Objective To compare the digital drainage system and the traditional drainage system in the patients after lung surgery, and to evaluate the advantages of digital drainage system. Methods A retrospective analysis of consecutive 42 patients with lung surgery between September 2016 and May 2017 in Beijing University International Hospital was done. There were 30 males and 12 females with a median age of 34 years ranging 19-81 years. After the surgery 21 patients adopted Thopaz digital drainage device (a DDS group), and the other 21 patients adopted traditional drainage (a TDS group). Duration of air leakage and chest tube placement, length of hospital stay, thoracic drainage volume within 48 h and hospitalization expenses in the two groups were compared. Results The patients in the two groups were all successfully discharged. Compared with the TDS group, duration of air leakage and chest tube placement and length of hospital stay significantly shortened in the DDS group (35.6±16.3 h vs. 48.2±20.1 h, P=0.02; 50.0±16.1 h vs. 62.0±20.4 h, P=0.03; 5.9±2.3 d vs. 7.8±3.5 d, P=0.02), and thoracic drainage volume within 48 h and hospitalization expenses showed no significant statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion Using digital drainage system after lung surgery can significantly shorten the duration of air leakage and the postoperative drainage, at the same time, without increasing the overall hospitalization expenses.
ObjectiveTo explore the necessity of routine X-ray examination after lung surgery based on patient symptom burden. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on the patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung resection at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from March 2020 to April 2023. The routine chest X-ray examination results and symptom burden of postoperative patients were analyzed. Symptom burden was evaluated using the Perioperative Symptom Assessment Lung inventory. Results A total of 2 101 patients were collected, including 915 males and 1 100 femals, with a median age of 56 years. Among patients who underwent routine postoperative chest X-ray, only 1.0% patients accepted intervention. Among patients who had chest X-ray after chest tube removal, only 0.5% of them needed intervention. Among patients who had chest X-ray one month after discharge, only 1.3% of them required intervention. The intervention group had significantly worse shortness of breath (3 points vs. 2 points, P=0.015), pain (2 points vs. 1 point, P=0.039), and disturbed sleep (3 points vs. 2 points, P=0.036) compared with the normal group. Conclusion Very few routine postoperative chest X-ray examinations change patients’ management, and patients who need extra-intervention tended to have more severe symptom burden after surgery.
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.
Objective To investigate the clinical value of using videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy（VATS lobectomy） to treat primary nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC) so that the videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) can be better used in clinic. Methods From September 2007 to December 2008, seventysix NSCLC patients were collected. Thirtyseven patients underwent VATS lobectomy(VATS group), 21 male and 16 female with an average age of 60.4 years. Among them 20 underwent videoassisted minithoracotomy lobectomy, and 17 underwent total thoracoscopic lobectomy. Thirtynine patients underwent conventional thoractomy(conventional thoracotomy group), 32 male and 7 female with an average age of 58.7 years. Perioperative clinical and laboratory parameters of the two groups were compared. Results There was no severe complication and perioperative mortality in both groups. There were statistical significances between VATS group and conventional thoracotomy group in incision length (7.6±1.9 cm vs. 28.5±3.6 cm, t=-31.390,P=0.000), postoperative dosage of dolantin(160±125 mg vs.232±101 mg，t=-2.789,P=0.007), postoperative chest tube time(chest tube output＞100ml,4.8±2.5 d vs. 8.1±3.2 d，t=-4.944,P=0.000） and postoperative hospitalization time(12.1±3.0 d vs. 15.7±4.7 d，t=-3.945,P=0.000). There was no statistical significance between two groups in operation time（t=1.732，P=0.087）, intraoperative blood loss（t=-1.645，P=0.105） and the number of lymph node dissection（t=-0.088，P=0.930）. The total hospitalization expenses in VATS group were higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group, but there was no statistical significance（t=1.303，P=0.197）. The serum levels of glucose at 1st day after operation（7.2±1.2 mmol/L vs. 8.4±2.2 mmol/L, t=5.603,P=0.000）and the total count of white blood cell (12.7±3.8×10.9/L vs. 15.1±5.9×10.9/L,t=5.082,P=0.004) in VATS group were significantly lower than that in conventional thoracotomy group. The prealbumin(PA) level in VATS group was significantly higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group（215.0±45.5 mg/L vs.147.3+50.8 mg/L,t=-7.931,P=0.000). Conclusion VATS lobectomy could clean lymph node completely. Its advantages include less postoperative trauma, lower acute phase response, mild pain, rapid recovery, shorter hospitalization time and less economic burden. It could be an operation approach for early NSCLC patients who have been strictly selected.
