Objective To analyze the perioperative outcomes of uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy compared with three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Data were extracted from the Western China Lung Cancer Database, a prospectively maintained database at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Perioperative outcomes of the patients who underwent uniportal or three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer during January 2014 through April 2021 were analyzed by using propensity score matching. Altogether 5 817 lung cancer patients were enrolled who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy (uniportal: 530 patients; three-port: 5 287 patients). After matching, 529 patients of uniportal and 1 583 patients of three-port were included. There were 529 patients with 320 males and 209 females at median age of 58 (51, 65) years in the uniportal group and 1 583 patients with 915 males and 668 females at median age of 58 (51, 65) years in the three-port group. Results Uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (20 mL vs. 30 mL, P<0.001), longer operative time (115 min vs. 105 min, P<0.001) than three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the number of lymph node dissected, rate of conversion to thoracotomy, incidence of postoperative complication, postoperative pain score within 3 postoperative days, length of hospital stay, or hospitalization expenses. Conclusion Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and effective, and the overall perioperative outcomes are comparable between uniportal and three-port strategies, although the two groups show differences in intraoperative blood loss.
Great progress has been made in immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. However, for thoracic surgeons, immunotherapy is still a new thing and they lack enough experience. Therefore, this paper attempts to discuss some hot issues of immunotherapy, including the indications, side effects, clinical efficacy and evaluation of efficacy. The author hopes that this article will help and attract the attention of thoracic surgeons.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the short-term outcomes and hospital costs of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for non-small cell lung cancer. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection for non-small cell lung cancer completed by the same operator in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital from June 2016 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the surgery approach, the patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 516 patients were enrolled. There were 254 patients in the RATS group, including 103 males and 151 females, with a mean age of 60.0±4.2 years, and 262 patients in the VATS group, including 126 males and 136 females, with a mean age of 59.5±4.3 years. All patients in both groups successfully completed radical lung cancer surgery with no perioperative death. In terms of intraoperative bleeding (63.4±13.3 mL vs. 92.5±23.5 mL), postoperative drainage time (4.1±0.9 d vs. 4.7±1.2 d), postoperative hospital stay time (5.6±1.1 d vs. 6.7±1.4 d), number of lymph nodes dissected (17.9±2.1 vs. 13.9±1.4) and groups of lymph nodes dissected (5.4±0.8 groups vs. 4.4±1.0 groups), the RATS group had an advantage, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of operative time and total postoperative chest drainage, the VATS group had an advantage, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative complications or intraoperative conversion to thoractomy (P>0.05). The total hospitalization, surgical and total consumables costs of the RATS group were higher than those in the VATS group (P<0.05). In terms of other costs and consumables costs (one-time costs of purely high-value consumables after deduction of robot-specific costs), the VATS group was higher than the RATS group (P<0.05). ConclusionRATS offers technical and short-term efficacy advantages, but comes with the disadvantage of high costs. Thoracic surgeons can make full use of the features of the robotic surgery system, exploiting its potential to continuously improve and optimize techniques and reduce the use of high-value consumables, thus achieving efficiency and cost reductions and allowing robotic surgery to reach more patients.
This consensus aims to introduce the applications of 4K high-definition technology and fluorescence technology in thoracic surgery, summarize and categorize the technical support for pulmonary segment surgery, and innovatively propose technical support for precise sleeve resection of pulmonary segments. It provides a reference for clinical use, points out the direction for the research and innovation of domestically produced high-end endoscopes, promotes the widespread application of excellent domestically produced medical endoscopes, and facilitates the development of domestically produced medical equipment.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of elective or limited operations, including tumor treatment, have been postponed. With the deepening of the understanding of the virus and the change of the prevention policy, the impact of the pandemic is gradually shrinking, and a large number of operations delayed by the pandemic will be rescheduled. However, there is no consensus on the best time to perform surgery for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, and the consensus on thoracic surgery is more limited. This article reviews the research progress in the timing of surgical operations, especially thoracic surgery, after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ObjectiveTo analyze the surgical outcome of patients with lung cancer using double micro-portal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) technique.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the perioperative data of 200 patients with primary lung cancer who underwent successful two micro-portal VATS lobectomy between September 2016 and June 2018 at our unit. There were 125 males and 75 females, aged 61.01±8.71 years. The length of the main operating hole was about 2.0–2.5 cm, the size of the secondary operating hole and the observation hole was 0.5 cm individually. Thus, the total length of the three incisions was 3.0–3.5 cm.ResultsThe mean operating time was 99.18±21.77 min, blood loss was 170.35±105.12 ml, and the mean number of dissected lymph node was 15.82±3.33. The mean volume and duration of chest tube were 446.90±195.32 ml and 3.67±1.85 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5.54±2.41 days. Only one patient died of pulmonary embolism after surgery. There were 7 patients who were converted to thoracotomy. Postoperative pulmonary infection after lobectomy was found in 8 patients. Postoperative air leak over 5 days was developed in 7 patients.ConclusionThe double micro-portal VATS procedure is a safe and effective strategy for patients with lung cancer, which is associated with decreased surgical trauma and less postoperative pain. This emerging technology may benefit patients by enhancing comfort during their postoperative hospitalization.
