What is the advantage of a thoracoscopic lobectomy over a limited thoracotomy procedure for lung cancer surgery?

BACKGROUND: To clarify any advantages of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) over anterior limited thoracotomy (ALT) for lobectomy in lung cancer, we compared the two procedures in a retrospective analysis. METHODS: Sex- and age-matched (+/- 5 years) lung cancer patients in clinical stage I who underwent lobectomy by means of VATS (n = 33) or ALT (n = 33) were compared in terms of the number of resected lymph nodes, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative chest tube drainage, and chest pain. Pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale and analgesic requirements. Vital capacity (VC), respiratory muscle strength, and results of a 6-minute walking (6 MW) test were also compared preoperatively and 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Compared with the ALT group, the VATS group experienced less pain between postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 7 (p < 0.05 to 0.001) and had lower analgesic requirements up to POD 7 (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in pain on POD 14. There were also no significant differences in intraoperative factors or in the postoperative impairment of VC, respiratory muscle strength, and 6 MW test results. CONCLUSIONS: Although VATS lobectomy reduces chest pain during the first week after surgery compared with ALT, this advantage is lost within 2 weeks. Both techniques result in similar impairments of pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and walking capacity. Therefore, if curative resection of lung cancer by VATS would be technically difficult for any reason, including the surgeon's skill and experience, a limited open thoracotomy would be preferable from the standpoints of safety and the patient's prognosis.     

Early Removal of Chest Drainage Tubes and Oxygen Support After a Lobectomy for Lung Cancer Facilitates Earlier Recovery of the 6-Minute Walking Distance

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the early removal of chest tubes and oxygen support lines on the postoperative recovery of patients, who underwent a lobectomy for lung cancer. Forty-two patients, in whom the removal of chest tubes and oxygen support lines was planned for the morning after surgery (subjective group), were matched by sex and age with 42 patients for whom no such action was scheduled (control group). The mean duration of chest tube drainage was 1.5 ± 0.8 days in the subjective group, which was significantly shorter than the period of 2.8 ± 1.0 days in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean duration of oxygen support was 1.1 ± 0.3 days in the subjective group, which was significantly shorter than the period of 3.1 ± 1.3 days in the control group (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the chest drainage volume and oxygen saturation on the morning after surgery between the two groups. We thus compared the postoperative changes in vital capacity (VC) and 6-min walking distance (6MWD) after surgery between the two groups. The early removal of chest tubes and oxygen support lines significantly reduced the impairments of 6MWD 1 week after surgery (P = 0.04) and also diminished the impairments of VC 1 week after surgery but not to a significant extent (P = 0.06). The early removal of chest tubes and oxygen support lines could accelerate the postoperative recovery of 6MWD. Received: June 7, 2000 / Accepted: November 20, 2000     

Six-minute walking and pulmonary function test outcomes during the early period after lung cancer surgery with special reference to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: To evaluate physical dysfunction during the early period after lung resection in patients with lung cancer and coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we examined the relationship between the ratio of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second to the forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC%) and the results of a 6-minute walk (6MW) test before and after surgery. Methods: Eighty-three patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer were classified into three groups according to their preoperative FEV₁/FVC: more than 70% (non-COPD, n=61), 60–69% (mild COPD, n=15), and 40–59% (moderate COPD, n=7). The 6MW and pulmonary function tests were performed before surgery and repeated 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. During the 6MW test, the distance covered during a 6MW test (6MWD) and the decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were measured. Results: During both the preoperative and postoperative 6MW tests, the decrease in SpO2 correlated significantly with the preoperative FEV₁/FVC% (p<0.001). The percentage decrease in 6MWD at 1 and 2 weeks after surgery correlated significantly with the preoperative FEV₁/FVC% (p<0.001 and p=0.04, respectively), but not with the concomitant percentage reduction in vital capacity (VC). The differences of the decreases in postoperative 6MWD and SpO₂ during the 6MW test were significant between the moderate and mild COPD patients and between the mild COPD and non-COPD patients (p<0.01–0.001). Conclusion: The decreases in 6MWD and SpO₂ after surgery were significantly influenced by the preoperative FEV₁/FVC%, but not by the decrease in VC. COPD patients have a limited capacity for walking during the early period after surgery due to significant oxygen desaturation.     