With the ongoing evolution of minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques, innovative anatomical approaches facilitating rapid perioperative recovery while achieving optimal aesthetic results and pain-free outcomes have become a pivotal direction in pulmonary resection. While periareolar incisions have demonstrated well-established advantages in cosmetic preservation and pain management in breast and thyroid procedures, the standardization of this approach for video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resection requires further refinement. This consensus synthesizes the collective expertise of China's leading thoracic surgery centers in periareolar approach pulmonary resections. It aims to establish comprehensive clinical consensus that encompasses prerequisite surgical criteria, standardized perioperative management protocols, technically optimized operative procedures, and evidence-based complication prevention and management strategies, ultimately providing guidance for the standardized application of this innovative surgical technique.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) vs. multiple-port VATS in lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Web of Science were searched to collect clinical studies about single- vs. multiple-port VATS for patients with NSCLC from inception to August 2018. The literatures were screened, data were extracted and the risk of bias of included studies was assessed independently by two reviewers. The meta-analysis with the collected data was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsEleven studies (4 randomized controlled trials, 1 prospective cohort study and 6 retrospective cohort studies), including 1 574 patients. Among them, 779 patients were in the single-port group, and 795 in the multiple-port group. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the operation time (MD=3.60, 95%CI –8.59 to 15.79, P=0.56), the conversion rate (OR=1.06, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.06, P=0.87), the incidence of postoperative complications (OR=0.76, 95%CI 0.53 to 1.10, P=0.15), postoperative hospitalization time (MD=0.74, 95%CI –1.60 to 0.12, P=0.09), chest tube placement time (MD=0.63, 95%CI –1.28 to 0.02, P=0.06) or harvested lymph nodes (MD=–0.11, 95%CI –0.46 to 0.24, P=0.54). The intraoperative blood loss (MD=–17.12, 95%CI –31.16 to –3.08, P=0.02) was less in the single-port group than that in the multiple-port group. The visual analogue score (VAS) on postoperative first day (MD=–1.30, 95%CI –1.85 to –0.75, P<0.000 01) and on postoperative third day (MD=–0.82, 95%CI –1.00 to –0.65, P<0.000 01) were lower in the single-port group than those in the multiple-port group.ConclusionThe meta-analysis indicates that the efficacy of single-port VATS for NSCLC is equivalent to multiple-port VATS. However the intraoperative blood loss, the VAS scores on postoperative first and third days in the single-port group are better.
ObjectiveTo emphasize the important role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in treatment of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts (MBCs).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 112 patients (53 males and 59 females) of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts who underwent VATS in our institution between April 2001 and Aprial 2016. Median age was 4–75 (45.6±15.0) years. All patients underwent chest CT preoperatively. The patients were divided into two groups: an anterior mediastinum group, 47 patients; a middle and posterior mediastinum group, 65 patients including 35 patients in the middle mediastinum, 30 patients in the posterior mediastinum. The average diameter was 0.5–22.0 (3.50±2.33) cm. The average CT attenuation was 0–67 (35.5±15.3) Hu on unenhanced CT. We began each operation with the VATS technique.ResultsThe CT diagnostic accuracy for group middle and posterior mediastinum with CT value≤20 Hu was higher than others (61.5% vs. 13.1%, χ2=17.675, P<0.001). A total of 111 patients underwent VATS, only one patient converted to open thoracotomy. Cyst resection and thymectomy were conducted in 45 patients, cyst resection and extended thymectomy were conducted in 2 patients in the anterior mediastinum group. Simply cyst resection were performed in the middle and posterior mediastinum group (n=65). The average operative time was 40–360 (104.5±43.1) min. The average intraoperative blood loss was 5–600 (57.9±88.9) mL. The intraoperative complication rate was 3.6% and the incomplete resection rate was 6.3%. The main reason for these was severe adhesion between the cyst and mediastinal structure. No serious postoperative complication was found. Follow-up was done in 99 patients, and the mean follow-up time was 42 (12–191) months. There was no local recurrence.ConclusionVATS resection of MBCs is a safe and efficacious procedure, and minimally invasive and surgical resection should be performed as early as possible for MBCs.
