Objective To investigate the short-term postoperative pain between robot-assisted and thoracolaparoscopic McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. Methods We prospectively analyzed clinical data of 77 patients with esophageal carcinoma in our hospital between September 2016 and February 2017. The patients were allocated into two groups including a robot group and a thoracolaparoscopic group. The patients underwent robot assisted McKeown esophagectomy in the robot group and thoracolaparoscopic McKeown esophagectomy in the thoracolaparoscopic group. There were 38 patients with 30 males and 8 females at average age of 60.80±6.20 years in the thoracolaparoscopic group, and 39 patients with 35 males and 4 females at average age of 60.90±7.20 years in the robot group. Results There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the postoperative usage of analgesic drugs. The patients in the robot group experienced less postoperative pain on postoperative day 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 than the patients in the thoracolaparoscopic group. The mean value of visual analogue scale (VAS) on postoperative day 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 for the robot group and the thoracolaparoscopic group was 3.20±1.10 versus 2.70±0.90 (P=0.002), 2.75±0.96 versus 2.40±0.98 (P=0.030), 2.68±1.08 versus 2.02±0.8 (P=0.005); 2.49±0.99 versus 1.81±0.88 (P=0.003), 2.27±0.83 versus 1.51±0.61 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion Compared with the thoracolaparoscopic group, patients receiving robot assisted McKeown esophagectomy experience less postoperative short-term pain. However, the long-term postoperative pain for these patients needs to be further studied.
ObjectiveTo summarize the efficacy of clips and staplers for left atrial appendage in the thoracoscopic treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods The clinical data of patients with atrial fibrillation treated in Xinhua Hospital from 2015 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received Mei's minimally invasive surgery for atrial fibrillation. Among them, patients were recruited in a clip group by clipping the left atrial appendage. The other patients were recruited in a stapler group to resect the left atrial appendage by stapler. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient clinic and telephone. Postoperative heart rhythm was recorded by the patient's symptoms, electrocardiogram and 24 h holter. Cranial magnetic resonance, cardiac CT and echocardiography were performed at least once during follow-up. Results There were 30 patients in the clip group, including 20 males and 10 females, with an average age of 65.7±7.1 years. There were 30 patients in the stapler group, including 20 males and 10 females with an average age of 66.8±5.4 years. All patients successfully received the procedure, with no conversion to thoracotomy or perioperative death. Sinus rhythm was maintained at discharge in 56 (93.3%) patients. Till June 2020, 59 patients were followed up for 42-66 (54.1±7.3) months and 1 patient in the clip group was lost. The residual length of the left atrial appendage was 3.9±1.8 mm in the clip group and 3.9±2.8 mm in the stapler group, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.910). Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that there was no statistical difference in the maintenance of sinus rhythm between the two groups (P=0.757). During the follow-up period, all patients had no cerebrovascular adverse events such as stroke or embolism. Conclusion Clipping and resection of the left atrial appendage in thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation surgery are both safe and effective methods, which effectively prevent stroke. The atrial appendage clip makes the minimally invasive surgical intervention of the left atrial appendage safer and more convenient.
Objective To compare the effect of uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy, and to explore the advantages and applications of uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy in enhanced recovery after surgery. Methods Totally 169 patients with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in Department of Thoracic Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January to December 2016 were enrolled. There were 99 males and 70 females with age of 60.83±7.24 years. Patients were divided into two groups: a uniportal group (78 patients) and a multiportal group (91 patients) . Patients’ clinical and pathological materials were collected. Postoperative pain, complications and hospital stay, etc of the two groups were compared. Results All patients were successfully discharged without serious postoperative complication or death. Patients in the multiportal group had smaller surgical incisions than that in the uniportal group (3.12±0.73 cm vs. 6.38±1.50 cm, P=0.016). Pain scores at postoperative 24 and 48 hours of the uniportal group were less than those of multiportal group (4.18±1.67 vs. 6.54±1.83, 3.05±1.47 vs. 4.68±1.64, P<0.05). Operation data, postoperative complications and hospital stay were similar