Long-term Outcome of Pulmonary Resection for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease

Background: Pulmonary resection along with multiple antimicrobial therapy has produced favorable outcomes at a few centers. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for long-term survival and microbiological recurrence after pulmonary resection for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD). We evaluated the long-term outcomes of pulmonary resection, including microbiological recurrence and survival. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 125 patients (median age, 60 years) with NTMPD treated by pulmonary resection at two referral centers between January 1994 and August 2015. Results: Postoperative complications occurred in 27 patients (22%). The complication rate after pneumonectomy was significantly higher than those after other types of pulmonary resection (odds ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-10.3; P = .005). The median follow-up period was 7.1 years. While 19 patients experienced microbiological recurrence, 26 died. Multivariate analysis revealed pneumonectomy (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.12; 95% CI, .007-.66; P = .0098) and cavitary lesions after surgery (aHR, 6.73; 95% CI, 1.68-22.7; P = .0095) to be predictors of microbiological recurrence and old age (aHR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .016), low body mass index (BMI; aHR for every 1-kg/m2 increase, 0.72; 95% CI, .60-.85; P < .0001), pneumonectomy (aHR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.78-11.3; P = .014), and remnant cavitary lesions (aHR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.35-9.57; P = .011) to be predictors of poor prognosis. Conclusions: Patients who could benefit from pulmonary resection should be carefully selected considering age, BMI, remnant lesions after surgery, and type of pulmonary resection.