ObjectiveTo compare and analyze the treatment effect of thoracoscopic surgery and traditional open surgery on infants with congenital diaphragmatic eventration, and summarize the experience of thoracoscopic surgery in infants with congenital diaphragmatic eventration.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 105 children with congenital diaphragmatic eventration who received operation in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2010 to January 2019. The patients were divided into an open group and a thoracoscopic group according to the operation methods. There were 41 patients in the thoracoscopic group, including 30 males and 11 females, with an average of 13.42±11.08 months (range: 1 d to 3 years). There were 64 patients in the open group, including 44 males and 20 females, with an average age of 8.21±9.33 months (range: 15.0 d to 1.6 years). The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, hospital stay and other operation indexes as well as the mortality, recurrence rate and complication rate of the two groups were observed.ResultsThe operation indexes such as operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, thoracic drainage time, CCU stay and hospital stay of the thoracoscopic group were better than those in the open group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between two groups in postoperative diaphgram muscles descent, postoperative feeding time or patients needing thoracic drainage (P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the thoracoscopic group (19.51%) was lower than that in the open group (23.44%, P>0.05), and the difference in mortality and recurrence rate between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05).ConclusionBoth thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication and traditional open surgery can effectively treat congenital diaphragmatic eventration, but compared with traditional open surgery, thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication has the advantages of shorter operation time, less trauma, more rapid recovery and fewer complications, so it should be the first choice for children with congenital diaphragmatic eventration.
Objective Through a retrospective study on esophageal function changes and symptom relief after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery treatment for achalasia of cardia (AC) to assess the clinical value of this operation. Methods We reviewed the data of 34 AC patients who received modified Heller operation by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from March 2012 to September 2014. There were 11 males and 23 females with a median age of 35 (11–67) years. These patients were divided into four groups according to the time of treatment and follow-up: preoperative group, postoperative one-month group, postoperative three-month group and postoperative six-month group. Changes of symptoms, radiography and esophageal dynamics before and after therapy were collected. These different groups were analyzed based on statistical methods. Results There was no statistical difference in ages and genders among groups (P>0.05). The surgery was successful and no complication or death occurred. Symptoms of patients showed different degrees of relief and the postoperative grade of clinical symptoms decreased (P<0.05). After surgery, lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure (LESRP) and esophageal body pressure (EBP) decreased significantly, while lower esophageal sphincter relax rate (LESRR) increased (P<0.05). While there was no significant difference in length of lower esophageal sphincter (LESL,P>0.05). Angiography of upper digestive tract revealed that compared to the preoperative group, the maximum width in postoperative three-month group decreased significantly (P<0.05). During the follow-up, 3 patients suffered gastroesophageal reflux, 2 patients esophageal perforation and 1 patient empyema due to esophago-pleural fistula. No massive hemorrhage of upper digestive tract and hiatal hernia occured. Conclusion Sugery can significantly ameliorate the clinical symptoms of the patients with AC, and improve esophageal dynamics. And it is simple and easy to perform with less complications and better long-term outcomes. Improved Heller operation by video-assisted thoracoscopy is a less invasive procedure when compared with the traditional thoracotomy. Moreover, esophageal manometry can objectively assist in the diagnosis and degree of the disease and effect of therapy.
Objective To compare and analyze the occurrence of acute and chronic pain after subxiphoid and transcostal thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 150 patients who underwent thoracoscopic extended thymectomy in our hospital from July 2020 to June 2022, among whome 30 patients received subxiphoid video-assisted thoracic surgery, and 120 patients received transcostal video-assisted thoracic surgery. The patients were matched by the propensity score matching method. Postoperative pain was evaluated by numeric rating scale (NRS). The intraoperative conditions and postoperative pain incidence were compared between the two groups. ResultsAfter matching, 60 patients were enrolled, 30 in each group, including 30 males and 30 females with an average age of 50.78±12.13 years. There was no difference in the general clinical data between the two groups (P>0.05), and no perioperative death. There were statistical differences in the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheter duration, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pain on 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d, 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the operation time or the postoperative 14 d NRS score (P>0.05). Further univariate and multivariate analyses for postoperative chronic pain showed that surgical method and postoperative 14 d NRS score were risk factors for chronic pain at the 3 months and 6 months after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion The subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy has advantages over transcostal thoracoscopic surgery in the postoperative acute and chronic pain.