Abstract： Objective To compare the influence of different doses of low molecular weight heparin on blood coagulation system of patients who have received thoracic surgery. Methods Eightytwo patients (with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma, pleural endotheliomas or other diseases) who were treated in Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2009 to March 2010 were divided into three groups, based on the time of hospitalization. In the control group, there were 24 patients including 10 females and 14 males with an average age of 43.5±21.3 years. No low molecular weight heparin was given after operation. There were 32 patients in group I, including 14 females and 18 males, with an average age of 45.2±18.6 years. An amount of 0.2 ml (2 125 U) low molecular weight heparin was subcutaneously injected daily during the first 7 days after operation. In group Ⅱ, there were 26 patients including 11 females and 15 males with an average age of 43.8±20.1 years. An amount of 0.4 ml (4 250 U)low molecular weight heparin was subcutaneously injected daily during the first 7 days after operation. The differences of preoperative and postoperative coagulation factors including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib), D dimer (D-D), platelet count (PLT) and anti-Ⅹa activity were observed. Results The preoperative average values of PT, APTT, Fib, D-D, PLT of all the three groups were in the normal range and showed no significant difference (Pgt;0.05). For all three groups, after operation, PT prolonged, APTT shortened, the amount of Fib, D-D increased, PLT reduced on the 3rd day and then increased on the 7th day and anti-Ⅹa activity increased, all of which showed a significant difference from preoperative values (Plt;0.05). The amount of Fib in group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ after operation (the 5th day after operation: 4.7±2.5 g/L vs. 7.0±3.3 g/L, Plt;0.05); the amount of D-D in group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in the control group (the 5th day after operation: 891.3±891.3 μg/L vs. 1 583.2±984.7 μg/L, Plt;0.05) and group Ⅰ (the 5th day after operation: 891.3±891.3 μg/L vs. 1 452.6±1 052.9 μg/L,Plt;0.05); and the anti-Ⅹa activity of group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (the 5th day after operation: 0.54±0.05 U/ml vs. 0.29±0.04 U/ml, Plt;0.05). Conclusion In a certain weight range, fixeddose (4 250 U) of low molecular weight heparin is able to improve postoperative hypercoagulable state and avoid the occurrence of venous thromboembolism without increasing risk of complications like bleeding.
It has been absent from an accepted criteria for normalization and quality control of the thoracic surgery until now. The ideal assessing instrument which will be used to evaluate the technical skills and surgical procedures should present a few vital characterizations below: objectivity, speciality in the content, detailed structure, and quantifiability. Objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) has developed as a reliable method of surgical skills measurement. This article focuses on the history of OSATS and its prospect in the thoracic surgery area by reviewing relevant literatures.
With the continuous advancement of internet technology and the improvement of internet literacy among the general population, the concept of online-offline integration in internet hospitals has gradually gained acceptance and has been applied and developed both domestically and internationally. In thoracic surgery, the applicability of this model lies in enhancing efficiency and delivering comprehensive, diversified, and personalized medical services to address complex and severe conditions. However, challenges such as hardware limitations and diagnostic/treatment risks persist during the implementation of internet hospitals. Through future in-depth and localized research, the online-offline integration of internet hospitals is expected to undergo further development and refinement. This progress will facilitate its integration into clinical practice in thoracic surgery, ultimately providing patients with improved medical care services.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in the department of thoracic surgery of large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, and to provide feasible clinical practice strategies.MethodsThe clinical data of 41 COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of 7 large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan from December 15, 2019 to February 15, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 20 surgical patients (10 males and 10 females at an average age of 54.35±10.80 years) and 21 medical personnel (7 males and 14 females at an average age of 30.38±6.23 years).ResultsThe main clinical manifestations of COVID-19 patients were fever (70.73%) and cough (53.66%). Normal or reduced peripheral white blood cells and reduced lymphocyte counts were found in the COVID-19 patients, and some patients may have increased C-reactive protein. COVID-19 patients showed limited ground-glass opacities in early chest CT, which was evident in the edge band of lung. The