ObjectiveTo analyze the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of the fluorescence method and the inflation-deflation method in defining the intersegmental plane during thoracoscopic lung segmental resection.MethodsFrom February to October 2018, 60 patients underwent thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy in Thoracic Surgery Department of Nanjing Chest Hospital, with 28 males and 32 females, aged from 25 to 82 years. Three-dimension computed tomography bronchography and angiography was used to reconstruct pulmonary vessels, bronchus and virtual intersegmental plane. Among them, 20 patients used the fluorescence method to define the intersegmental plane, and the other 40 patients used the traditional inflation-deflation method to define the intersegmental plane.ResultsFluorescent injection of indocyanine green (ICG) showed a clear intersegmental line with a duration sufficient to complete the label. With the fluorescence method, the intersegmental plane occurrence time was significantly shortened (10.75±3.78 s vs. 988.00±314.24 s, P<0.001) and had satisfactory repeatability. The lungs did not need to be inflated, which was convenient for the operation. And the operation time was shortened (108.75±31.28 min vs 138.00±32.47 min, P=0.002). No obvious ICG injection-related concurrency symptoms was found.ConclusionCompared with the traditional inflation-deflation method, the fluorescence method can display the intersegmental line quickly, accurately and clearly, reduce the difficulty of surgery, shorten the operation time, and provide reliable technical support for thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy. The fluorescence is a safe and effective method that is worthy of clinical application.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and feasibility of thoracoscopic surgery of anterior mediastinal tumors via subxiphoid approach under scissors position (SASP) and lateral thoracic approach under lateral position (LALP).MethodsClinical data of 69 patients who received anterior mediastinal tumor excision surgery in our hospital from June 2016 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 32 males and 37 females with an average age of 46.38±11.52 years. The clinical effects of the two groups were compared.ResultsThere was no perioperative death or conversion to thoracotomy. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the operative time (123.34±12.64 min vs. 125.05±17.02 min, P=0.642), intraoperative blood loss [50.00 (73.75) mL vs. 50.00 (80.00) mL, P=0.643], tumor diameter (2.75±0.57 cm vs. 2.89±0.45 cm, P=0.787) and total hospital expenses [32.70 (5.30) thousand yuan vs. 32.90 (4.80) thousand yuan, P=0.923]. However, the postoperative catheterization time [2.00 (1.00) d vs. 4.00 (1.50) d, P=0.000], postoperative drainage [260.00 (200.00) mL vs. 400.00 (225.00) mL, P=0.031], postoperative pain index [2.00 (1.00) points vs. 4.00 (2.00) points, P=0.000], postoperative analgesic time [1.50 (1.00) d vs. 3.00 (2.00) d, P=0.000], postoperative fever time [1.50 (1.00) d vs. 2.00 (1.00) d, P=0.000] in the SASP group were better than those in the LALP group.ConclusionThoracoscopic surgery via SASP is more suitable for the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumor with rapid postoperative recovery and reduced pain, and the postoperative curative effect is definite. However, there is a high requirement for the surgical experience and techniques. It can be promoted in the clinic.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of thoracoscopic lobectomy versus segmentectomy in the treatment of T1bN0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsClinical data of 181 patients with T1bN0M0 NSCLC admitted to our hospital from 2012 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into a lobectomy group and a segmentectomy group according to surgical methods. There were 117 patients in the lobectomy group (46 males and 71 females aged 61.32±8.94 years) and 64 patients in the segmentectomy group (20 males and 44 females aged 58.55±12.57 years). Perioperative indicators and prognosis were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe segmentectomy group had longer operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative hospital stay and more preservation of lung function compared with the lobectomy group (P<0.05). The lobectomy group had higher consolidation tumor ratio, bigger tumor diameter, and more lymph node sampling compared with the segmentectomy group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in 5-year overall survival or recurrence-free survival between the two groups (P<0.05). ConclusionFor patients with T1bN0M0 NSCLC, thoracoscopic segmentectomy and lobectomy have similar prognosis, but segmentectomy has advantages with less injury and faster recovery over lobectomy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of internal medicine thoracoscope combined with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF for tuberculous pleurisy.MethodsEighty patients with tuberculous pleurisy admitted to hospital with pleural effusion were treated as tuberculous pleurisy group, and 20 patients with clinical diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion were used as control group. After admission to the hospital, the pre-operative examination of internal medicine thoracoscope were analyzed. All patients were extracted pleural effusion with thoracic puncture in order to send pleural tuberculosis smear and culture. Patients who had no contraindications were arranged internal medicine thoracoscope to get pleural effusion which will be sent to GeneXpert MTB/RIF and pathological tissue biopsy.ResultsIn the tuberculous pleurisy group, nine patients were positive in pleural tuberculous smear, and the positive rate was 11.3%; 4 patients were positive in pleural tuberculous culture, and the positive rate was 5.0%; 75 patients were diagnosed with pathological biopsy, and the positive rate was 93.8%; 69 patients were positive with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF, and the positive rate was 86.3%. The positive rate of internal medicine thoracoscopic pleural biopsy combined with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF could reached 96.3%. The pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF lifampin resistance gene was positive in 5 patients, 4 of them were positive for tuberculosis culture, and the drug sensitivity results showed rifampicin resistance. In the control group, patients had negative result in pleural effusion tuberculosis smear, tuberculosis culture and the pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by the combination of internal medicine thoracoscope and pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF has high specificity and sensitivity. The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by the combination of internal medicine thoracoscope and pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF has high specificity and sensitivity, which has the value of rapid and accurate diagnosis and early guidance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy based on the early judgment of whether rifampin resistance exists.
