ObjectiveTo summarize the perioperative outcome of patients undergoing robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) or four-port single-direction video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) right upper lobectomy (RUL), and to discuss the safety and the essentials of the surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 579 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing minimally invasive RUL in Dr. Luo Qingquan’s team of our center from 2015 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 246 males and 333 females aged 33-78 years. The 579 patients were divided into a RATS group (n=283) and a VATS group (n=296) according to surgical methods. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes including dissected lymph nodes, postoperative duration of drainage, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications and surgery cost were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), and no postoperative 30 d mortality or intraoperative blood transfusion was observed. Compared with VATS, RATS had shorter operation time (90.22±12.16 min vs. 92.68±12.26 min, P=0.016), postoperative hospital stay (4.67±1.43 d vs. 5.31±1.59 d, P<0.001) and time of drainage (3.55±1.38 d vs. 4.16±1.58 d, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the lymph nodes dissection, blood loss volume, conversion rate or complications. The cost of RATS was much higher than that of VATS (93 275.46±13 276.69 yuan vs. 67 082.58±12 978.17 yuan, P<0.001).ConclusionThe safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted and video-assisted RUL are satisfactory, and they have similar perioperative outcomes. However, RATS costs relatively shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effects of segmentectomy versus lobectomy under single utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery on inflammatory factors and immune cells in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer patients, and to analyze the effect of changes of postoperative inflammatory factors and immune cells on the prognosis of the patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 256 patients who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy under single utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2016 to October 2020 were retrospectively collected. According to the operation method, they were divided into a segmentectomy group (126 patients with 79 males and 47 females at an age of 63.4±6.2 years) and a lobectomy group (130 patients with 91 males and 39 females at an age of 62.9±5.6 years). The change of inflammatory factors (C reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α) and immune cells (CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells and natural killer cells) were recorded and analyzed before operation (T0) and 1 day (T1), 3 days (T2), 7 days (T3), 1 month (T4) after the operation between the two groups. According to postoperative recurrence situations, they were divided into a recurrence group and a non-recurrence group, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the change of postoperative inflammatory factors, immune cells, and the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Results(1) There was no statistical difference in sex ratio, underlying diseases, body mass index, levels of preoperative inflammatory factors or immune cells between the two groups (all P>0.05). (2) The changes of postoperative inflammatory factors in the segmentectomy group were significantly less than those in the lobectomy group at T1-T3 (all P<0.05), and the changes of postoperative immune cells in the segmentectomy group were significantly less than those in the lobectomy group at T1-T4 (all P<0.05). (3) The changes of postoperative inflammatory factors and immune cells on postoperative day 3 in the recurrence group were significantly more than those in the non-recurrence group (all P<0.05). (4) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the changes of postoperative inflammatory factors and immune cells on postoperative day 3 may be the risk factors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (all P<0.05).ConclusionSingle utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer can reduce the inflammatory response and protect body's immune function, and the change of postoperative inflammatory factors and immune cells in postoperative day 3 may be the risk factors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and feasibility of uni-portal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). MethodsThe clinical data of BPS patients with surgical resection in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from February 2010 to June 2021 were reviewed. The patients were divided into a VATS group and a thoracotomy group according to the operation method. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay and postoperative complication rate were compared between the two groups. The VATS group was subdivided into a uni-portal VATS group and a multi-portal VATS group for subgroup analysis. ResultsFinally 131 patients were enrolled, including 62 males and 69 females with an average age of 39.3±13.2 years. There were 103 patients in the VATS group and 28 patients in the thoracotomy group. A total of 104 patients were diagnosed with left lower BPS, 26 with right lower BPS and 1 with bilateral lower BPS. The main symptom was cough (88 patients, 67.2%). There were 119 patients diagnosed by thoracic enhanced CT before operation. Compared with the thoracotomy group, the operation time was not statistically different (P=0.717), but the blood loss was less, the rate of postoperative complication was lower and hospital stay was shorter in the VATS group (P＜0.05). The rate of conversion to open surgery in the uni-portal VATS group and multi-portal VATS group was 11.8% and 13.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, patients in the uni-portal VATS group had shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay, less blood loss and lower postoperative complication rate than those in the multi-portal VATS group (P＜0.05). Conclusion In order to improve the rate of diagnosis, the lung enhanced CT scan should be selected as an optimal noninvasive method in adult suspected patients (especially those with solid cystic and solid lesions in the lower lobe). Uni-portal VATS is a safe and feasible method for BPS which can be widely promoted.
