe a case of severe hypoglycaemia due to insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-2)'s secretion by a giant SFT of the pleura. Hypoglycaemia was controlled by the resection of the tumor. Diagnosis and surgical management of these neoplasms are also discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

[Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumours].

Carcinoids are neuroendocrine neoplasms. Bronchial carcinoids are unusual, malignant primary neoplasms that characteristically involve the central airways and typically exhibit well-defined margins and bronchial-related growth. Bronchial carcinoids include low-grade typical carcinoids and the more aggressive atypical ones. They usually affect patients in the 3rd through the 7th decade of life who are often symptomatic with cough, hemoptysis or obstructive pneumonia. Rarely, the initial symptoms are related to the secretion of hormones causing carcinoid or other endocrine syndromes. Bronchial carcinoids radiologically manifest as hilar or perihilar masses, with or without associated atelectasis, pneumonia or bronchiectasis. At CT-scan the relationship of these tumors with the bronchial tree is usually seen, and they show contrast enhancement or calcification. Even if the radiological signs may be suggestive for bronchial carcinoid, the definitive diagnosis is reached only by the tissue sampling. Bronchoscopic biopsy is the more effective way to identify the nature of carcinoid tumors because of their frequent central location. The treatment of choice is the surgical resection which should be carried out with maximum respect for the residual lung and bronchial tissues. Endoscopic ablations in well defined cases, bronchotomy and lung resections with or without bronchoplastic procedures have been described. Hilar and mediastinal lymph node sampling and examination should be ever performed during open procedures. Positivity of the nodal tissues could influence the resection procedure and is related with the prognosis, specially for the atypical carcinoids. Chemo- and radiation therapy are not effective in improving the long-term outcome in those patients with advanced disease. The long-term outcome is strictly related with the histological subtype and the lymph node status. Local recurrences and distant metastases are more frequent in the atypical carcinoids which manifest a more aggressive behavior. During the last decade, the importance of the use of somatostatine analogues (octreotide) in the staging, early detection of the recurrent disease and its management such as that of the associated carcinoid syndrome became clear.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Solitary fibrous tumours (SFT) of the pleura are rare tumours originated from the mesenchimal tissue underlying the mesothelial layer of the pleura. This tumours present unpredictable clinical course probably related to their histological and morphological characteristics. METHODS: Twenty-one patients affected by SFT of the pleura were referred to us for surgical resection from September 1984 to April 2000. They were 15 males and six females with median age of 51 (range 15--73) years. Nine patients (43%) were symptomatic and predominant clinical symptoms or signs were dyspnoea (19%), coughing (14.3%), chest pain (28.5%), finger clubbing (14.3%) and hypoglycaemia (14.3%). Hypoglycaemia was related to a pathological incretion of insulin-like growth factor 2 by the tumour. Chest radiograph and computed tomography of the chest revealed intra-thoracic homogeneous sharply delineated round or lobulated mass sometimes associated with ipsilateral pleural effusion (19%) or causing pulmonary atelectasis with opacification of the complete hemithorax (19%). Surgical excision required 14 posterolateral thoracotomies, six anterior thoracotomies and one video-assisted thoracoscopy. Thirteen tumours arose from visceral pleura and wedge resection was performed, seven tumours arose from parietal pleura and extrapleural resection was carried out without any chest-wall resection, one tumour growth within the upper left lobe and required lobectomy. Tumours weighted from 22 to 1942 g and measured from 22x12x8 to 330x280x190 mm. At cut section seven cases (34%) revealed focal necrosis and hemorrhagic zones and on light microscopy six cases (28.5%) were characterized by high mitotic count: characteristics related with uncertain clinical behaviour. Immuno-histochemical reactions were in all cases positive for CD34. RESULTS: In all our patients resections were complete. Paraneoplastic syndromes like hypoglycaemia and clubbing receded after surgery. No intraoperative or perioperative medical or surgical complications occurred. Median chest-drain duration timed 3 (range 2--5) days and median hospital stay was 5 (range 4--7) days. Perioperative mortality rate was 0%. Median follow-up was 68 (range 2--189) months: during this period patients were submitted to chest X-ray with 6-months interval to evaluate possible local recurrence. Only one patient experienced tumour recurrence after 124 months follow-up: the tumour was suspected after observation of finger clubbing. The tumour was detected and excised by redo-thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of benign solitary fibrous tumours is usually curative, but local recurrences can occur years after seemingly adequate surgical treatment. Malignant solitary fibrous tumours generally have a poor prognosis. Clinical follow-up and radiological follow-up are indicated for both benign and malignant solitary fibrous tumours.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Frequency and mortality of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome after pulmonary resection for bronchogenic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the frequency and mortality of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in our population of patients submitted to pulmonary resection for primary bronchogenic carcinoma. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 1999, a total of 1221 patients received pulmonary resection for primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Of these, 27 met the criteria of post-operative ALI/ARDS. There were 24 men and three women with a mean age of 64 years (range 45--79). Pre-operatively, predicted mean of PaO(2), PaCO(2) and %FEV1 were 72 mmHg (57--86), 37 mmHg (33--42) and 80% (37--114), respectively. Associated cardiac risk factors were present in eight patients. Three patients (11%) had pre-operative radiotherapy. Surgical-pathologic staging included 14 patients at Stage I, 8 patients at Stage II, four patients at Stage IIIa and one patient at Stage IIIb. RESULTS: ALI/ARDS occurred in 2.2% of our operated lung cancer patients. ALI was diagnosed in 10 patients and ARDS in 17 patients. The mean time of presentation following surgery was 4 days (range 1--10) and 6 days (1--13) for ALI and ARDS, respectively. According to the type of operation, the frequency was highest following right pneumonectomy (4.5%), followed by sublobar resection (3.2%), left pneumonectomy (3%), bilobectomy (2.4%), and lobectomy (2%). The frequency following extended operations was 4%. No differences were found between the ALI/ARDS group and the total population of resected lung cancer patients (control group) with respect to sex, mean age, pre-operative blood gases, %FEV1, surgical--pathologic staging and the use of pre-operative radiotherapy. Four patients with ALI (40%) and 10 patients with ARDS (59%) died. Mortality was highest following right pneumonectomy, extended operations and sublobar resections. Hospital mortality of the total population of operated lung cancer patients in the same period was 2.8% (34 patients). ALI/ARDS accounted for 41% of our hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: (1) ALI/ARDS is a severe complication following resection for primary bronchogenic carcinoma. (2) We did not detect any significant difference between the ALI/ARDS group and the control group regarding age, pre-operative lung function, staging and pre-operative radiotherapy. (3) ALI/ARDS is associated with high mortality, the highest mortality rates having been observed following right pneumonectomy and extended operation; it currently represents our leading cause of death following pulmonary resection for lung carcinoma. (4) ALI/ARDS may also occur after sublobar resections with an associated high mortality rate.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗
PubMed2001