in both groups. Conclusion Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy makes smaller incisions and can further reduce postoperative pain and dosage of morphine. The operation is safe and worthy of wide application in enhanced recoveryafter surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of robot-assisted thymectomy (RATS) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (VATS). MethodsWeb of Science, PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Wanfang, VIP and CNKI databases were searched by computer from inception to February 2022. Relevant literatures that compared the efficacy and safety of RATS with those of VATS were screened. The Newcastle-OttawaScale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of included cohort studies, and Review Manager 5.4 software was utilized to perform a meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 16 retrospective cohort studies were included, covering a total of 1 793 patients (874 patients in the RATS group and 919 patients in the VATS group). The NOS scores of the included studies were≥7 points. Meta-analysis results revealed that RATS had less intraoperative bleeding (MD=−22.45, 95%CI −34.16 to −10.73, P<0.001), less postoperative chest drainage (MD=−80.29, 95%CI −144.86 to −15.72, P=0.010), shorter postoperative drainage time (MD=−0.69, 95%CI −1.08 to −0.30, P<0.001), shorter postoperative hospital stay (MD=−1.14, 95%CI −1.55 to −0.72, P<0.001) and fewer conversion to thoractomy (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.23 to 0.69, P=0.001) than VATS; whereas, the operative time (MD=8.37, 95%CI −1.21 to 17.96, P=0.090), incidence of postoperative myasthenia gravis (OR=0.85, 95%CI 0.52 to 1.40, P=0.530), overall postoperative complications rate (OR=0.80, 95%CI 0.42 to 1.50, P=0.480) and tumour size (MD=−0.18, 95%CI −0.38 to 0.03, P=0.090) were not statistically different between the two groups. ConclusionIn the aspects of intraoperative bleeding, postoperative chest drainage, postoperative drainage time, postoperative hospital stay and conversion to thoracotomy, RATS has unique advantages over the VATS.
Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae surgery. Methods Totally 112 patients with pulmonary bullae in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from March 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled. According to the random number chosen by computer, the patients were randomly divided into two groups: a tubeless group (spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportalthoracoscopy) and a control group (uniportal thoracoscopy by general anesthesia with tracheal intubation) . There were 49 males and 7 females with an average age of 25.5±6.5 years in the tubeless group, and 50 males and 6 females with an average age of 23.5±4.5 years in the control group. The difference of the lowest intraoperative arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), SaO2 at postoperative one hour, operation time, postoperative awakening time, hospital stay, hospitalization cost and postoperative pain score were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in the operation time, the lowest SaO2, SaO2 at one hour after the operation and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). The awakening time and duration of postoperative hospital stay in the tubeless group was shorter than those in the control group (P=0.000). The cost of hospitalization in the tubeless group was less than that in the control group (P=0.000). The discomfort caused by urinary tract and visual analogue score (VAS) in the tubeless group were better than those in the control group. Conclusion It is safe and feasible to use spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae resection.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomic basal segmentectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 15 patients who underwent uniportal VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy between June 2020 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 4 males and 11 females with a median age of 53 (32-70) years. The incisions were placed in the fifth intercostal space across the mid-axillary line. All basal segmentectomies were performed through the interlobar fissure or inferior pulmonary ligament approach following the strategies of single-direction and stem-branch.ResultsAll patients underwent basal segmentectomy successfully with no conversion to multi-portal procedure or thoracotomy. The median operation time was 120 (90-160) min, median intraoperative blood loss was 20 (10-50) mL, median drainage time was 3 (2-5) d, and median postoperative hospital stay was 4 (4-10) d. The maximum diameter of the lesion in the resected basal segment was 1.2 (0.7-1.9) cm. The median resected lymph nodes were 7 (5-12). There was no evidence of nodal metastases. One patient suffered postoperative atelectasis and subsequent pneumonia. No perioperative death occurred.ConclusionUniportal VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy is feasible and safe. It can be performed in a simple manner following the strategy of single-direction.