Objective
To investigate the efficacy, early and late outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for cN0-pN2 lung cancer patients compared to open lobectomy.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 262 out of 1 754 patients’ clinical records with cN0-pN2 lung cancer who underwent VATS or open lobectomy in our center between January 2009 and December 2014. There were 107 patients in a VATS group with 50 males and 57 females at the age of 61.5±10.7 years, and 155 patients in an open lobectomy group consisting of 104 males and 51 females at the age of 59.0±8.7 years.
Results
There was no statistical difference in patients’ age, pulmonary function, and underlying diseases between two groups. Operation time was shorter in the open lobectomy group than that in the VATS group (P=0.044). Postoperative in-hospital time was shorter in the VATS surgery group than that in the open lobectomy group (P=0.008). There was an obvious difference in tumor’s maximum diameter (P<0.05). As for mediatinal lymph node, there was no statistical difference in station dissected and positive rate. One year overall survival rate was 91.6% in the VATS group and 81.9% in the open group. Three-year overall survival rate was 58.3% in the VATS group and 47.3% in the open lobectomy group (P<0.05).
Conclusion
VATS can achieve both the thoroughness and feasibility as the same as open surgery and with better early outcomes. The overall survival rate may have more to do with tumor’s maximum diameter, not the operation method. Still, it needs prospective studies to demonstrate this relationship.
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of single-incision video-assisted thoracic surgery versus conventional multiple ports video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of lung cancer as well as providing reference for clinical decision-making.
Methods
We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang ect until March 2017 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case-control studies comparing single-incision with conventional multiple ports video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer.Two reviewers independently screened and selected literatures according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then data extraction and quality assessment of included studies were conducted. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.
Results
Twenty-six cohort studies (3 053 patients) were included. The quality of the included studies was high with score more than five.Meta-analysis showed that single-incision video-assisted thoracic surgery had shorter thoracic drainage time (MD=–0.71, 95% CI –1.03 to –0.39), shorter hospitalization time (MD=–0.92, 95% CI –1.66 to –0.19), lower pain scores 1 day after surgery (MD=–0.65, 95% CI –0.90 to –0.40), lower pain scores 3 days after surgery (MD=–0.90, 95% CI –1.16 to –0.64), lower pain scores 7 days after surgery (MD=–1.24, 95% CI –1.90 to –0.57), less number of lymph node dissection (MD=–0.72, 95% CI –1.35 to –0.10), less total drainage fluid (MD=–108.60, 95% CI –180.42 to –36.79) and shorter length of surgical incision (MD=–2.74, 95% CI –3.57 to –1.90) than conventional multiple ports video-assisted thoracic surgery. But the differences between the two groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Single-incision video-assisted thoracic surgery is safer and better in patient's compliance than conventional multiple ports video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of lung cancer. But there is no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or postoperative complications. It still needs large-scale, high-quality studies to demonstrate its effectiveness and safety.
Objective To evaluate the security and clinical value of the combination of three-dimensional computed tomography-bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA) and indocyanine green (ICG) staining in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy. Methods The clinical data of 125 patients who received VATS segmentectomy from January 2020 to January 2021 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 40 (32.0%) males and 85 (68.0%) females with an average age of 54.8±11.1 years. Results The procedure was almost identical to the preoperative simulation. All intersegment planes were displayed successfully by ICG reverse staining method. There was no allergic patient. A total of 130 pathological specimens were obtained from the 125 patients. The mean operation time was 126.8±41.9 min, the time of first appearance of fluorescence was 22.7±4.9 s, the mean mark time was 65.6±20.3 s, the median blood loss was 20.0 (10.0-400.0) mL, the postoperative hospital stay was 5.6 (4.0-28.0) d, and the postoperative retention of chest tube time was 3.2 (2.0-25.0) d. Pathological results showed that microinvasive adenocarcinoma was the most common type (38.5%, 50/130), followed by invasive adenocarcinoma (36.9%, 48/130); there were 3 metastatic tumors (3/130, 2.3%).Conclusion The combination of 3D-CTBA and ICG reverse staining is proved to be a safe, necessary and feasible method. It solves the difficult work encountered in the procedure of segmentectomy, and it is worth popularizing and applying in clinic.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical effects of extended thymectomy for the treatment of thymic abnormalities with myasthenia gravis (MG) between subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic resection (SR) and the unilateral thoracoscopic resection (UR) by a propensity-score matching analysis.