Abstract: Objective To investigate the feasibility of videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) ronchial sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer, and to describe this treatment method. Methods Between December 2010 and April 2011, three patients in our hospital underwent VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy as treatment for right upper lobe nonsmall cell lung cancer. The patients were one female and two males, aged 61, 65, and 62 years. Surgical incisions were the same as for singledirection VATS right upper lobectomy. The right superior pulmonary vein was firstly transected, followed by the first branch of the pulmonary artery. Then, the lung fissure was transected and the mediastinal lymph nodes, including the subcarinal nodes, were also dissected to achieve sufficient exposure of the right main bronchus. The bronchus was transected via the utility incision, and the anastomosis was accomplished by continuous suture with 30 Prolene stitches. Another 0.5 cm port in the 7th intercostal space at the posterior axillary line was added in the third operation for handling of a pair of forceps to help hold the needle during anastomosis. A sealing test was performed to confirm that there was no leakage after completion of the anastomosis, and the stoma was covered with biological material. Bronchoscopy was performed to clear airway secretions and to confirm that there was no stenosis on postoperative day (POD) 1. Results The lobectomy and lymph node dissection was finished in 5158 minutes (averaging 54.7), and the time needed foranastomosis was 4055 minutes (averaging 45.7). Total blood loss was 55230 ml (averaging 155.0 ml). Number of dissected lymph nodes was 1821 (averaging 19.3). One patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe with metastatic hilar lymph node invasive to the right upper lobar bronchus. The other two patients were both diagnosed with centrally located squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper lobe, and all the patients achieved microscopically negative margins. There was no stenosis of the anastomosis stoma, and the postoperative course was uneventful. These patients were discharged on POD 810 (averaging 8.7 days), and they recovered well during the followup period, which lasted 2 to 6 months. [WTHZ]Conclusion [WTBZ]For experienced skillful thoracoscopic surgeons, VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy is safe and feasible. Making the incisions of a singledirection VATS lobectomy with an additional miniport may be an ideal approach for this procedure.
ObjectiveTo analyze the operation outcomes and learning curve of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).MethodsAll consecutive patients who underwent uniportal VATS between November 2018 and December 2020 in Shangjin Branch of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively enrolled, including 62 males and 86 females with a mean age of 50.1±13.4 years. Operations included lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection, mediastinal mass resection and hemopneumothorax. Accordingly, patients' clinical features in different phases were collected and compared to determine the outcome difference and learning curve for uniportal VATS.ResultsMedian postoperative hospital stay was 5 days, and the overall complication rate was 8.1% (12/148). There was no 30-day death after surgery or readmissions. Median postoperative pain score was 3. Over time, the operation time, incision length and blood loss were optimized in the uniportal VATS lobectomy, the incision length and blood loss increased in the uniportal VATS segmentectomy, and the postoperative hospital stay decreased in the uniportal VATS wedge resection.ConclusionUniportal VATS is safe and feasible for both standard and complex pulmonary resections. While, no remarkable learning curve for uniportal VATS lobectomy is observed for experienced surgeon.
Objective
To compare the short-term outcomes of small thoracotomy and thoracoscopic approach for pediatric lobectomy.
Methods
From June 2011 to June 2016, 42 patients with lung diseases undertook lobectomy in Xinhua Hospital. There were 24 males and 18 females with an average age of 7.13±5.00 years, ranging from 4 months to 16 years. According to different operation methods, they were divided into a thoracoscopy group (n=22) and a small incision group (n=20). Duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative drainage, and postoperative hospital stay and complications between the two groups were recorded and compared.
Results
There was no significant difference in the age, body weight between the two groups (8.44±4.99 yearsvs. 5.68±4.69 years,t=1.84,P=0.07; 34.18±16.52 kgvs. 25.03±18.06 kg,t=1.72,P=0.09). Two patients (9%) undergoing thoracoscopy required conversion to small thoracotomy. Perioperative outcomes, including operation time (151.64±74.59 minvs. 136.40±50.36 min,t=0.77,P=0.45), intraoperative blood loss (43.41±45.91 mlvs. 79.50±131.00 ml,t=–1.21,P=0.23), drainage duration (5.00±1.79 dvs. 4.90±2.36 d,t=0.23,P=0.82), length of hospital stay (8.41±3.11 dvs. 8.65±2.66 d,t=–0.27,P=0.79) showed no significant differences between the two groups. One patient suffered pneumonia in thoracoscopy group after operation and the rest patients recovered well without severe complications such as atelectasis, active bleeding and bronchopleural fistula.
