Objective To explore the clinical application effect and technical advantages of percutaneous suspension technique via sternal elevation device-assisted pectus excavatum (PE) correction. Methods Patients who underwent percutaneous suspension technique via sternal elevation device-assisted PE correction at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July to August 2025 were consecutively enrolled, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 5 PE patients were included in the study, including 4 males and 1 female, aged 14 to 27 years, and the preoperative Haller index ranged from 3.44 to 7.65. Among them, 4 patients underwent PE correction assisted by percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device, and one underwent PE correction assisted by percutaneous suspension technique via single sternal elevation device. All operations were completed successfully, with a significant expansion of the retrosternal space, smooth implantation of the steel plate, and no complications. The operation time ranged from 29 to 48 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 2 to 5 mL. The patients recovered well after surgery, and the satisfaction rate with thoracic wall appearance correction was 100%. Conclusion The percutaneous suspension technique via sternal elevation device-assisted PE correction can safely expand the retrosternal operating space. This crucial expansion reduces surgical risks and optimizes the orthopedic outcome, underscoring its significant clinical value for minimally invasive treatment of PE.
Objective To assess the clinical value of a novel surgical technique—Tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in the resection of anterior mediastinal masses. Methods Patients who underwent tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in anterior mediastinal masses process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March to April 2025 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 4 patients were included, with 2 males and 2 females, aged 58-75 years. The diameter of the tumor was 2.5-3.0 cm. The operation time was 60.0-150.0 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 mL, pain score on the 3rd day after surgery was 0 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 2-3 days. All patients achieved complete resection of the masses and thymus without perioperative complications. ConclusionThe tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device technique optimizes surgical visualization and instrument maneuverability while avoiding complications related to conventional anesthesia and tubing, thereby markedly enhancing the minimally invasive profile of anterior mediastinal masses resections. In addition to maintaining procedural safety, this approach effectively reduces postoperative pain and accelerates patient recovery, highlighting its potential for widespread clinical adoption.
For bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules, two-stage surgery imposes a significant physical and psychological burden on patients due to repeated anesthesia and surgical trauma, making one-stage bilateral surgery a theoretically more ideal treatment strategy. However, conventional one-stage bilateral surgery via the intercostal approach often requires intraoperative repositioning, resulting in greater trauma and prolonged operative time, while the subxiphoid approach faces challenges including insufficient surgical field exposure and severely limited operative space, posing high surgical risks during anatomical lobectomy. This article reports a 54-year-old male patient with bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules, who required a simultaneous left upper lobe wedge resection and a right middle lobectomy. Accordingly, our team successfully performed subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for one-stage bilateral pulmonary resection. By innovatively incorporating the balance-shaped sternal elevation device for percutaneous suspension technique into subxiphoid uniportal VATS, the operative space was significantly expanded and surgical field exposure was markedly optimized, reducing the risk and difficulty of pulmonary resection via the subxiphoid approach. The patient recovered uneventfully, and short-term follow-up revealed no abnormalities.
