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.
ObjectiveTo explore the best timing of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibition therapy by analyzing the trend of TSH level changes after unilateral thyroid lobectomy in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).MethodsThe clinical data of patients with low-risk PTMC who underwent unilateral thyroid lobectomy in the Dongfeng Hospital Affiliated to Hubei Medical College from September 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The TSH of all patients were measured before operation and in month 1, 3, and 6 after operation, respectively, and the change trend was analyzed.ResultsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 271 patients with low-risk PTMC were included in this study. The TSH level in month 1 after operation was higher than that of before operation [(2.93±1.09) mU/L versus (2.05±0.76) mU/L, t=19.9, P<0.001]. Among the 129 patients with TSHlevel ≤2.0 mU/L before operation, 56.6% (73/129) of them still had the TSH level ≤2.0 mU/L in month 1 after operation, 45.0% (58/129) in month 3 after operation and 39.5% (51/129) in month 6 after operation.ConclusionsTSH level of patient with low-risk PTMC is increased after lobectomy, so individualized TSH inhibition treatment should be formulated. For patients with TSH level>2.0 mU/L before operation, oral levothyroxine sodium tablets should be taken immediately after operation. For patients with preoperative TSH level ≤2.0 mU/L, TSH level should be dynamically monitored, and whether and when to start oral TSH inhibition therapy should be decided according to results of TSH level.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and effect of treatment of bile duct exploration though hepatic sections instead of spliting common bile duct, cured for hepatolithiasis with bile duct stones. MethodsClinical data of 122 cases of our hospital were retrospectively reviewed, these patients with left intrahepatic bile duct stone and common bile duct calculi. As control group, during the period from June 2007 to June 2010, in which 64 patients underwent left hepatic lobectomy, common bile duct exploration and T tube drainage. In observation group, 58 patients from June 2011 to December 2013, underwent left hepatic resection combined biliary duct exploration by the liver section stump bile duct. The operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative hospitalization time, and incidence of complications between the 2 groups were compared. ResultsCompared with the control group, the postoperative hospitalization time was shortened obviously in observation group patients(P < 0.05), there were no significant difference in operative time and bleeding during operation of 2 groups(P > 0.05), The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than the control group(P < 0.05). In 122 patients, 105 cases were followed-up(86.1%), the follow-up time was 2 years. Two groups of patients had no stone residual and recurrence. ConclusionsBile duct exploration by intraoperative liver section is an effective method to treat left hepatolithiasis, it can simplified procedures, shortening the postoperative hospitalization time, and effectively avoid complications caused by common bile duct incision and T tubedrainage.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty and to summarize the experience of quality control and technical process management.MethodsFrom January to December 2018, our hospital completed robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty for 5 patients, including the upper right lung lobe in 2 patients, the middle right lung lobe in 1 patient and the lower left lung lobe in 2 patients. There were 3 males and 2 females with an age of 56.6 (39-75) years. The surgical approach was the same as the surgical incision of the robotic lobectomy. During the operation, the lobes were separated, all enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were cleaned, pulmonary hilum was dissected, pulmonary arteriovenous vessels and bronchi were exposed, and pulmonary vessels were treated. After exposing the main bronchi, the bronchi were cut off at the distal end of the lesion, and the lobes where the lesion was located (including lesions) were excised by sleeve type and the bronchi were continuously sutured with 3-0 Prolene from the back wall for anastomosis. After the anastomosis, no air leakage was found in the expanded lung, and the anastomosis was no longer wrapped.ResultsThe operation time was 147.4 (100-192) min, including bronchial anastomosis time 17.6 (14-25) min. Intraoperative blood loss was 60.0 (20-100) mL, and 20 (9-37) lymph nodes were dissected. Three patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 1 adenocarcinoma, and 1 neuroendocrine tumor. All patients showed negative results in the freezing pathology of bronchial stump during operation. All patients recovered well after surgery, without perioperative complications, and the anastomosis was smooth. Postoperative hospital stay was 10.8 (7-14) days. The patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months without anastomotic stenosis or other complications.ConclusionSince the robot system is a special instrument with 3D vision and 7 degrees of freedom for movable joints, the robotic bronchial suture is more flexible and accurate. The robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty are safe and feasible.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of robotic versus thoracoscopic lobectomy on body trauma and lymphocyte subsets in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe clinical data of 120 patients with NSCLC who underwent lobectomy in the same operation group at the same period were collected and divided into a robot group (n=60) and a thoracoscope group (n=60) according to different surgical methods. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage time, drainage volume, postoperative hospital stay, complication rate, pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and other perioperative indicators were recorded in the two groups. Inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) levels were measured before and 1 d, 3 d after surgery. The effects of the two surgical methods on the body trauma and lymphocyte subsets were compared.ResultsThe operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage time, drainage volume and VAS of the robot group were lower than those of the thoracoscope group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). On the 1st day after surgery, IL-6 of the thoracoscope group was higher than that of the robot group, while CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ were lower than those of the robot group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).ConclusionCompared with thoracoscopic lobectomy, robotic lobectomy has less trauma, less inflammatory response, faster recovery, less inhibitory effect on lymphocyte subsets, and has clinical advantages.