Ninety-Day Mortality of Thoracoscopic vs Open Lobectomy: A Large Multicenter Cohort Study

BackgroundStudies have demonstrated a lower incidence of complications after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy compared with thoracotomy, but the data on in-hospital and 90-day mortality are inconclusive. This study analyzed whether surgical approach, VATS or thoracotomy, was related to early mortality of lobectomy in lung cancer and determined the differences between in-hospital and 90-day mortality.MethodsData of all patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy between January 1, 2007, and July 30, 2018, were retrieved from Polish National Lung Cancer Registry. Included were 31 433 patients who met all study criteria. After propensity score matching, 4946 patients in the VATS group were compared with 4946 patients in the thoracotomy group.ResultsCompared with thoracotomy, VATS lobectomy was related to lower in-hospital (1.5% vs 0.9%, P = .004) and 90-day mortality (3.4% vs 1.8%, P < .001). Mortality at 90 days was twice as high as in-hospital mortality in both the VATS (1.8% vs 0.9%, P < .001) and thoracotomy groups (3.4% vs 1.5%, P < .001). Postoperative complications were less common after VATS compared with thoracotomy (23.6% vs 31.8%, P < .001).ConclusionsVATS lobectomy is associated with lower in-hospital and 90-day mortality compared with thoracotomy and should be recommended for lung cancer treatment, if feasible. Patients should also be closely monitored after discharge from the hospital, because 90-day mortality is significant higher than in-hospital mortality.     

French-window thoracotomy: postoperative pain avoidance for short-stay lung cancer surgery

Objective Although long years have passed since video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy (VL) appeared as a new approach for resection of lung cancer, its practicality is not clear even today. As the significance of VL has still been under discussion, it has not gained consensus of its superiority to standard lateral thoracotomy. However, we think that returning to the classical posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) is only a setback, so we developed a new thoracotomy approach that spares the thoracic bony cage by protecting costovertebral and costosternal junctions without spreading the ribs, the same mechanism for avoiding pain as in VL. It was named French-window thoracotomy (FWT). Postoperative pain and length of hospital stay after pulmonary lobectomy were compared between PLT (n = 18) and FWT (n = 13). Methods An anterolateral skin incision was made along the fifth intercostal space. The operative field was made through double intercostal spaces by cutting two ribs temporally at anterior and posterior points. The bone–muscle flaps were rolled back outside with protection of intercostal neurovascular bundles. The four cut points of the ribs were firmly repaired by the staking technique with stainless steel mesh wire and a stainless steel sleeve after intrathoracic manipulation. Results There was a significant difference between PLT and FWT lobectomy (55.6% vs 7.7%, respectively, P = 0.0059) with regard to severe postoperative pain. Patients undergoing a FWT lobectomy had a shorter postoperative stay (6.4 ± 2.1 vs. 12.3 ± 3.3 days, P = 0.000003). Conclusions The lobectomy patients by FWT complained less of postoperative pain and required a shorter postoperative stay than with patients with the classical rib-spreading thoracotomy. We believe that FWT is an anatomically correct approach for preserving the whole structure of the chest cage. This article was presented at the Twenty-first Annual Meeting of The Japanese Association for Chest Surgery, Yokohama, Kanagawa, May 27–29, 2004     

Limited axillary thoracotomy vs video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been reported to have a higher pneumothorax recurrence rate than limited axillary thoracotomy (LAT). We investigated the cause of pneumothorax recurrence after VATS by comparing surgical results for VATS and LAT. Methods: Ninety-five patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent resection of pulmonary bullae by VATS (n= 51) or LAT (n= 44). Operating duration, bleeding during surgery, number of resected bullae, duration of postoperative chest tube drainage, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complication, and pneumothorax recurrence were analyzed to compare VATS and LAT in a retrospective study. Results: The duration of surgery, postoperative chest tube drainage, and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in VATS than in LAT cases (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.005). Bleeding during surgery was significantly less in VATS than in LAT cases (p < 0.005). Numbers of resected bullae were significantly lower in VATS (2.7 ± 2.1) than in LAT cases (3.9 ± 2.7) (p < 0.05). Postoperative pneumothorax recurrence was more frequent in VATS (13.7%) than in LAT cases (6.8%), but there was no significant difference. Conclusions: VATS has many advantages over LAT in treating spontaneous pneumothorax, although the pneumothorax recurrence rate in VATS cases was double that in LAT cases. The lower number of resected bullae in VATS than in LAT cases suggests that overlooking bullae in operation could be responsible for the high recurrence rate in VATS cases. We recommend additional pleurodesis in VATS for spontaneous pneumothorax to prevent postoperative pneumothorax recurrence. Received: 13 August 1997/Accepted: 15 December 1997     

VATS lobectomy morbidity and mortality is lower in patients with the same ppoDLCO: Analysis of the database of the Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group