ObjectiveTo analyze the feasibility and advantages of non-intubated anesthesia in thoracoscopic lobectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 59 patients with thoracoscopic lobectomy and non-intubated anesthesia in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed, including 24 males and 35 females, aged 56.86±7.13 years (an observation group); 59 patients with thoracoscopic lobectomy undergoing general anesthesia with tracheal intubation in the same period were randomly selected, as a control group, including 27 males and 32 females, aged 55.37±6.86 years. Complications such as airway injury, refractory cough, pharyngalgia, nausea and vomiting were compared between the two groups. Postoperative inflammatory factor levels, postoperative hospital stay, and intraoperative and postoperative hospitalization costs were also compared.ResultsThere was no difference between the two groups in general conditions such as age, gender, body mass index. There was also no difference in operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume or lymph node dissection. But the observation group had lower levels of procalcitonin and C reactive protein at postoperative 1 d (0.12±0.51 ng/ml vs. 0.14±0.70 ng/ml, P=0.03; 11.30±3.60 mg/L vs. 13.33±4.41 mg/L, P=0.01), lower rate of postoperative complications of refractory cough, pharyngalgia, nausea and vomiting (3.38% vs. 15.25%, P=0.03; 5.08% vs. 20.33%, P=0.01; 3.38% vs. 15.25%, P=0.03), less retain time of thoracic duct, postoperative hospital stay, and lower intraoperative and postoperative hospitalization costs (5.89±1.37 d vs. 7.00±1.73 d, P=0.00; 10.01±1.85 d vs. 11.37±2.45 d, P=0.00; 53 810.94±5 745.44 yuan vs. 58 223.16±6 445.08 yuan, P=0.00).ConclusionThoracoscopic lobectomy with non-intubated anesthesia can avoid traditional airway injury caused by endotracheal intubation, reduce postoperative symptoms such as refractory cough, pharyngalgia, nausea and vomiting caused by general anesthesia, reduce or even avoid lung injury caused by one-side lung ventilation, promote recovery after surgery, reduce antibiotic use, and shorten hospital stay, which is more consistent with the requirements of the concept of overall minimal invasiveness and enhanced recovery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and effectiveness of near-infrared fluorescence imaging of the thoracic duct (NFITD) using indocyanine green (ICG) during inflatable video-assisted mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (IVMTE) for esophageal cancer. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with esophageal cancer who underwent IVMTE at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, from January 2024 to October 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they underwent NFITD: an ICG NFITD group (ITD group) and a non-ICG NFITD group (NITD group). Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding factors, and perioperative data and short-term follow-up results (within 6 months) of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 66 patients were included, of which 51 were males and 15 were females, with an average age of (70.9±7.2) years. In the comparison of general information between the two groups, the proportion of patients in the ITD group with preoperative chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was higher than that in the NITD group (P=0.044), and the proportion of patients with preoperative bronchiectasis was lower than that in the NITD group (P=0.035). After propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio, a total of 15 pairs of patients were successfully matched. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complications, maximum tumor diameter, pT stage, pN stage, and pTNM stage (P>0.05). The 6-month postoperative follow-up results showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of anastomotic stricture, hoarseness, gastric paralysis, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative adjuvant treatment (P>0.05). ConclusionThe application of NFITD in IVMTE is safe and effective, with a thoracic duct visualization rate of 100.0%. Compared with NITD, ITD prolonged the operation time but increased the number and stations of lymph node dissection without increasing perioperative and short-term postoperative complications (within 6 months), making it worthy of further clinical promotion.