Objective To investigate the significance of spread through air spaces (STAS) in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing either sublobar resection or lobectomy by pooling evidence available, and to assess the accuracy of frozen sections in determining types of resection among patients with suspected presence of STAS. MethodsStudies were identified by searching databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library from inception to July 2022. Two researchers independently searched, screened, evaluated literature, and extracted data. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and STATA 15.0. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the study. ResultsA total of 26 studies involving 23 surgical related studies (12 266 patients) were included, among which, 11 compared the outcomes of lobectomy with sublobar resection in the STAS-positive patients. NOS score≥6 points. Meta-analysis indicated that presence of STAS shortened patients' survival in both lobectomy group and sublobar resection group (RFS: HR=2.27, 95%CI 1.96-2.63, P＜0.01; OS: HR=2.08, 95%CI 1.74-2.49, P＜0.01). Moreover, lobectomy brought additional survival benefits to STAS-positive patients compared with sublobar resection (RFS: HR=1.97, 95%CI 1.59-2.44, P＜0.01; OS: HR=1.91, 95%CI 1.47-2.48, P＜0.01). Four studies were included to assess the accuracy of identifying presence of STAS on intraoperative frozen sections, of which the pooled sensitivity reached 55% (95%CI 45%-64%), the pooled specificity reached 92% (95%CI 77%-97%), and the pooled area under the curve was 0.68 (95%CI 0.64-0.72) based on the data available. Conclusion This study confirms that presence of STAS is a critical risk factor for patients with early-stage NSCLC. Lobectomy should be recommended as the first choice when presence of STAS is identified on frozen sections, as lobectomy can prolong patients' survival compared with sublobar resection in STAS-positive disease. The specificity of identifying STAS on frozen sections seems to be satisfactory, which may be helpful in determining types of resection. However, more robust methods are urgently in need to make up for the limited sensitivity and accuracy of frozen sections.
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.
Objective To investigate the prognostic value of sarcopenia in patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery and chemotherapy. Methods This study included 592 patients with early non-small cell lung cancer who received lung cancer resection from January 2014 to December 2015, and they were divided into two groups: 473 patients received surgery alone (the surgery group), 119 patients received chemotherapy after surgery (the postoperative chemotherapy group), and the two groups were divided into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group. General clinical data, laboratory data, and imaging data of these patients were compared. Results The median follow-up time of 592 patients was 69.1 months [95% confidential interval (CI) 64.9 - 78.2], and 110 patients were with sarcopenia (18.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia was an independent adverse prognostic factor in the surgery group [hazard ratio (HR) 6.56; 95%CI 1.86 to 14.78; P=0.01]. For patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy, skeletal muscle mass index was reduced after chemotherapy, and sarcopenia was an independent predictor of poor prognosis (HR 5.77; 95%CI 0.96 to 20.60; P<0.05). Conclusions Sarcopenia is an independent poor prognostic factor for patients with early NSCLC undergoing surgery and postoperative chemotherapy. Assessment of sarcopenia before surgery and postoperative chemotherapy is helpful to improve the prognosis of patients with early NSCLC.
Laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy had developed considerably in recent years, but some complex sites of anatomical hepatectomy, such as anatomical resection of the right posterior lobe of the liver, still presented some technical difficulties. Combining the specific perspective of laparoscope and the particular anatomical structure of the right posterior lobe of the liver, we had proposed a strategy of anatomical right posterior lobe resection via cranial-dorsal approach. The right posterior lobe resection plane was defined by point (right hepatic vein root)—by line (ischemic line/right hepatic vein)—by plane (hepatic surface ischemic line and right hepatic vein composition) to achieve precise anatomical resection of the right posterior lobe of the liver, and could reduce intraoperative complications and comply with the principle of tumour-free. Thus, a strategy of anatomical right posterior lobe resection via cranial-dorsal approach might provide a feasible and effective option for right posterior lobectomy of the liver.
Objective To explore the feasibility of 5G remote robot-assisted pulmonary lobectomy through animal experiments. Methods In this research, the Toumai® surgical robot was manipulated remotely by the surgeon in the Control Center of the MedBot Company through the 5G network established by China Telecom, and the experimental pig underwent lobectomy in simulated operating room. Results The animal experiment surgery was successfully completed. The surgeon remotely manipulated the surgical robot to complete the lobectomy of right apical lobe and mediastinal lymph node dissection. The entire animal experiment took about 60 minutes, with an average round-trip network delay of 125 (110-155) ms, and no network interruption or robot malfunction occurred. Conclusion This animal experiment is the first attempt of 5G remote thoracic surgery, which preliminarily proves the feasibility of completing remote lobectomy through the Toumai® surgical robot 5G wireless network connection. The systematic surgical procedure is summarized, which lays a foundation for the subsequent experiments and clinical applications of 5G remote robot-assisted thoracic surgery.