Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery – an extremely aggressive surgery that has been controversial in mesothelioma treatment – was the subject of a recent U.K. study that re-opened the debate about the risks and rewards of the procedure. EPP involves removing an entire lung (including the lining surrounding the lung and heart, and parts of the diaphragm) in order to eliminate as much of the cancer as possible.
Some critics of EPP have argued that the risks of the procedure are not worth the benefits, and that mesothelioma can be managed using less aggressive methods. However, in this latest study, 35% of patients who underwent EPP were still living after three years, and 31% survived more than four years. Additionally, two patients lived over seven years after EPP surgery, and two more were still alive after six years when data collection stopped in February 2013. The study included 30 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, and no deaths occurred within 30 days of treatment.
The report emphasizes the importance of selecting the right patients for EPP surgery. Prolonged survival occurred most frequently in patients who:
- Were younger than 65
- Had epitheliod mesothelioma
- Had a right-sided pneumonectomy
- Had negative extrapleural lymph nodes
If you or one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, make sure you have the resources you need to receive the state-of-the-art treatment you deserve. Please contact The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP today or call (410) 625-9330 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Baltimore mesothelioma attorneys. We represent victims of asbestos exposure in Maryland, Washington D.C., and surrounding areas.