Objective To verify whether hybrid surgical and interventional ablation(HA) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is superior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical radiofrequency ablation (VATS-RA). Methods From September 2010 to December 2017, 79 consecutive patients with persistent AF underwent VATS-RA or HA in Fuwai Hospital. VATS-RA was performed in sixty patients (a stand-alone surgical group, 48 males and 12 females, at average age of 56.0±7.6 years, and HA was performed in nineteen patients (a hybrid group, 14 males and 5 females, at average age of 58.0±7.3 years). Follow-up was completed at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and annually thereafter. Postoperative sinus rhythm was defined as sinus rhythm recorded in 24-hour or 7-day Holter during follow-up, without exhibited rapid atrial tachyarrhythmia≥30 s including AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia. Results Seventy-eight patients (98.7%) completed the follow-up. Although the preoperative left atrial diameter (49.1±5.3 mm) in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (41.7±6.2 mm, P<0.001). Overall sinus rhythm maintenance rate in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (94.7% versus 64.4%,P=0.011). And sinus rhythm maintenance rate free from anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation in the hybrid group was significantly greater than that in the stand-alone surgical group (84.2% versus 50.8%, P=0.010). Conclusion HA is superior to VATS-RA in the treatment of persistent AF, but a larger sample size is needed for further validation in prospective randomized studies.
Morgagni hernia is a rare form (accounting for 2%) of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The traditional treatment for Morgagni hernia includes thoracotomy and laparotomy. However, surgical trauma limits its adoption. We reported the results of 2 patients with congenital Morgagni hernias in adults and described the operation methods of the patients. The 2 patients recovered uneventfully. No evidence of recurrence was found after 5 years follow-up. Laparoscopic repair for Morgagni hernia with mesh is applicable for obese, aged and bilateral Morgagni hernias patients.
Objective To explore the factors of postoperative cough in lung cancer patients. Methods Totally 130 lung cancer patients of single medical team (average age of 58.75±9.34 years, 65 males and 65 females), from February 2016 to February 2017 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, were investigated by Mandarin Chinese version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC). We analyzed and calculated the preoperative and postoperative scores of LCQ-MC, Cronbach α and the influencing factor. Results The preoperative score of LCQ-MC's physiological dimension was significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (6.30±0.76) than that of the postoperative non-cough group (6.56±0.60,P=0.044), while the preoperative total score of LCQ-MC (19.53±1.78, 20.03±1.45) was not statistically different (P=0.080). The postoperative score of LCQ-MC was significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (17.32±2.79) than that of the postoperative non-cough group (19.70±1.39,P<0.001). And the scores of physiological, psychological and social dimension were significantly lower in the postoperative cough group (5.32 ±1.14, 5.73±1.14, 6.23±0.89) than those of the postoperative non-cough group (6.25±0.63, 6.67±0.54, 6.78±0.49) (P values were all less than 0.001). The result of multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed the condition of preoperative cough symptom (OR=0.354, 95%CI=0.126–0.994, P=0.049) and anesthesia time (OR=1.021, 95% CI=1.003–1.040, P=0.021) were the risk factors. Conclusion The risk factors of postoperative cough symptoms in lung cancer patients are the condition of preoperative cough symptoms and anesthesia time.
ObjectiveTo introduce the application of mixed reality technique to the preoperative and intraoperative pulmonary nodules surgery.MethodsOne 49-year female patient with multiple nodules in both lobes of the lung who finally underwent uniportal thoracoscopic resection of superior segment of left lower lobe and wedge resection of left upper lobe was taken as an example. The Mimics medical image post-processing software was used to reconstruct the patient's lung image based on the DICOM data of the patient's chest CT image before the surgery. The three-dimensional reconstructed image data was imported into the HoloLens glasses, and the preoperative discussions were conducted with the assistance of mixed reality technology to formulate the surgical methods, and the preoperative conversation with the patients was also conducted. At the same time, mixed reality technology was used to guide the surgery in real time.ResultsMixed reality technology can clearly pre-show the important anatomical structures of blood vessels, trachea, lesions and their positional relationship. With the help of mixed reality technology, the operation went smoothly. The total operation time was 49 min, the precise dorsal resection time was 27 min, and the intraoperative blood loss was about 39 mL. The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital smoothly after surgery.ConclusionMixed reality technology has certain application value before and during the surgery for pulmonary nodules. The continuous maturity of this technology and its further application in clinics will not only bring a new direction to the development of thoracic surgery, but also provide a wide prospect.