Supraventricular arrhythmias after resection surgery of the lung.

OBJECTIVE: Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing resection surgery of the lung during 1999 were retrospectively reviewed to define prevalence, type, clinical course and risk factors for postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) with particular reference to atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF). METHODS: Records of 200 lung patients were collected and analysed with particular attention to preoperative physiologic values and associated pathologies, lung functional status, electrocardiogram registration, extent of surgical resection of the lung and were also analysed to confirm or exclude correlation between them and postoperative AF; three patients were excluded as they were affected preoperatively by SVA. RESULTS: Forty-five episodes of SVA, 41 of AF were identified in 197 patients (22%) and were more prevalent in several groups of patients such as those with increased age, pneumonectomy and superior lobectomy. Rhythm disturbances were most likely to develop on the second day after surgery. Ninety-eight percent of AF disappeared within a day of discharge and sinus rhythm was restored with digitalis or other antiarrhythmic drugs in all patients except one who was discharged with persistent atrial fibrillation. Arrhythmias were not direct causes of any in-hospital deaths. There is a tendency in the difference of the AF rate between pneumonectomy and upper lobectomy patients versus inferior lobectomy ones, probably related to the different anatomic structure of the proximal trunks of the upper and inferior veins of the lung, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis revealed that increased age, extent and type of pulmonary resection, such as pneumonectomy and superior lobectomy were significant risk factors. Despite these factors, arrhythmias after lung surgery could be managed easily and were not closely related to higher mortality. Direct cause of AF after lung resection surgery remains unclear; anatomical substrate such as surgical damage to the cardiac plexus or to the proximal trunks of the pulmonary veins covered by myocardial sleeves with electrical properties are to be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Surgical management of acquired non-malignant tracheo-esophageal fistulas.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of one-stage surgical management of acquired non-malignant tracheo-esophageal fistulas (TEF). METHODS: Six consecutive patients, 2 men and 4 women with median age of 65 (range 34-71) years had tracheo-esophageal fistulas resulting from a median of 33 (range 20-86) days of intubation via oro-tracheal or tracheostomy tubes. Median TEF length was 2.6 (range 1.8-3.5) cm and the defect was associated with a tracheal stenosis near or immediately below the stoma in 4 cases (66%). Tracheal resection and anastomosis with primary esophageal closure was carried out in 4 patients; direct closure of the tracheal and esophageal defects with muscle flap interposition was performed in 2 patients: tracheal stoma was left in site because of the high risk of postoperative respiratory insufficiency related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RESULTS: All six patients had complete control of the TEF. One perioperative death occurred on day 27 (16%) related to the recurrence of endocranial bleeding. The 5 long-term survivors were routinely submitted to tracheo-bronchoscopic control and only one (20%) revealed granulation tissue at the suture line requiring two consecutive bronchoscopic removals. CONCLUSIONS: Postintubation tracheoesophageal fistula is usually best treated with one-stage surgical procedure: which preferably consists of tracheal resection and anastomosis and primary esophageal closure.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Atypical bronchial carcinoids. Review of 46 patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the behaviour of atypical carcinoids operated at our Department in the period 1977-1998 and to review the last 19 cases according to Capella's classification (1994), indicating the most adequate surgical approach. METHODS: On the basis of anatomo-pathological characteristics, we have reviewed surgical treatment and outcome in 46 patients, submitted in the last 22 years to surgical resection for neuroendocrine neoplasms. RESULTS: 5-year survival is 77.2%; 10-year survival is 53.2%. Lymph node metastases are also important for survival, but less than the histotype. The review of our last six years' series, according to Capella's classification, of 19 patients affected by so-called atypical carcinoids revealed that: 5 were well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNT), 12 were well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (WDNC), 2 were small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCLC). The 5-year overall survival of our cases is 78%, for the WDNT 100%, for WDNC 81.2%. Of the 2 patients with SCLC, one survived 2 months; the other is still alive 5 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that 5-year and 10-year survival are strongly related to the histological type of neuroendocrine neoplasm and to the presence of lymph node metastases. Capella's anatomo-pathological classification helps to give a more accurate prognosis for survival in so-called "atypical carcinoids". If the neoplasm is malignant, the authors recommend radical resection, if possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Long-term survival of patients treated with octreotide for metastatic well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.