Magnetic anchoring and traction technique is one of the core technologies of magnetic surgery. With the "non-contact" traction force of the outer magnet on the inner magnet, we can drive the inner magnet and the gripper to multiple directions, and pull tissue or organ to required position in operations, so as to get a clearer surgical field of view. On the basis of the previous animal experiments, we applied magnetic anchoring and traction device in 3 human (males aged 63-71 years) thoracoscopic esophagectomies. Using the magnetic anchoring device, we could pull the esophagus dorsally or ventrally to assist in exposing the anatomical plane without special equipment or pleural puncture for retraction of the esophagus. The interference between operating instruments reduced. The mean blood loss in operation was 83 mL, the mean total operation time was 253 min and the mean length of hospital stay was 10 d. Postoperative follow-up showed that all 3 patients had good short-term prognosis. There was no swellling or pain in magnetic anchoring zone of chest wall.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the curative effect of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for early stage lung cancer patients.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 80 patients with radical resection of lung cancer in Gansu Provincial Hospital between January 2016 and December 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: 43 patients in a VATS group and 37 in a RATS group. There were 51 males and 29 females. Data were processed with STATA v14.0 statistical software.ResultsThere were significant differences in the operative time, duration of hospital stay and operative costs between the two groups. In the RATS group, operative duration was longer (172.21 minutes versus 162.20 minutes, P=0.018), cost was higher (74 076.69 yuan versus 54 814.73 yuan, P<0.001), and required significantly shorter hospital stay (8.27 days versus 10.76 days, P=0.001) compared with those of the VATS group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of conversion (3 versus 0, P=0.144), blood loss during operation (61.29 ml versus 90.63 ml, P=0.213), dissected lymph node number (17.38 versus 12.63, P=0.095), drainage volume (1 406.76 ml versus 1 514.60 ml, P=0.617) and the drainage time (7.92 days versus 7.20 days, P=0.440).ConclusionIn the early lung cancer patients who underwent thoracic surgery, the postoperative hospitalization time of the RATS group is shorter than that of the VATS group, and the operation time is longer than that of the VATS group. The other short-term surgical indexes are similar to those of thoracoscopic surgery. However, the robot has great advantages in the treatment of patients with difficult lymph node dissection, serious pleural adhesion and complicated anatomical relationship.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the nodule manifestation of malignant pleural lesions under medical thoracoscopy and pleural fluid biochemistry and tumor marker levels. MethodsA total of 110 patients with malignant pleura, including 90 cases of lung cancer, 18 cases of malignant mesothelioma, 1 case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and 1 case of ovarian serous carcinoma, who were hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, East Hospital of Shandong Provincial Hospital from February 2011 to January 2022 were selected as the study subjects. The pleural nodule manifestation was divided into 6 layers were according to the number of pleural nodules in the medical thoracoscopic field, they were divided into 6 layers: non-nodular group, nodular group (pleural nodules of different sizes were distributed); The nodular group was further divided into nodular scattered group (total number of pleural nodules in all fields under thoracoscopy ≤10) and nodular diffuse group (total number of pleural nodules in all fields under thoracoscopy >10); The nodular diffuse group was further divided into the multiple nodules diffused group (the total number of pleural nodules >10 under thoracoscopy and ≤10 nodules in a single microscopic field) and the nodular diffuse patchwork group (the total number of pleural nodules >10 under thoracoscopy and >10 nodules in a single microscopic field). Four biochemical items of pleural fluid, pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), glucose (GLU), protein quantification (TP) levels and pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) levels, serum CEA, and serum cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA21-1) levels were measured to compare the expression levels of indicators between the non-nodular group and the nodular group, the nodular scattered group and the nodular diffuse group, the multiple nodules diffused group and the nodular diffuse patchwork group.ResultsThe LDH level in pleural fluid of nodular group was significantly higher than that of non-nodular group (P<0.01). The LDH level in pleural fluid of diffuse nodular group was higher than that of scattered nodular group (P<0.05). Compared to those in multiple nodules diffused group, the levels of LDH and ADA in pleural fluid of nodules patchy diffused group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the GLU level was decreased (P<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the length of disease, smoking index, TP in pleural fluid, CEA in pleural fluid, CA125 in pleural fluid, CEA in serum and CYFRA21-1 in serum between the paired groups.ConclusionsThere were differences in the expression levels of LDH, ADA and GLU in pleural fluid of different degrees of malignant pleural lesions. The higher the degree of pleural lesions, the higher the levels of LDH and ADA in pleural fluid and the lower the levels of GLU in pleural fluid.
Objective To explore the application of medical thoracoscopy in the extraction of intrapleural foreign bodies. Methods The clinical data of 2 cases of adult intrapleural foreign bodies were analyzed and reviewed in combination with related literatures. Results One patient with foreign body located in the right intrapleural cavity was a closed drainage tube with a broken intrapleural cavity, and the foreign body was removed with a cold trap and a thoracoscopic stab card, while in one patient, the foreign body was located in the left intrapleural cavity and was a guide wire of a single lumen central vein. Endoscopic biopsy forceps were used to remove the foreign body. Searching the literature at home and abroad, there were 8 reports of thoracoscopic removal of intrapleural foreign bodies and 9 cases. The main cause of intrapleural foreign bodies was iatrogenic improper operation, accounting for 66.7% of the total number of cases. the most common types of intrapleural foreign bodies are ruptured closed thoracic drainage tubes and puncture needles. Conclusion Medical thoracoscopy can be used to remove foreign bodies in the intrapleural cavity, which has certain application value and prospects.