ObjectiveTo explore the early outcomes of the surgical treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) combined with intracardiac abnormities via right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT).MethodsA total of 7 children with PDA combined with intracardiac defects underwent surgery through RVIAT at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2016 to 2018. There were 4 males and 3 females, with an average age of 5.3±4.5 years and weight of 18.0±11.2 kg.ResultsIn all patients, PDA was ligated before the repair of intracardiac abnormities. No patient died in hospital. All patients were followed up, with a mean follow-up time of 18.0±8.0 months. No other complications such as residual shunts, arrhythmias, hemorrhaging or wound infection occurred after operations or during the follow-up period.ConclusionRVIAT is an emerging technique used for the surgical repair of PDA combined with intracardiac defects. It yields satisfying cosmetic results, without increasing postoperative complications or mortality.
Objective To compare the surgical trauma between videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) and conventional thoracotomy, and to investigate the possible minimally invasive mechanism. Methods Seventyseven patients who had undergone consecutive operations from April 2005 to January 2006 were chosen from cardiothoracic surgery department of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Twentytwo cases had spontaneous pneumothorax diagnosed by chest X-ray examination, twentynine had patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed by color echocardiography, and twentysix had congenital atrial septal defect. According to lesions and operative methods, the patients were divided into two groups: conventional thoracotomy group(CTH group) and videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery group(VATS group). The concentrations of serum C-reactive protein（CRP），interleukin6 (IL-6)，interleukin-8（IL-8） and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were selected as indexes to measure surgical trauma. ARRAY360 specific protein and pharmaceutical analysis system were used to determine CRP automaticly at the day before operation and on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day after operation. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the concentrations of IL-6，IL-8 and TNF-α. Clinical indexes such as operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, intraoperative blood lost, postoperative analgesic time and hospitalization time were analyzed and compared. Results Under the condition that patients had the same diseases, there was no statistical significance in preoperative concentrations of serum CRP，IL-6，IL-8 and TNFα between VATS group and CTH group（P=0.067, 0.062, 0.053,0.064）. The concentrations of serum CRP(P=0.045,0.043,0.044), IL-6(P=0.042，0.032，0.039), IL-8(P=0.046，0.045，0.048) and TNF-α(P=0.041，0.043，0.043) on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day after operation were significantly lower in VATS group than that in CTH group (Plt;0.05). Compared with CTH group, there were less blood lost（P=0.032）, shorter postoperative analgesic time and hospitalization time（P=0.041） in VATS group. There was no statistical significance in CPB time between two groups. However, hospitalization time varied with different diseases. Conclusion Compared with conventional thoracotomy，videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery has less surgical trauma, less intraoperative blood lost, shorter postoperative analgesic time, and can make patients recover rapidly. So it is worth spreading.
Objective To compare surgical results between real-time three dimensional echocardiography（RT-3DE） guided closure of atrial septal defect （ASD） through a right minithoracotomy and traditional surgical repair under cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB）. Methods Sixty-four patients with secundum ASD received surgical repair in the First People’s Hospital of Honghe Autonomous Prefecture from April 2009 to April 2012. According to different surgical approach, all the patients were divided into group A and B. In group A, 35 patients underwent traditional ASD repair under CPB including 20males and 15 females with their age of 12-56 （16.4±4.0） years. In group B, 29 patients received real-time RT-3DE guidedASD closure through a right minithoracotomy without CPB, including 20 males and 15 females with their age of 15-50 （18.5±0.2） years. Operation time，postoperative mechanical ventilation time，hospital stay，chest drainage，mortality，morbidity and follow-up outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results Operation time （110.47±35.90 minutesvs. 159.32±20.60 minutes），postoperative mechanical ventilation time （10.40±22.30 hours vs. 16.40±12.20 hours），chestdrainage （106.71±85.20 ml vs. 146.70±75.63 ml）and postoperative hospital stay （4.0±1.0 days vs. 7.0±1.0 days）ofgroup B were significantly shorter or less than those of group A. In group A, 1 patient died postoperatively and 7 patientshad postoperative complications. In group B, there was no in-hospital mortality and 3 patients had postoperative complications.Postoperative morbidity of group A was significantly higher than that of group B （20.0% vs. 10.3%，P＜0.05） . ConclusionFor ASD patients with definite surgical indications，RT-3DE guided ASD closure through a right minithoracotomy has more advantages over traditional surgical repair under CBP.