IntroductionMeasuring predicted post-operative diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (ppoDLCO) is essential to determine patient operability and to stratify the risk of patients who are candidates for major lung cancer surgery. Studies that established surgical risk variables were based on open surgery series. The aim of our study was to analyze morbidity and mortality as a function of ppoDLCO and to compare its behavior in open and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).MethodsWe compared 90-day mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing open surgery versus VATS as a function of decline in ppoDLCO. Propensity score matching (using age, ASA, arterial vascular disease, BMI, gender, stage, ppoDLCO, and ppoFEV₁) was applied to create comparable open surgery and VATS groups.ResultsOf 2,530 patients with lung cancer and ppoDLCO values, a sample of 1,624 (812 per group) was obtained after score matching. The relative risk of mortality associated with thoracotomy in patients with ppoDLCO < 60 is 2.66 (p < 0.02) compared to VATS. The risk of thoracotomy in terms of overall and cardiac and respiratory morbidity is higher than that of VATS for almost all ppoDLCO values.ConclusionsMajor resection by VATS shows lower morbidity and mortality in patients with the same ppoDLCO. A steady rise in the risk of mortality begins to occur at higher ppoDLCO values in thoracotomy (∼60) than in VATS (∼45).     

Long-term effect of a thoracoscopic stapled bullectomy alone for preventing the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Purpose  The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the long-term efficacy of a stapled bullectomy without any symphysial procedures under videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods  A total of 121 sides of 112 patients who underwent a stapled bullectomy alone for primary spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed. There were 48 sides of 45 patients who underwent VATS (VATS group) and 73 sides of 67 patients who underwent open surgery (thoracotomy group). Results  There were 12 recurrences that occurred during the follow-up periods in the VATS group (24.5%), and 3 in the thoracotomy group (4.1%). The cumulative recurrence rates in the VATS group at 2 and 10 years after a bullectomy were 16.3% and 27.5%, whereas in the thoracotomy group the recurrence rates were 2.9% and 4.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions  The long-term outcome of a VATS stapled bullectomy was unsatisfactory as a radical therapy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. A symphysial procedure should therefore be added to VATS stapled bullectomy in order to prevent long-term postoperative recurrence.     

Surgical Outcome of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery vs. Thoracotomy for Primary Lung Cancer >5 cm in Diameter

Objectives: The indications for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for advanced-stage lung cancer are expanding, but the criteria vary among institutions. This study compared the minimal invasiveness and oncologic validity of VATS lobectomy and thoracotomy lobectomy for the treatment of large-diameter primary lung cancer.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical features and surgical outcomes of 68 patients who underwent anatomical pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer of >5-cm diameter from July 2006 to March 2013. The patients were divided into a VATS group (Group V, n = 35) and a thoracotomy group (Group T, n = 33).Results: Group V exhibited less intraoperative bleeding (p = 0.012) and had a shorter length of postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.024). The 1- and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.3% and 39.3% in Group V and 84.8% and 56.9% in Group T, respectively (p = 0.48). Multivariate analysis showed that limited lymph node dissection contributed to local recurrence. The extraction bag lavage cytology in Group V revealed that the positivity rate was 35.7%.Conclusions: VATS for primary lung cancer of >5-cm diameter is similar to thoracotomy in terms of surgical outcomes. Large tumors must be carefully maneuvered during VATS to prevent cancer cell spillage.     

Unplanned Conversion to Thoracotomy During Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy does not Compromise the Surgical Outcome

Background  

Concerns remain unresolved regarding the safety of unplanned conversion to open thoracotomy during video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. We analyzed both early and late outcomes after thoracotomy conversion from VATS.     

Thoracotomy for lung lesion does not affect the accuracy of esophageal temperature

