Simultaneous occurrence of coronary artery disease and lung cancer: what is the best surgical treatment strategy?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether combined surgical procedures in one or two stages are the best surgical treatment strategy in patients with simultaneous coronary artery disease and lung cancer. Altogether, 264 papers were found using the reported search; of which, 15 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date, country of publication, patient group, study type, outcomes and results of papers are tabulated. The outcomes of the reported studies provided interesting results. All the studies were retrospective. Ten papers reported the results of combined and staged operations. The operative mortality rate of combined procedures was 0-20.8% and of staged procedures was 0-10%. The reoperation rate for bleeding of combined procedures was 0-11% and of staged procedures was 0%. The survival rate of combined procedures at 1 year was 79-100%, at 5 years was 34.9-85% and at 7 years was 61%. The survival rate of staged procedures at 1 year was 72.7% and at 5 years was 53%. Five studies reported the results of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) and lung surgery versus on-pump and lung surgery. The operative mortality rate of OPCABG and lung surgery was 0-6.6%. The 2-year survival rate of OPCABG and lung surgery was 47% and the 5-year survival rate was 13-68%. The re-exploration rate for bleeding of OPCABG was 4%. Simultaneous lung surgery and CABG could be safely performed with adequate cancer-free survival in patients with Stage I or II lung cancer. Lung surgery is better performed before institution of cardiopulmonary bypass, avoiding the complications of such a technique. Long-term survival after combined treatment is mostly related to the predicted survival after lung resection. This depends on the T stage and mostly on the patient's nodal status. In certain high-risk groups (if the cardiac procedure is difficult or if the patient is unstable), separate staged procedures (CABG as the first and lung resection as the second procedure) might be the most prudent action (3-6 weeks apart). There is also another option: OPCABG and lung resection, which could be a safe and effective treatment when unstable coronary heart disease and lung cancer coexist.