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 612 patients who presented with MG and were admitted to Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University between December 2011 and December 2018. Of these patients, 520 patients underwent subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (a SR group) and 92 unilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (a UR group). Ninety-two patients in the SR group were matched with the UR group by propensity-score matching analysis. There were 52 males and 40 females with an average age of 26-70 (50.2±10.3) years in the SR group, and 47 males and 45 females with an average age of 20-73 (51.5±12.1) years in the UR group. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, thoracic drainage time, postoperative hospital stay, thorough adipose tissue removal, postoperative remission of MG, patients’ satisfaction score, pain and complications were compared and analyzed between the two groups.ResultsAll operations were accomplished successfully, without conversion to thoracotomy of the two groups. There were statistical differences between the two groups in operation time (46.2±19.5 min vs. 53.4±23.5 min), chest drainage duration (0 d vs. 3.4±1.2 d), hospital stay (2.9±1.9 d vs. 3.6±1.7 d), patients’ satisfaction score (7.9±2.1 points vs. 6.7±1.2 points) and pain scores (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss (52.2±12.7 mL vs. 51.2±10.3 mL), peripheral adipose tissue removal (8.1±0.6 vs. 7.9±0.9), remission rate of MG (89.1% vs. 85.9%) and rate of postoperative complications (10.9% vs. 6.5%) (all P>0.05). ConclusionSubxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic extended thymectomy is a safe and feasible minimally invasive procedure for the management of MG with thymic abnormalities.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term quality of life in patients after single-direction video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer, and explore the related influencing factors. MethodsPatients who underwent single-direction VATS for lung cancer in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from July 2020 to August 2021 were continuously selected. The QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13 were used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients after the surgery, and the influencing factors were analyzed. ResultsA total of 193 patients were collected. There were 73 males aged 59.44±11.40 years, and 120 females aged 53.73±11.15 years. The QLQ-C30 score of the patients after single-direction VATS for lung cancer was 69.09±20.21 points. Univariate analysis and Pearson correlation analysis showed that age, occupation, anesthesia time, postoperative complications, postoperative antibiotic use time, postoperative hospital stay, insomnia, economic stress, hemoptysis, chest pain, dysphagia, arm or shoulder pain were associated with the quality of life (P≤0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that anesthesia time, economic pressure, insomnia and chest pain had a significant impact on the overall quality of life 30 days after the surgery (P≤0.05). ConclusionThe anesthesia time, economic pressure, insomnia and chest pain are independent influencing factors for the quality of life after the VATS lung cancer surgery.
Objective
To compare the subaxillary small incision thoracotomy (SSIT) with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for patients with lung cancer.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of 142 patients with lung cancer in Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Neijiang from January 2014 to April 2016 was conducted. There were 86 males and 56 females, aged 40-77 years. Patients were divided into a VATS group (n=72) and a SSIT group (n=70). The following postoperative data were evaluated: operation time, number of dissected lymph nodes, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative chest drainage volume, drainage duration, postoperative ambulation time, average hospital stay, postoperative complications, hospitalization cost, early postoperative incision pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) and other indicators.
Results
There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the operation time (120.8±20.4 minvs. 126.2±21.6 min,P=0.124), the dissected lymph node (11.1±2.0vs. 11.4±1.9,P=0.333) and the postoperative complications rate (13.9% vs. 15.7%, P=0.759). Laparoscopic intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume were significantly less in the VATS group than those in the SSIT group (123.2±26.9 mlvs. 156.4±24.0 ml,P<0.001; 227.0±75.5 mlvs. 334.3±89.1 ml,P<0.001). Postoperative drainage duration, postoperative ambulation time and hospital stay were shorter in the VATS group than those in the SSIT group (2.5±0.5 dvs. 3.1±0.6 d, 1.5±0.5 dvs. 2.2±0.6 d, 6.5±0.5 dvs. 7.4±0.6 d, allP<0.001). The average hospitalization cost of the VATS group was significantly higher than that of the SSIT group (42 338.9±8 855.7 yuanvs. 32 043.7±7 178.1 yuan,P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the operation cost and anesthesia cost between the two groups (P>0.05). The early postoperative pain of laparoscopic group was less, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion
The hospitalization cost of the SSIT is lower than that of thoracic surgery, which may be beneficial to the appilication in primary hospitals.
In recent years, subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is one of the most important innovations in the field of mini-invasive thoracic surgery. Because it avoids the injury of intercostal nerve, previous studies have shown that it can significantly reduce the perioperative and long-term incision pain. The operation is technically more difficult, so the selection of patients is more strict compared with the traditional intercostal surgery. Some special surgical techniques are needed during the operation, and special lengthening instruments should be used. We hope that the experience described in this paper will be continuously supplemented and improved with the further development of this technique, and will produce greater reference value.