disease could further develop into multiple pulmonary infiltrations, and pulmonary consolidation was found in severe cases. At the time of confirmed diagnosis, most of the medical personnel were ground-glass shadows and unilateral lesions, and even no obvious abnormalities were found in the lungs. The diagnosed COVID-19 patients were transferred to the isolation ward immediately and treated according to the "Diagnosis and Treatment Program of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia", which was released by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. At the end of follow-up on February 20, 2020, seven surgical patients (35.00%) were discharged and seven (35.00%) were dead, 13 (61.90%) medical personnel were discharged and no death was found.ConclusionsOf all COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of hospitals in Wuhan, the proportion of severe degree and mortality in surgical patients are significantly higher than that of the general population, and medical personnel are prone to nosocomial infections. Early oxygen therapy and respiratory support may improve prognosis. During the epidemic period of COVID-19, elective or limited surgery is suggested to be postponed and the indications for emergency operation should be strictly controlled. Emergency operation is suggested to be treated in accordance with tertiary prevention. On the consideration of specialty in the department of thoracic surgery, all people of the ward should be carefully investigated for infection once one case is confirmed with COVID-19. Early detection, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment are the best preventive measures to improve the prognosis of COVID-19.
ObjectiveTo estimate postoperative pain and use of analgesic of patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) or robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery(RATS). MethodsFrom October 2014 through August 2015, 339 patients were treated by surgery in Shanghai Chest Hospital. Among them, 116 patients with intrathoracic lesions who underwent RATS with the da Vinci? Surgical System were as a RATS group with 51 males and 65 females at age of 52.59±11.49 years. Another 223 patients by VATS were as a VATS group with 93 males and 130 females at age of 58.00±10.56 years. We recorded the data of the VAS score and use analgesic of the patients after surgery. ResultsThere was a significant difference in VAS score between the RATS group and the VATS group(3.01±0.18 vs. 5.19±0.14, P<0.05). Astatistical difference of analgesic use between RATS and VATS was also found(1.09±0.12 vs. 1.77±0.10, P<0.05). ConclusionCompared with VATS, the postoperative pain of the patients who underwent RATS is lighter. And the use of analgesic is less.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical characteristics and the management of major complications after thoracic surgery.MethodsRetrospective research was conducted on 15 213 patients who underwent thoracic surgery from January 2008 to September 2018 in our hospital. Thirty-six (0.24%) patients died of postoperative complications. Based on whether major complications such as severe pulmonary pneumonia and other 13 complications were presented postoperatively, the patients were divided into a complication group (n=389, 294 males and 95 females, aged 61.93±10.23 years) and a non-complication group (n=14 785, 8 636 males and 6 149 females, aged 55.27±13.21 years) after exclusion of unqualified patients. The age, gender distribution, diagnosis, surgical approach, postoperative hospital stay, in-hospital costs and other clinical data were analyzed. And the treatment and outcomes of the complications were summarized.ResultsThe age, proportion of male, malignancy and esophageal diseases, postoperative hospital stay and in-hospital costs in the complication group were significantly more or higher than those in the non-complication group (P<0.05). The top three causes of death among the 36 deaths were pulmonary embolism (PE, 25.00%), severe pulmonary pneumonia (16.67%) and acute respiratory failure (16.67%), respectively. The top five complications among the severe complication group were pulmonary pneumonia (24.73%), pleural space (19.83%), anastomotic leak (17.48%), pulmonary atelectasis (11.51%) and PE (6.18%).ConclusionThoracic surgeons should recognize patients with high risk of severe complications preoperatively based on clinical characteristics and perform multi-disciplinary treatment for severe complications.
Quality control of general thoracic surgery contains many links including the qualification and technical conditions of medical institutions, preoperative diagnostic system, surgery, postoperative management, pathological diagnosis and follow-up. Standards of quality control should be based on evidence-based medicine, and general rules with detailed criteria. As one of the core concepts of quality control, fine management is ought to strictly follow clinical practice guideline of thoracic surgery, to be clear with quality standards of each key link in clinical pathway, and to improve the clinical quality control system that combines self-evaluation and supervision and inspection.