Conclusion
Lobectomy via small thoracotomy and thoracoscopic approach is effective and safe for pediatric patients with equivalent short-term outcomes. While thoracoscopic surgery with relatively small incision achieves good cosmetic outcome.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the early and mid-term outcomes of total thoracoscopic Box Lesion radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.MethodsThe clinical data of 31 patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent total thoracoscopic Box Lesion radiofrequency ablation between November 2011 and March 2018 at the Department of Cardiac Surgery in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 23 males and 8 females at an average age of 66.17±8.32 years. All patients did not have concomitant severe organic heart disease which required surgical intervention.ResultsThere were 20 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 8 with persistent atrial fibrillation, and 3 with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Twenty-nine patients got the 3-year follow-up, and 2 patients were lost to the follow-up 6 months after the surgery. The procedure was successfully performed in all patients, with an average operation time of 113.00±26.00 min. There was no perioperative death or related complication. All patients were restored to sinus rhythm immediately after surgery. Five patients got atrial fibrillation during postoperative hospitalization, which reverted to sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion. The rate of sinus rhythm maintenance was 62.9%, 55.9% and 52.4% in postoperative 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. No patient died during the period, and no procedure-related complication was observed.ConclusionTotal thoracoscopic Box Lesion radiofrequency ablation effectively shortens operation time, and reduces surgical trauma and procedure-related complications, meanwhile, ensures the surgical outcomes.
ObjectiveTo explore clinical outcomes of simutaneous video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for bilateral giant bullae (GB).
MethodsClinical data of 160 GB patients who received surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2011 to April 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to GB location and surgical strategies, all the patients were divided into 3 groups. In group A, there were 108 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and unilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection with VATS, including 88 male and 20 female patients with their age of 31.36±16.14 years. In group B, there were 40 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection in the SP side with VATS, including 36 male and 4 female patients with their age of 37.63±18.84 years. In group C, there were 12 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent simultaneous bilateral GB resection with VATS, including 9 male and 3 female patients with their age of 32.58±16.06 years. Postoperative morbidity and SP recurrence rates were analyzed.
ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed, and patients were followed up for 20 months after discharge. In group A, postoperative complications included acute pulmonary edema in 1 patient, pleural adhesion in 11 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients, and pulmonary air leak in 5 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 5 patients including 2 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 3 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group B, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 4 patients, respiratory failure in 1 patient, and pulmonary air leak in 3 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 18 patients including 3 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 15 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group C, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 2 patients and pulmonary air leak in 1 patient. During follow-up, SP recurred in 1 patient at the same side of thorax. SP recurrence rates of group A and C were significantly lower than that of group B (P=0.000 and P=0.031 respectively).
ConclusionSimultaneous VATS is safe, efficacious and reliable for the treatment of bilateral GB, and can effectively prevent SP recurrence at the other side of thorax.
Objective To investigate the pleural effusion lymphocyte subsets in patients with pneumonia complicated with pleural effusion and its relationship with the occurrence of critical illness. MethodsPatients with pneumonia complicated with pleural effusion (246 cases) admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected as the research subjects. According to the severity of pneumonia, they were divided into a critical group (n=150) and a non-critical group (n=96). After 1:1 matching by propensity score matching method, there were 60 cases in each group. The general data of the two groups were compared. CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio were detected by flow cytometry. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of critical pneumonia, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed and evaluated. The relationship between PSI score and lymphocyte subsets in pleural effusion was analyzed by local weighted regression scatter smoothing (LOWESS). Results After matching, the differences between the two groups of patients in the course of disease, heat peak, heat course, atelectasis, peripheral white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer (D-D), procalcitonin (PCT) and hemoglobin were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the non-critical group, the proportion of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ cells in critical group was lower (P<0.05), and the proportion of CD8+ cells was higher (P<0.05). Combined atelectasis, increased course of disease, fever peak and fever course, increased WBC, CRP, D-D, CD8+ and PCT levels, and decreased CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and Hb levels were independent risk factors for the occurrence of critical pneumonia (P<0.05). The nomogram prediction model based on independent influencing factors had high discrimination, accuracy and clinical applicability. There was a certain nonlinear relationship between pneomonia severity index and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+. Conclusions Lymphocyte subsets in pleural effusion are closely related to the severity of pneumonia complicated with pleural effusion. If CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ are abnormal, attention should be paid to the occurrence of severe pneumonia.
Objective To investigate the perioperative differences between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy after neoadjuvant therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Clinical data of NSCLC patients who underwent VATS or thoracotomy after neoadjuvant therapy at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively collected. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 260 patients were enrolled, 184 (70.8%) patients underwent VATS and 76 (29.2%) patients underwent thoracotomy. After propensity matching, there were 113 (62.4%) patients in the VATS group and 68 (37.6%) patients in the thoracotomy group. VATS had similar lymph node dissection ability and postoperative complication rate with thoracotomy (P>0.05), with the advantage of having shorter operative time (146.00 min vs. 165.00 min, P=0.006), less intraoperative blood loss (50.00 mL vs. 100.00 mL, P<0.001), lower intraoperative blood transfusion rate (0.0% vs. 7.4%, P=0.003), less 3-day postoperative drainage (250.00 mL vs. 350.00 mL, P=0.011; 180.00 mL vs. 250.00 mL, P=0.002; 150.00 mL vs. 235.00 mL, P<0.001), and shorter postoperative drainage time (9.34 d vs. 13.84 d, P<0.001) and postoperative hospitalization time (6.19 d vs. 7.94 d, P=0.006). Conclusion VATS after neoadjuvant therapy for NSCLC is safer than thoracotomy and results in better postoperative recovery.