Objective To compare the effect of intravenous and epidural analgesia on postoperative complications after abdominal and thoracic surgery. Methods A literature search was conducted by using computerized database on PubMed, EBSCO, Springer, Ovid, and CNKI from 1985 to Jan 2009. Further searches for articles were conducted by checking all references describing postoperative complications with intravenous and epidural anesthesia after abdominal and thoracic surgery. All included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed and data were extracted by the standard of Cochrane systematic review. The homogeneous studies were pooled using RevMan 4.2.10 software. Results Thirteen RCTs involving 3 055 patients met the inclusion criteria. The results of meta-analyses showed that, a) pulmonary complications and lung function: patient-controlled epidural analgesia can significantly decrease the incidence of pneumonia (RR=0.66, 95%CI 0.53 to 0.83) and improve the FEV1 (WMD=0.17, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.29) and FVC (WMD=0.21, 95%CI 0.1 to 0.32) of lung function after abdominal and thoracic surgery, but no differences in decreasing postoperative respiratory failure (RR=0.77, 95%CI 0.58 to 1.02) and prolonged ventilation (RR=0.75, 95%CI 0.51 to 1.13) compared with intravenous analgesia; b) cardiovascular event: epidural analgesia could significantly decrease the incidence of myocardial infarction (RR=0.58, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.95) and arrhythmia (RR=0.64, 95%CI 0.47 to 0.88) than the control group, but could not better reduce the risk of heart failure (RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.34) and hypotension (RR=1.21, 95%CI 0.63 to 2.29); and c) Other complications: epidural and intravenous analgesia had no difference in decreasing the risk of postoperative renal insufficient (RR=0.78, 95%CI 0.53 to 1.14), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (RR=0.78, 95%CI 0.49 to 1.23), infection (RR=0.89, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.12) and nausea (RR=1.03, 95%CI 0.38 to 2.81). Conclusions Epidural analgesia can obviously decrease the risk of pneumonia, myocardial infarction and severe arrhythmia, and can improve the lung function after abdominal or thoracic surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and safety of single utility port Da Vinci robot-assisted lung resection via anterior approach.MethodsThe clinical data of 21 patients who underwent single utility port Da Vinci robot-assisted lung resection from February to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 10 males and 11 females, with a median age of 50 (34-66) years. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospitalization time, postoperative complications and other indicators were analyzed.ResultsAll patients completed the operation successfully with no transition to thoracotomy or perioperative death. Overall surgery time was 103 (70-200) min, Docking time was 5 (3-10) min, operation time was 81 (65-190) min. The blood loss was 45 (20-300) mL. All patients had malignant tumors, the number of dissected lymph node station was 3 (1-6), and the number of lymph nodes was 5 (2-16). The postoperative indwelling time was 3 (2-5) d. The postoperative hospitalization time was 5 (3-7) d. The pain score for the first 3 days after surgery was 3±1 points.ConclusionSingle utility port robot-assisted lung resection via anterior approach is safe, less traumatic, more convenient and effective, which can be gradually promoted and applied to clinical trials.
Objective To evaluate the cardiovascular risk for non-cardiac thoracic surgery （NCTS） in elderly patients with dobutamine stress echocardiography and to decrease surgical risk for NCTS in the geriatrics. Methods Dobutamine stress echocardiography was used for cardiovascular evaluation in 32 NCTS candidates aged over 65 years. Patients with positive echocardiography underwent coronary angiography. Postoperative course and all complications were carefully recorded for the study. Results No serious cardiovascular events occurred during the test except for atrial or ventricular premature contracts in 5 cases. In 2 patients （6.7%,2/30） dobutamine test was positive and coronary artery occlusion was proved by further angiography. Thoracotomy was performed in 28 cases, including 2 cases with dubious result at dobutamine test. Cardiopulmonary complications occurred in 13 patients （46.4%,13/28） after surgery. Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia was the most common complication, occurred in 8 patients （28.6%,8/28）. One of the 2 patients with dubious result at dobutamine test developed definitive angina in the 5th postoperative day. The negative predictive value of dobutamine test was 100%. Conclusion Dobutamine stress echocardiography is a safe and effective method to evaluate major cardiovascular risk of NCTS in the geriatrics. But it is not predictive of tachyarrhythmia after surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of robotic lobectomy in clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 182 patients with lung malignant tumor≥3 cm receiving robotic or thoracoscopic lobectomy at Shanghai Chest Hospital in 2019. The patients were divided into a robotic surgery group (RATS group) and a thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS group). There were 39 males and 38 females with an average age of 60.55±8.59 years in the RATS group, and 51 males and 54 females with an average age of 61.58±9.30 years in the VATS group. A propensity score matching analysis was applied to compare the operative data between the two groups. ResultsA total of 57 patients were included in each group after the propensity score matching analysis. Patients in the RATS group had more groups of N1 lymph node dissected (2.53±0.83 groups vs. 2.07±0.88 groups, P=0.005) in comparison with the VATS group. No statistical difference was found in operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, number of N1 and N2 lymph nodes dissected, groups of N2 lymph node dissected, lymph node upstage rate or postoperative complications. The hospitalization cost of RATS was higher than that of VATS (P＜0.001). ConclusionIn contrast with thoracoscopic lobectomy, robotic lobectomy has similar operative safety, and a thorough N1 lymphadenectomy in patients with clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm.