ObjectiveTo investigate the changes in pulmonary function after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) segmentectomy.MethodsA total of 59 patients (30 males and 29 females) who underwent segmentectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July to October 2017 were included. There were 33 patients (18 males and 15 females) in the VATS group and 26 patients (12 males and 14 females) in the RATS group. Lung function tests were performed before surgery, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Intra- and inter-group comparisons of lung function retention values were performed between the two groups of patients to analyze differences in lung function retention after VATS and RATS segmentectomy.ResultsThe forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in the VATS group and the RATS group were significantly lower than those before surgery (P<0.05), and they increased significantly within 6 months after surgery (P<0.05). The recovery was not obvious after 6 months (P>0.05), and they were still lower than those before surgery. In addition, the retentions of FEV1 and FVC in the VATS group and the RATS group were similar in 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after operation with no statistical difference(P>0.05). ConclusionPulmonary function decreases significantly in 1 month after minimally invasive segmentectomy, and the recovery is obvious in 6 months after the operation, then the pulmonary function recovery gradually stabilizes 12 months after surgery. FEV1 of the patients in the two groups recovers to 93% and 94%, respectively. There is no statistical difference in pulmonary function retention after VATS and RATS segmentectomy.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical procedures for primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 52 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae, who underwent surgical treatment in Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between January 2008 and January 2013. There were 46 males and 6 females, with mean average age of 23.2±4.3 years (ranged from 16 to 34 years). According to the different methods of intraoperative surgery, all patients were divided into three groups. The patients in a group Ⅰ (n=20) underwent video-assisted thoracoscope (VATS) selective apex of low energy electric coagulation treatment. The patients in a group Ⅱ (n=21) underwent VATS lung tip part of lung resection. The patients in a group Ⅲ (n=11) received VATS resection of the pleura. The clinical effectiveness among the three groups was compared. ResultsCompared with other two kinds of operation schemes,the leak duration(2.61±1.89 d vs. 4.90±3.20 d vs. 5.36±2.57 d, P=0.012), postoperative chest tube drainage time (3.67±2.13 d vs. 6.00±3.73 d vs. 7.03±2.58 d, P=0.003), postoperative length of hospital stay (4.95±2.16 d vs. 7.35±3.03 d vs. 8.61±2.67 d, P=0.002) and the recurrence rate (0.0% vs. 23.1% vs. 12.5%, P=0.021) of the patients with lung tip part resection of lung tissue by VATS were significantly lower. There were no statistically significant differences in the indicators of the patients with selective apex of low energy electric coagulation by VATS and those with pleural resection by VATS (P>0.05). ConclusionLung tip part of the lung tissue resection by VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae is better than VATS selective apical low energy coagulation treatment and VATS resection of the pleura both in the short and long-term efficacy.
Emphysema is a chronic progressive disease characterized by abnormal terminal bronchioles. Patients in end-stage have limited treatment. Lung volume reduction surgery(LVRS) is to remove the non-functional emphysematous lung tissue with the aim of palliating symptoms in selected patient with severe emphysema. It provides a new therapeutic method for emphysema. When LVRS is widely accepted after 1990s, a large number of institutions carried out the researches on surgical approaches, perioperative mortality, long-term efficacy and complications. Its targeted beneficial patients and surgical safety had been confirmed too. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) successfully carried out on the basis of the development of LVRS and bronchoscopy. This article reviews the surgical approaches, safety and efficacy of LVRS and BLVR in patients with emphysema.
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.
Objective To evaluate the safety，efficacy，short- and long-term clinical outcomes of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods Clinical data of231 consecutive patients with NSCLC who underwent complete VATS lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of NanjingMedical University between June 2006 and March 2011 were retrospective analyzed. There were 132 male and 99 femalepatients with their age of 15-81 （59.51±11.90） years. Preoperative cancer staging wasⅠa in 149 patients，Ⅰb in 50 patients，Ⅱa in 14 patients，Ⅱb in 13 patients and Ⅲa in 5 patients. There were 152 patients with adenocarcinoma，41 patients with squamous carcinoma，23 patients with bronchioalveolar carcinoma，5 patients with adenosquamous carcinoma，4 patients with large cell carcinoma，and 6 patients with other carcinoma. Follow-up data were statistically analyzed，and short-and long-term survival rates were calculated. Results No perioperative mortality was observed. Operation time was 60-370（199.14±51.04） minutes，and intraoperative blood loss was 10-2 300 （168.19±176.39） ml. Thirty-seven patients had postoperative complications including air leak，pulmonary infection，atelectasis，arrhythmia，subcutaneous emphysema andothers，who were all cured after conservative treatment. Mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 11.14±5.49，and meannumber of explored nodal stations was 3.66±1.52. There were 51 patients （22.08%） whose postoperative cancer staging wasmore advanced than preoperative cancer staging. Postoperative hospital stay was 3-36 （10.79±5.13） days. Primary causesof prolonged postoperative hospitalization included pulmonary air leak，pulmonary infection，preoperative concomitant chronic pulmonary diseases （COPD，asthma），and moderate to severe pulmonary dysfunction. A total of 228 patients werefollowed up for a mean duration of 40.83 months （22-82 months），and 3 patients were lost during follow-up. Overall 5-yearsurvival rates were 85.78%，52.54% and 32.70% for stageⅠ，stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳpatients respectively. Five-year cancerfreesurvival rates were 80.00%，45.37% and 20.99% for stageⅠ，stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳpatients respectively. ConclusionThe advantages of VATS lobectomy include smaller surgical incision，less injury and postoperative pain，quicker postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stay. Long-term survival rate is comparable to previous international and Chinese studies. VATS lobectomy can anatomically achieve complete tumor resection and systematic lymph node dissection. VATS lobectomy will become a standard surgical procedure for NSCLC patients.
Objective To summarize clinical outcomes of subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral chest diseases simultaneously. Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with bilateral chest diseases treated by uniportal thoracoscopic surgery via subxiphoid approach in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College from August 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 25 females, aged 25.5±8.8 years ranging from 13 to 51 years. There were 40 patients wtih palmar hyperhidrosis, and 20 patients with bilateral pulmonary bullae and onset of one-side pneumothorax. All patients adopted subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Among them 36 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent resection of R3 bilateral sympathetic nerves, 1 resection of R4 bilateral sympathetic nerves, 3 resection of R3+R4 bilateral sympathetic nerves, and 20 patients with pulmonary bullae underwent bilateral bullectomy and pleurodesis. Results Fifty-five patients cured within 1 to 4 days and discharged after surgery. One patient with incision infection and pulmonary infection after bullectomy, cured and discharged after 3 weeks anti-inflammation and incision dressing change. Four patients with Grade B healing recovered after 1 to 2 weeks dressing change. During the follow-up, no pneumothorax or hand perspiration relapsed. Conclusion Subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for simple bilateral chest disease simultaneously is safe and feasible, which not only avoids simultaneous trauma of bilateral punch, but also alleviates the pain of patients.