Objective
To explore the risk factors and short-term clinical effect of conversion to open thoracotomy during thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 423 lung cancer patients who were scheduled for thoracoscopic lobectomy between March 2011 and November 2015.There were 252 males and 171 females at median age of 60 (24-83) years. According to the patients who were and were not converted to thoracotomy, they were divided into a conversion group (378 patients) and a video-assisted thoracic surgery group (a VATS group, 45 patients). Then, clinical data of two groups were compared, and the risk factors and short-term clinical effect of unplanned conversions to thoracotomy were analyzed.
Results
Lymph nodes of hilar or/and interlobar fissure closely adhered to adjacent vessels and bronchi was the most common cause of unexpected conversions to thoracotomy in 15 patients (33.3%), followed by sleeve lobectomy in 11(24.4%) patients, uncontrolled hemorrhage caused by intraoperative vessel injury in 8 patients, tumor invasion or extension in 5 patients, difficulty of exposing bronchi in 3 patients, close adhesion of pleural in 2 patients, incomplete interlobar fissure in 1 patient. Conversion did translate into higher overall postoperative complication rate (P=0.030), longer operation time (P<0.001), more intraoperative blood loss (P<0.001). In the univariable analysis, the type of operation, the anatomical site of lung cancer, the lymph node enlargement of hilar in CT and the low diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were related to conversion. Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for conversion were sleeve lobectomy (OR=5.675, 95%CI 2.310–13.944, P<0.001), the lymph node enlargement of hilar in CT (OR=3.732, 95%CI 1.347–10.341, P=0.011) and DLCO≤5.16 mmol/(min·kPa)(OR=3.665, 95%CI 1.868–7.190, P<0.001).
Conclusions
Conversion to open thoracotomy during video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer does not increase mortality, and it is a measure of reducing the risk of surgery. Therefore, with high-risk patients who may conversion to thoracotomy, the surgeon should be careful selection for VATS candidate. And, if necessary, the decision to convert must be made promptly to reduce short-term adverse outcome.
ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of continuous intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy.MethodsFrom November 2017 to October 2018, 120 patients who received thoracotomy procedure in our hospital were collected, including 60 males and 60 females aged 40-77 (58.10±7.00) years. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups by digital table including a continuous intercostal nerve block group (group A, n=40), a single intercostal nerve block group (group B, n=40), and an epidural analgesia group (group C, n=40). All the groups received the same basic analgesia. The pain scores and rescue analgesic doses were compared.ResultsOn postoperative day (POD) 0, all groups achieved effective pain control, and the visual analogue score was 2.02±0.39 points in the group A, 2.13±0.75 points in the group B and 2.03±0.69 points in the group C (P>0.05). On POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 (without basement analgesia), there was no significant difference between the group A and group C in the pain scores (2.08±0.28 points vs. 1.93±0.53 points, 3.20±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P>0.05), however, the difference between POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 in each group was stastically different (group A, 2.08±0.28 points vs. 3.20±0.53 points; group B, 2.42±0.73 points vs. 5.45±0.99 points; group C 1.93±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P<0.05). In terms of the rescue analgesic doses, there was no significant difference between the group A and group C (220.00±64.08 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P>0.05); it was larger in the group B than that in the group A and group C (343.33±119.56 mg vs. 220.00±64.08 mg; 343.33±119.56 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P<0.05).ConclusionMultimodal analgesia is an optimal choice in the initial stage after thoracotomy surgery. Continuous intercostal nerve block is an effective way to pain management in patients with thoracotomy.
Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases through right axillary mini-thoracotomy and analyse related problems. Methods Two hundred and twenty-four patients of congenital heart diseases underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） through a right axillary mini-thoracotomy（3rd or 4th intercostal）. Among them repair of ventricular septal defect （VSD） in 168, repair of atrial septal defect （ASD） in 48, total correction of tetralogy of Fallot （TOF） in 6, double-outlet right ventricular in 1 and Ebstein syndrome in 1. Results There was 1 postoperative death （0.45%）, the cause of death was acute pulmonary edema. Postoperative complication occurred in thirteen cases （5.8%）. There were no significant changes in CPB time, aortic cross clamping time, ventilating time and hospital stay days between right axillary minithoracotomy and median sternotomy at the same period （Pgt;0. 05）, but the bleeding volume both intraoperative and postoperative in the patients of right axillary mini-thoracotomy were significantly less than those in the patients of median sternotomy （Plt;0. 01）. Two hundred and fourteen patients were followed up （follow-up time from 2 months to 7 years）, 3 of them had early mild cardiac function insufficiency（ejection fractionlt;0. 50）, small residual shunt were found in 2 patients after VSD operation and the others recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion There were merits in right axillary mini-thoracotomy approach for treatment of properly selected congenital heart diseases; safe and reliable, low operative bleeding volume, and good results of aesthetics. But the use of this incision for repair of TOF and more complex congenital heart diseases should be careful.