Objective To explore the emergence agitation resulting from postoperative indwelling urethral catheters in patients of thoracic surgery. Methods In this prospective cohort study, we recruited 140 patients who were scheduled for thoracic surgery under general anesthesia in West China Hospital from January through April 2014. These patients were divided into two groups including a control group and a trial group with 70 patients in each group. The patients in the control group had indwelled urethral catheter routinely. The catheter removed after the surgery at operation room in the trial group. Intraoperative urinary volume, emergence agitation (EA) occurrence, postoperative urinary retention, and urethral irritation were recorded. Results There was no statistical difference in postoperative urinary retention rate between the control group and the trial group (1.43% vs. 2.86%, P=0.230). However, the urethral irritation rate in the control group was significantly higher than that in the trial group (12.86% vs. 0.00%, P=0.012) . And there was a statistical difference in adverse event rate (2.86% vs. 0.00%, P=0.039) between the two groups. There was a significantly higher incidence of urethral irritation in male patients (20.51%, 8/39) than female patients (3.23%, 1/31, P=0.033).The rate of EA in the control group was significantly higher than that in the trial group (28.57% vs. 12.86%, P=0.010). There was a significantly higher EA rate in the patients who had urethral irritation by postoperative indwelling catheters compared with those without indwelling catheters (45.00% vs. 12.86%, P=0.043). Conclusion This study suggests that postoperative EA is a result from urethral irritation than local pain, and the EA rate can be decreased by removal of catheter before anaesthetic recovery.
ObjectiveTo explore the training mode for improving the innovative scientific research ability of postgraduates of thoracic surgery.MethodsTwenty-two postgraduate students enrolled in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital from September 2016 to June 2019 were targeted for training, and the teachers were 13 doctors in our department. Training methods included grant-based learning, formative learning and translational medical learning. In addition to the postgraduate education provided by the medical school, the training content also included more than 50 lectures about thoracic surgery, including surgical video explanation, perioperative management of thoracic surgery, interpretation of clinical guidelines, and intensive reading of the literature; it also included half-year clinical internship, 100 surgical operations and management of 5 medical beds in ward.ResultsClinical ability of the postgraduates were improved. Six postgraduate students enrolled in 2016 graduated successfully. They published 15 SCI papers and won more than 20 awards.ConclusionCultivating postgraduates of thoracic surgery oriented by innovative scientific research ability is conducive to the comprehensive understanding of thoracic diseases and the ability of innovative translation research.
ObjectiveTo explore the treatment strategies for patients with fever and pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery during COVID-19 epidemic.MethodsThe clinical data of 537 patients who ungerwent selective surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shangjin Branch of West China Hospital between February and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 242 (45.1%) males and 295 (54.9%) females aged 53.3±13.4 years. We have established a procedure for the patients with fever and pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery to investigate the cause of the disease and track risk factors.ResultsThe overall postoperative complication rate was 16.4% (88/537), and 1 (0.2%) patient died. Of 537 patients, 179 (33.3%) patients were enrolled in our model according to the inclusion criteria: ratio of males [112 (62.6%) vs. 130 (36.3%), P<0.010], patients with a history of smoking [74 (41.3%) vs. 87 (24.3%), P<0.010], or with esophageal cancer surgery [36 (20.1%) vs. 15 (4.2%)], or with traditional thoracotomy [14 (7.8%) vs. 4 (1.1%)] was higher than that of the other patients. Patients in our process due to fever or pulmonary complications had longer ICU stay and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.010). Logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that gender was an independent risk factor for postoperative fever or pulmonary complications.ConclusionIn low-risk areas of the epidemic, the treatment process is simple and feasible, and the cause traceability and corresponding treatment can basically be completed within 24 hours. At the same time, the treatment process has been running stably for a long time.