Effects of preoperative chemoradiotherapy on human bronchial perfusion

We investigated the effects of induction chemoradiotherapy on bronchial mucosal blood flow around the surgical site and the state of healing of the bronchial stump.r87 patients with primary lung cancer were divided into the following three groups: Group A, 75 patients who had no preoperative therapy ; Group B, 4 patients who had induction chemoradiotherapy (45Gy); and Group C, 8 patients who were operated from 2 months to 5 years after chemoradiotherapy (60Gy). Bronchial mucosal blood flow was measured pre-, intra-, and postoperatively (days 8-10) with a laser Doppler flowmeter. In Group C, bronchial mucosal blood flow was impaired around operation. Healing of the bronchial stump was poor and a bronchopleural fistula occurred in one patient. In Groups A and B, however, bronchial mucosal blood flow was preserved sufficiently and the healing of the bronchial stump was satisfactory. It is suggested that common induction chemoradiotherapy may have little effect on bronchial mucosal blood flow and healing of the bronchial stump, although preoperative chemoradiotherapy can adversely affect them in the chronic period.