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.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and clinical outcomes of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR)through right anterior minithoracotomy (RAMT)and conventional median sternotomy.
MethodsFrom March 2006 to March 2013, 169 patients underwent isolated AVR in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Among them, 42 patients received AVR via RAMT (RAMT group)including 30 males and 12 females with their age of 59.31±8.30 years. And 127 patients received AVR via conventional median sternotomy (conventional surgery group)including 89 males and 38 females with their age of 60.02±5.93 years. There were 75 patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS), 42 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR)and 52 patients with AS+AR. Postoperative outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.
ResultsThere was no statistical difference in preoperative clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. All the patients successfully received isolated AVR. 153 patients received mechanical prosthesis and 16 patients received bioprosthetic valves. Fifty-two patients received 21 mm valves, and 117 patients received 23 mm valves. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time of RAMT group were significantly longer than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). But mechanical ventilation time, length of postoperative ICU stay and hospital stay of RAMT group were significantly shorter than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). Postoperative thoracic drainage, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion of RAMT group were significantly less than those of conventional surgery group (P < 0.001). In conventional surgery group, 2 patients underwent reexploration for bleeding and 2 patients had wound infection postoperatively. Two patients died postoperatively, both in conventional surgery group, including 1 patient with low cardiac output syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and another patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis secondary to sternal wound infection.
ConclusionCompared with conventional median sternotomy, RAMT is safe and efficacious for patients undergoing isolated AVR with minimal surgical injury, better postoperative recovery and cosmetic outcomes.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical advantages and outcomes of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement (MVR) combined with atrial fibrillation (AF) radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy.
MethodsEight patients with mitral valve disease and AF who received surgical therapy in the First Hospital of China Medical University between October 2009 and October 2012 were included in the study. There were 4 males and 4 females with their age of 34-67 (52.4±17.5) years. All the patients underwent minimally invasive MVR combined with AF radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy. Clinical outcomes were summarized.
ResultsThere was no in-hospital death or conversion to conventional sternotomy in this group. Two patients received biological valve replacement and 6 patients received mechanical prosthesis. Operation time was 207.9±18.1 minutes, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 81.7±23.9 minutes, and chest drainage amount was 126.7±34.5 ml. AF recurred in 1 patient on the 3rd postoperative day. All the patients were in sinus rhythm at discharge. These patients were followed up for 18.3±7.4 months. During follow-up, 1 patient had AF recurrence. Seven patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ, and 1 patients was in NYHA class Ⅱ.
ConclusionMinimally invasive MVR combined with AF radiofrequency ablation via right minithoracotomy can achieve satisfactory clinical results and esthetic appearance, and is a good choice for patients with mitral valve disease and AF.
ObjectiveTo compare the safety and efficacy of simple mitral valve replacement with the third intercostal incision on the right side and the conventional midsternum incision.MethodsFrom February 2017 to February 2019, heart surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College completed the first simple mitral valve replacement (MVR) operation in 103 patients, of whom 39 patients were received minimally invasive right third intercostal small incision (a minimally invasive surgery group). There were 10 males, 29 females at average age of 59.51 years. There were 64 patients with MVR via the middle section of the common sternum (a conventional surgery group), 22 males and 42 females, with an average age of 60.22 years. Types of lesions: 65 patients were with mitral stenosis, 22 patients with incomplete closure, 16 patients with incomplete closure.ResultsThere was no significant difference in preoperative clinical data between the two groups (P>0.05). The entire group of patients successfully completed the operation. Surgical replacement of mitral valve mechanical valve in 74 patients and biological valve in 29 patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the extracardiopulmonary cycle time, aortic blockade time and total hospitalization time. In the early stage of operation, 3 patients were examined for secondary hemostasis, 1 patient was minimally invasive surgery, and the remaining 2 patients were with routine surgery. The infection of incision occurred in 3 patients, all of them were in the routine operation group. All three patients died early after operation in the routine operation group: two were postoperative low cardiac volumetric syndrome leading to multiple organ failure, and the other was sternum infection accompanied by artificial valve endocarditis.ConclusionThere is no significant difference between MVR through the third rib of the right chest and traditional MVR in the safety. However, it has the advantages of small trauma, beauty, low incidence of incision infection and reduced postoperative pain.