BackgroundThere are several sites for measuring body temperature. Correct reading of core temperature is imperative for patients undergoing major operations under anesthesia. In certain situations, the sites of measurement may be close to the surgical area, and thus the measurement is easily prejudiced by the influence environment. We hypothesized that the body temperature, if monitored in the esophagus, would be lower than obtained from the tympanic membrane during thoracotomy for lung pathology under general anesthesia.Materials and methodsThe study involved 32 patients, of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II, who were to undergo elective thoracotomy for lung disorders. General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, propofol, and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen. The tympanic membrane probe was placed prior to when general anesthesia was administered, and the esophageal probe was inserted after administration of general anesthesia. Both the individualized temperatures were recorded at 5-minute intervals, and were compared at each change of surgical situation.ResultsThe tympanic membrane temperature was higher than esophageal temperature after initiation of one-lung ventilation (OLV) with statistical significance. The magnitude of decrease in temperature between two individualized temperatures, as compared from start of OLV, was greater in tympanic membrane temperature, especially at 30 minutes after OLV (p < 0.02, difference = –0.09 ± 0.22) and at the time point of the lowest temperature (p = 0.002, difference = ?0.14 ± 0.24). There was no clinical difference of situation found (difference > 0.5°C) in the measuring sequences.ConclusionThe accuracy of esophageal temperature seemed not to be affected during thoracotomy for lung lesion, in comparison with that of tympanic temperature. From clinical viewpoints, the monitoring of esophageal temperature could be more reliable in such surgical situation.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for children with pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) may complement open thoracotomy in children with osteosarcoma requiring pulmonary metastasectomy. Methods: The records of children with metastatic pulmonary osteosarcoma considered for initial VATS intervention (n=9) were reviewed. Results: Two children did not have VATS exploration: one child with multiple bilateral nodules and another child with a deep parenchymal nodule. VATS provided diagnostic biopsy material in all cases when used (n=7). Two children had benign inflammatory lesions; four children had VATS-directed wedge resections of solitary malignant lesions; and one child had VATS biopsy of diffuse parenchymal and pleural pulmonary disease not amenable to resection. The mean operative time and hospital length of stay were 1.78 ± 0.54 h and 3.5 ± 1.8 days, respectively. There were two complications of VATS: bleeding in a child, requiring a transfusion, and a latent pneumothorax in a patient after removal of the chest tube. Conclusion: VATS is safe, serves as an excellent diagnostic modality, complements the open thoracotomy, and may enable the surgeon to avoid more extensive procedures in selected cases.Presented at the 48th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, March 23–26, 1995.     

电视胸腔镜与传统开胸手术对患者机体创伤的比较

目的比较电视胸腔镜手术与传统开胸手术对患者机体的创伤,探讨其可能的微创机制。方法选取福建省立医院心胸外科2005年4月至2006年1月连续手术患者77例,其中经胸部X线片确诊自发性气胸22例,经彩色超声心动图确诊动脉导管未闭29例,先天性房间隔缺损26例。根据病变和手术方法不同分为传统开胸手术组（CTH组）和电视胸腔镜手术组（VATS组）;以血清C-反应蛋白（CRP）,白细胞介素-6（IL-6）,白细胞介素-8（IL-8）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）浓度作为衡量手术对机体造成创伤的指标,于术前1 d、术后第1 d、2 d和3 d采用ARRAY360特定蛋白与药物分析系统进行自动测定CRP,采用放射免疫法测定IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α浓度;并分析比较手术时间、术中体外循环时间、术中失血量、术后止痛时间、术后住院时间等临床指标。结果同病种的VATS组与CTH组比较,术前血清CRP,IL-6,IL-8和TNF-α的浓度均差异无统计学意义（P=0.067,0.062,0.053,0.064）;而在术后第1 d,2 d,3 d血清CRP（P=0.045,0.043,0.044）,IL-6（P=0.042,0.032,0.039）,IL-8（0.046,0.045,0.048）和TNF-α（P=0.041,0.043,0.043）浓度VATS组均低于CTH组,差异有统计学意义。同病种的VATS组较CTH组,术中失血少（P=0.032）,术后止痛时间及住院时间明显缩短（P=0.041）,体外循环时间差异无统计学意义,但手术时间在不同病种间有所不同。结论电视胸腔镜手术较传统开胸手术对机体的创伤更小,具有术中出血少、术后止痛时间短及术后恢复快等优点,值得推广。     

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumothorax: The Long-term Benefit

Background Management of recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax by open surgery was considered the treatment of choice until recently. The major drawbacks of this management are the prolonged postoperative pain and cosmetic results. In the last decade, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has replaced the routine use of open surgery. Most papers that compared limited open surgery to VATS addressed the early postoperative results, and studies that assessed the long-term results focused primarily on the rate of recurrence and pulmonary function tests. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of minithoracotomy and VATS with emphasis on patients’ long-term, subjective perspective and satisfaction. Methods Medical records of patients with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent surgical treatment by limited thoracotomy (63 patients) or VATS (58 patients) more than 3 years ago were enrolled. Hospital medical charts were used to compare the early postoperative results. Outpatient clinic records and a telephone questionnaire were employed to evaluate long-term results. Results There was no mortality or major morbidity in either group, and hospitalization time was similar. Patients in the thoracotomy group needed significantly higher doses of narcotic analgesia for a longer period. There were two cases of recurrence in the VATS group (3%). Seventy-eight percent of patients in the VATS and 21% in the thoracotomy group classified their pain as insignificant a month following the operation (P < 0.05). Three years following surgery, 97% of the VATS group patients considered themselves completely recovered from the operation compared with only 79% in the thoracotomy group (P < 0.05). Nineteen percent of the thoracotomy group and 3% of the VATS group suffered from chronic or intermittent pain necessitating use of analgesics more than once a month. Thirteen percent of patients from the open procedure group required services from the pain clinic. Patients in the VATS group were, in general, much more satisfied with their operation and with the surgical scars compared with patients from the thoracotomy group. Conclusion We recommend video-assisted surgery as the first-line surgical treatment for patients with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. This recommendation is based on its somewhat favorable early postoperative course, the superior long-term outcome, and patient satisfaction.     

