Abstract： Objective To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical outcome of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） lobectomy for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 160 consecutive patients（the VATS group, 83 males and 77 females with average age at 60.8 years）with early-stage NSCLC who underwent complete VATS lobectomy between January 2005 andDecember 2008 in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University，and compared them with 357 patients（the thoracotomy group, 222 males and 135 females with average age at 59.5 years）who underwent open thoracotomy in the same period. Results The conversion rate of the VATS group was 5.0%（8/160）. The operation time of the VATS group was significantly shorter than that of the thoracotomy group（113.0 min vs.125.0 min, P=0.039）. Length of postoperative hospital stay was not statistically different between the two groups（10.3±4.3 d vs.9.1±4.6 d，P=0.425）. The postoperative morbidity of the VATS lobectomy group and the thoracotomy group was 9.4%（15/160）and 10.1% （36/357） respectively，and the postoperative mortality of the two groups was 0.6%（1/160）and 2.0%（7/357）respectively. There was no statistical difference in the mean group of lymph node dissection （2.4±1.5 groups vs.2.4±1.7 groups，P=0.743） and the mean number of lymph node dissection （9.8±6.3 vs.10.1±6.4，P=0.626） between the two groups. The overall 5-year survival rate of the VATS group was significantly higher than that of the thoracotomy group （81.5% vs.67.8%, P=0.001）. Subgroup analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate of pⅠa stage, pⅠb stage, and pⅢa stage was 86.0%, 84.5%, and 58.8% respectively in the VATS group, and 92.9%, 76.4%, and 25.3% respectively in the thoracotomy group. Conclusion Complete VATS lobectomy is technically safe and feasible for patients with early-stage NSCLC. The lymph node dissection extension of complete VATS lobectomy is similar to that of open thoracotomy, and long-term outcome of complete VATS lobectomy is superior to that of open thoracotomy. Randomized controlled trials of large sample size are further needed to demonstrate superiority.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lung resection in the treatment of tuberculosis.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 164 tuberculosis patients who underwent lung resection in Xi'an Chest Hospital from 2013 to 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical procedure: a VATS group (85 patients, 56 males and29 females) and a thoracotomy group (79 patients, 52 males and 27 females). The clinical effect of the two groups was compared.Results Compared to the thoracotomy group, the VATS group had less operation time (151.59±76.75 min vs. 233.48±93.89 min, P<0.001), amount of intraoperative blood loss (200.00 ml vs. 600.00 ml, P<0.001), the postoperative drainage (575.00 ml vs. 1 110.00 ml, P=0.001), extubation time (4 d vs. 6 d, P<0.001) and hospital stay (13.00 d vs. 17.00 d, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in postoperative complications (10 patients vs.17 patients, P=0.092) between the two groups. A total of 97 patients underwent lobectomy, including 36 of the VATS group and 61 of the thoracotomy group. The operation time (211.39±70.88 min vs. 258.20±87.16 min, P=0.008), the intraoperative blood loss (400.00 ml vs. 700 ml, P<0.010), the postoperative drainage (800.00 ml vs. 1 250.00 ml, P=0.001), extubation time (5.00 d vs. 8.00 d, P=0.002) and hospital stay (13.11±4.45 d vs. 19.46±7.74 d, P<0.010) in the VATS group were significantly better than those in the thoracotomy group. There was no statistical difference in postoperative complication rate (4 patients vs. 14 patients, P=0.147) between the two[1], groups.ConclusionCompared with conventional thoracotomy, VATS lung resection has obvious advantages in treatment of tuberculosis, which may be the preferred technique.
