Complications of chest wall around malignant tumors: differences based on reconstruction strategy

Abstract

Background The chest wall around malignant tumors needs wide resection with tumor-free margins, and reconstruction methods differ according to tumor depth. This study evaluated differences in complications according to reconstruction strategy. Methods Forty-five patients with 52 operations for resection of the chest wall around malignant tumors were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized as having superficial tumors, comprising Group A with simple closure for small soft tissue defects and Group B with flap coverage for wide soft tissue defects, or deep tumors, comprising Group C with full-thickness resection with or without mesh reconstruction and Group D with full-thickness resection covered by flap with or without polymethyl methacrylate. Complications were evaluated for the 52 operations based on reconstruction strategy then risk factors for surgical and respiratory complications were elucidated. Results Total local recurrence-free survival rates in 45 patients who received first operation were 83.9% at 5 years and 70.6% at 10 years. The surgical complication rate was 11.5% (6/52), occurring only in cases with deep tumors, predominantly from Group D (p = 0.0064). Operations needing chest wall reconstruction (p = 0.0016) and flap transfer (p = 0.0112) were significantly associated with the incidence of complications. Operations involving complications showed significantly larger tumors, wider areas of bony chest wall resection and greater volumes of bleeding (p < 0.005). Flap transfer was the only significant predictor identified from multivariate analysis (OR: 10.8, 95%CI: 1.05–111; p = 0.0456). The respiratory complication rate was 13.5% (7/52), occurring with superficial and deep tumors, particularly Groups B and D (p < 0.0005). Flap transfer was significantly associated with the incidence of respiratory complications (p < 0.0005). Cases in the group with respiratory complications were older, more frequently had a history of smoking, had lower FEV1.0% and had a wider area of skin resected compared to cases in the group without respiratory complications (p < 0.05). Preoperative FEV1.0% was the only significant predictor identified from multivariate analysis (OR: 0.814, 95%CI: 0.693–0.957; p = 0.0126). Conclusions Surgical complications were more frequent in Group D and after operations involving flap transfer. Severe preoperative FEV1.0% was associated with respiratory complications even in cases of superficial tumors with flap transfer.