with only one lung and suffering from tracheal cancer

The one planned by the Complex Thoracic Surgery Unit of the University Hospital is an extraordinary operation Luigi Vanvitelli Of Napleswhich allowed a woman to be saved from certain death 73 years old. Luisa (invented name) was suffering from very serious respiratory failure caused by a tumor that completely blocked the lumen of the trachea.

«If we had not quickly removed the tumor – explains the professor Alfonso Fiorelli, director of Thoracic Surgery – the patient would have died of suffocation.” Not an easy task, given that Luisa had already undergone the removal of her left lung five years earlier due to another neoplasm. “Operating her in these conditions would have been a big risk – continues the surgeon – a single lung might not have been sufficient to ensure blood oxygenation”. Hence the need to plan an operation never carried out before, involving various specialties of the University Hospital: Cardiac Surgery directed by the professor Marisa De FeoPneumology directed by professor Andrea Bianco and Anesthesia directed by the professor Maria Caterina Pace. The multidisciplinary team was coordinated by the professor Ludovico Docimodirector of the High Specialty Medical-Surgical department, while Dr Diana Mancino coordinated the surgical nursing activity and Professor Ferraro coordinated the anesthesia phases during the operation.

Among the extraordinary aspects of the operation is the use of the ECMO system, which allowed Professor Fiorelli to endoscopically remove the tumor with the laser. «ECMO supports vital functions through extracorporeal circulation, increasing blood oxygenation, reducing blood carbon dioxide values, increasing cardiac output and acting on body temperature».

Thanks to this extraordinary intervention, it was possible to discharge Luisa after two days, entrusting her to the care of oncologists for subsequent treatments. Interventions like the one that saved Luisa’s life are made possible by the high specialization of the professionals working at the University Hospital, but also by the technological innovation strongly supported by the general director Ferdinand Russowith the support of the magnificent rector Francesco Nicoletti. Innovation that significantly helps reduce healthcare migration. «This – concludes Professor Fiorelli – is the starting point towards achieving new goals, not least lung transplantation».

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