ObjectiveTo explore clinical outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PH), and compare the results between T2 segment surgery and T2-T3 segment surgery. MethodsFrom April 2009 to August 2012, 48 consecutive PH patients underwent single-port VATS in Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University. There were 18 male and 30 female patients with their age of 14-40 (22.1±5.4) years. According to different surgical procedures, all the patients were divided into T2 segment group (29 patients) and T2-T3 segment group (19 patients). Preoperative characteristics, surgical results and postoperative morbidity were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsPH symptoms disappeared after VATS in all the patients. Patients were followed up for 6-44(21.3±10.1)months, and 2 patients were lost in both T2 segment group and T2-T3 segment group. The incidence of postoperative compensatory sweating was 66.7% (18/29) in T2 segment group and 70.6% (12/19) in T2-T3 segment group. The incidence of moderate to severe compensatory sweating of T2 segment group was significantly higher than that of T2-T3 segment group (51.9% vs. 29.4%, P < 0.05). Twenty-six patients (96.3%) in T2 segment group and 16 patients (94.1%) in T2-T3 segment group were completely or partially satisfied with surgical results. ConclusionVATS is the only effective surgical procedure for the treatment of moderate to severe PH. Both T2 and T2-T3 segment sympathectomy can effectively reduce PH symptoms after VATS, but the incidence of postoperative compensatory sweating is high, which has negative influence on patients'satisfaction.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pneumonectomy for bronchiectasis.MethodsThe clinical data of 164 patients undergoing VATS pneumonectomy or open thoracotomy for bronchiectasis in our hospital from March 2002 to July 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods: a thoracotomy group (122 patients, 63 males, 59 females) and a thoracoscopic surgery group (42 patients, 15 males, 27 females). Surgical and follow-up indicators were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no difference between the two groups in the blood loss, operation time, perioperative mortality or complication. However patients undergoing VATS had shorter length of postoperative stay than those undergoing thoracotomy (6.9±2.6 d vs. 8.1±3.1 d, P=0.030). In the thoracoscopic surgery group, 3 patients were lost to follow-up and in the thoracotomy group, 5 patients were lost to follow-up. In a median follow-up of 51 months (ranging from 2 to 116 months), 36 patients (92.3%) fully recovered with no sputum or haemoptysis and 3 (7.7%) partially recovered with a reduced sputum or haemoptysis in the thoracoscopic surgery group; 105 (89.7%) fully recovered with no sputum or haemoptysis, 10 (8.5%) partially recovered with a reduced sputum or haemoptysis while 2 (1.7%) without any improvement in the thoracotomy group with no statistical difference (P=0.700).ConclusionVATS pneumonectomy for bronchiectasis is equivalent to thoracotomy in terms of safety and effectiveness, and can be used as an alternative surgical procedure for the treatment of bronchiectasis.
Objective To investigate the security and feasibility of silk ligating for pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, and to summarize the clinical skills. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 68 patients underwent the video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy from April 2013 to March 2015. There were 49 males and 19 females with the mean age of 59.6±10.3 years, ranging from 38 to 76 years. We divided the patients into an ECR60W cut-up group (31 patients) and a silk ligation group (37 patients). There were 22 males and 9 females patients with the average age of 59.3±9.9 years with ECR60W. There were 27 males and 10 females patients with the average age of 59.9±10.5 years with silk ligation. We observed the effect of hemostasis, and analyzed the amount of bleeding loss during operation, postoperative suction drainage and the cost of operation material between the two groups. Results There were 4 patients out of 68 converted to the open lobectomy, and all of them used ECR60W. The application of silk ligation for pulmo-nary artery could effectively control bleeding loss and avoid massive amount of bleeding due to the vascular tear in opera-tions. Furthermore, the application can reduce the rate of severe complications such as massive bleeding resulting from postoperative silk ligation slippage. There was a statistical difference between the two groups on the cost of operation mate-rials (P < 0.01). Conclusions Silk ligation for pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is simple and prac-tical to apply. Compared with the ECR60W, it can significantly reduce the cost of operation material. It's worth to popularize in clinic.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobec-tomy in the treatment of benign pulmonary diseases. MethodsFrom January 2011 to April 2014, 48 patients with benign pulmonary diseases underwent single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The patients included 21 males and 27 females, with their mean age of 47.4 years. There were 5 patients received right upper lobectomy, right middle lobectomy in 5 patients, right lower lobectomy in 5 patients, left upper lobectomy in 8 patients, and left lower lobectomy in 20 patients. the clinical outcomes included operation time, intraoperative blood loss, chest drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications. ResultsThere were 2 patients conversion to open surgery. The average operation time was 147.2±50.4 min, intraopera-tive blood loss was 160.2±25.3 ml, postoperative chest drainage duration was 4.8±2.8 d, postoperative hospital stay was 7.4±1.9 d. There was no hospital death or serious postoperative complications. Postoperative pathological diagnosis showed bronchiectasis in 17 patients, inflammatory pseudotumor in 11 patients, tuberculosis in 9 patients, aspergillosis in 4 patients, pulmonary sequestration in 3 patients, bronchogenic cyst in 2 patients, pulmonary abscess in 1 patient, and hamartoma in 1 patient. No long-term complications were noticed in 48 patients during a mean follow-up of 6 months. ConclusionSingle utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and feasible in the treatment of benign pulmonary diseases.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 46 consecutive patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer who underwent single utility port complete VATS lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei north University from December 2012 through November 2014. There were 39 male patients and 7 female patients with their age of 42-76 (60.26±4.38) years (VATS group). There were 58 patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy via traditional thoracotomy including 47 male and 11 female patients with their age of 44-73 (61.42±3.67) years for the same period (conventional thoracotomy group). Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. ResultsAll the operations were successful. There was no conversions during single utility port VATS lobectomy, and no periopera-tive death in both groups. The VATS group had significantly less blood loss (126.10±48.56 ml vs. 260.84±69.70 ml), and amount of thoracic drainage (230.52±50.22 ml vs. 380.16±96.24 ml, P<0.05). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the VATS group than the conventional thoracotomy group (6.42±1.40 days vs. 9.64±2.08 days, P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the VATS group and the conventional thoracotomy group with regard to the opera-ting time (146.25±19.68 minutes vs. 139.26±25.39 minutes), number of lymph nodes procured (13.56±2.31 vs. 14.12±3.06), and postoperative complications (13.0% vs. 19.0%, P>0.05). ConclusionSingle utility port VATS lobectomy for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer is technically feasible, with less blood loss and shorter hospital stays for achieving acceptable standards of lymph node dissection. It is a promising surgical procedures for patients with early-stage peripheral non-small cell lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in video-assisted thyroidectomy for huge thyroid nodules. MethodsThe clinical data of 158 patients with huge thyroid nodules underwent videoassisted thyroidectomy from January 2013 to June 2015 were analyzed retrospectively, the recurrent laryngeal nerves were monitored in 79 cases (monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group) while the recurrent laryngeal nerves were not monitored in the other patients (non-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group). The operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and the incidences of transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were observed between these two groups. ResultsThe video-assisted miniincision thyroidectomy was successfully completed in these 158 cases. Compared with the non-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group, the operative time (min) was shorter (76.2±23.4 versus 89.2±29.8, P < 0.05), the blood loss and the postoperative drainage were less (16.3±13.6 versus 20.6±10.7, P < 0.05; 20.7±9.6 versus 25.5±9.1, P < 0.05) in the monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group. But the postoperative hospital stay (d) had no significant difference between the monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group and the non-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group (3.2±1.3 versus 3.3±1.9, P > 0.05). Eight weeks later, the incidence of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in the monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group was significantly lower than that in the non-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group [5.6% (5/90) versus 21.8% (17/78), P < 0.05], while the incidence of permanent nerve injury had no statistical difference between the monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group and the non-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve group [0(0/90) versus 1.3% (1/78), P > 0.05]. ConclusionRecurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring under video-assisted thyroidectomy for huge thyroid nodules could effectively reduce incidence of nerve injury and shorten operation time.
ObjectiveTo analyze clinical experience and outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)for bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (MVR). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 32 patients who underwent VATS bioprosthetic MVR in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong General Hospital from March to December 2013. There were 14 males and 18 females with a mean age of 55.6±17.3 years (range, 19 to 80 years), mean body weight of 55.7±9.7 kg (range, 37 to 78 kg) and mean body surface area of 1.67±0.16 m2 (range, 1.30 to 1.95 m2). Five patients had atrial fibrillation. There were 20 patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA)functional class Ⅱ, 11 patients in class Ⅲ, and 1 patient in class Ⅳ. There were 16 patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease, 11 patients with degenerative mitral valve disease, 4 patients with infective endocarditis and 1 patient with associated congenital heart disease. ResultsVATS bioprosthetic MVR was successfully performed for all the patients, including 27 patients with Medtronic Hancock Ⅱ Bioprosthesis and 5 patients with Medtronic Mosaic Bioprosthesis. Concomitantly, tricuspid valvuloplasty was performed for 13 patients and atrial septal defect repair was performed for 1 patient. There was no in-hospital death, low cardiac output syndrome or left ventricular rupture. Postoperative echocardiography showed good bioprosthetic function in all the patients without paravalvular leakage. Postoperative cardiac function significantly improved compared with preoperative cardiac function. There were 9 patients in NYHA functional class Ⅰ, 17 patients in class Ⅱ, and 6 patients in class Ⅲ. Left atrial diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter examined postoperatively and 3 months after surgery were significantly smaller than preoperative values. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)examined postoperatively and 3 months after surgery was significantly lower than preoperative LVEF. ConclusionsVATS bioprosthetic MVR is a minimally invasive, safe and feasible procedure with a low postoperative morbidity. Incision size can be significantly reduced with a special type of bioprosthesis.
Mini-invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been employed in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal diseases for about 10 years. The potential advantages of VATS over thoracotomy are reduction of chest pain just after the operation and in the long run, lower incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and reduction of aesthetic sequelae. Thoracoscopic staging of esophageal cancer is to evaluate the invasion and metastasis of cancer, which is helpful for better selection of patients for appropriate treatment .Operation of esophageal cancer with VATS is prescribed mainly in the early stage of carcinoma, but it’s application is restricted due to the multiple sites of operation and complexity of procedures. VATS for benign esophageal diseases such as esophageal leiomyoma and achalasia is becoming the preferable choice of operation in qualified medical centers.