Two patients with a radically operated well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (WDNC) of the lung who developed a carcinoid syndrome due to metastatic spread of the tumor are reported. Treatment with somatostatin analogue octreotide was administered to both patients following their refusal of a standard chemotherapic regimen. Prompt resolution of the carcinoid syndrome was observed in both following octreotide treatment and both patients are alive and well after more than four years without evidence of further progression of the tumor. It is suggested that octreotide should be considered as an effective therapy in WDNC for the control of the disease and associated paraneoplastic syndromes.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMed1999

Resection for bronchogenic carcinoma in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this report was to assess postoperative complications, mortality and long term survival of surgical therapy for non small cell lung cancer in patients aged 70 years or more. Results and the significance of various prognostic factors were analysed. METHODS: At Thoracic Surgery Department of Torino, from January 1980 to December 1997, 258 patients aged 70 years or more were operated on for lung cancer. For the first 11 years of the series, more restrictive selection criteria were adopted (clinical stage I or II lung cancer, absence of major concomitant disease or previous malignancy in the last 5 years); 60 patients were operated in this period. After 1990, such criteria were no longer considered mandatory; since then 198 patients have been operated. Clinical data are reviewed in the search for predictors of mortality and morbidity and survival data are analysed. RESULTS: Overall postoperative mortality was 3.1% and morbidity was 39.1%. Pneumonectomy resulted in higher rate of mortality (9.1%, p 0.03). Complications proved to be more frequent in patients with concomitant disease (55.5%). Multivariate analysis on survival showed the importance of stage (5 years survival was 73.6% in stage I, 23% in stage II, 8.9% in stage IIIa) and type of selection (57% for the highly selected, 40% for the others). CONCLUSIONS: Selection criteria have the same impact on survival as stage in surgical treatment of lung cancer in the elderly. This factor should be analysed in series covering a long period of time. Low mortality and acceptable long term survival from this study confirmed that surgery is worthwhile in elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Postoperative pain and superficial abdominal reflexes after posterolateral thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Posterolateral thoracotomy can produce stretching of/or damage to the intercostal nerves and their branches. To assess intercostal nerve impairment after operation, we measured the superficial abdominal reflexes, which are mediated, at least in part, by the most inferior intercostal nerves. METHODS: Using electrophysiologic techniques, we made recordings from the left and right abdominal walls to study the responses evoked by mechanical stimulation of the skin after operation. In addition, we assessed postoperative pain intensity according to a numeric rating scale and recorded postoperative opioid dose. RESULTS: We found that the patients with complete disappearance of the superficial abdominal reflexes experienced more severe postoperative pain than those in whom the reflexes were maintained. Moreover, opioid treatment was less effective in the patients with no reflexes postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a strict correlation between pain intensity after posterolateral thoracotomy and absence of abdominal reflexes. We suggest that the higher pain intensity together with the absence of reflexes may be due to intercostal nerve impairment, be it anatomic or functional, and thus to a larger neuropathic component of postoperative pain. This finding may be used as a predictor of patients with high analgesic requirements.

Electrophysiology↗