Comparison of Short-Term Versus Long-Term Epidural Analgesia After Limited Thoracotomy with Special Reference to Pain Score, Pulmonary Function, and Respiratory Muscle Strength

To determine the optimal duration of epidural analgesia (EA) after lung cancer surgery, a retrospective analysis was conducted to compare chest pain, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength between patients given EA until postoperative day (POD) 3 and those given EA until POD 8. Each group comprised 25 lung cancer patients who underwent a lobectomy under anterior limited thoracotomy and given continuous thoracic EA using morphine until POD 3 (POD3-EA group) or POD 8 (POD8-EA group). The two groups were matched by sex and age. Postoperative pain from PODs 1 to 12 was evaluated by the pain score and analgesic requirements. The pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength were measured on POD 7. The POD3-EA group did not experience any increase in pain after withdrawal, but the POD8-EA group did show a significant increase in pain the day after withdrawal (P < 0.05). The pain scores on PODs 8 and 9 in the POD8-EA group were significantly higher than those in the POD3-EA group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength on POD 7 between the two groups. Although the postoperative thoracic EA did not affect pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, prolonged thoracic EA after a limited thoracotomy significantly increased the pain after withdrawal, thus negatively affecting postoperative pain control. Received: May 8, 2000 / Accepted: September 6, 2000     

The efficacy of paravertebral block using a catheter technique for postoperative analgesia in thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized trial

Objective: The analgesic scheme combining paravertebral block (PVB) and intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has proven to be effective for postoperative pain control after thoracotomy. The hypothesis tested in this study was that this policy was also suitable to improve pain control after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods: This was a prospective randomized study on 40 patients submitted to three-ports’ VATS for pneumothorax or solitary pulmonary nodule. The sample size was calculated to detect one point of minimum pain score difference with 80% statistical power. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) paravertebral block group (PVB) (n = 20) – At the end of surgery, a catheter was placed in patients in the thoracic paravertebral space under camera control; they received a bolus of 15 ml of local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.2%) every 6 h, combined with endovenous metamizol (1 g); and (2) alternate NSAIDs group (AN) (n = 20) – They were treated with paracetamol (1 g) combined with metamizol (1 g) every 6 h. Subcutaneous meperidine (synthetic opioid) was employed as rescue drug. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, pathology, and co-morbidity. Pain level was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h. Results: No side effects related to any of the two analgesic techniques were noted. Two patients needed rescue meperidine in the AN group, and none in the PVB group. VAS scores were the following: PVB group, VAS 1 h: 1.4 ± 0.8, VAS 6 h: 3.4 ± 1.2, VAS 24 h: 2.6 ± 1.0, VAS 48 h: 2.2 ± 0.9, and mean VAS: 2.4 ± 1.3; AN group, VAS 1 h: 2.8 ± 1.0, VAS 6 h: 4.9 ± 1.3, VAS 24 h: 3.9 ± 1.4, VAS 48 h: 3.3 ± 1.0, and mean VAS: 3.8 ± 1.4. VAS scores were significantly lower at any time in the PVB patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The analgesic regimen combining PVB and NSAID provided an excellent level of pain control. Thoracoscopy assisted positioning of the paravertebral catheter is simple and effective, and allows direct visualization of correct delivery of local anesthetic. It represents a valuable addition to any VATS procedure.     

Drainage, fibrinolytics, or surgery: a comparison of treatment options in pediatric empyema

Background

The current treatments of pediatric empyemas include tube thoracostomy with or without the instillation of fibrinolytics, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and open thoracotomy with decortication. Whereas success has been reported for all of these techniques, VATS has been suggested as the best method because of decreased length of stay.

Methods

A chart review of children who presented with parapneumonic effusions from February 2000 to June 2002 was conducted. The patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the treatment received: group I, chest tube alone (n = 18); group II, chest tube and fibrinolytics (n = 24); group III, chest tube, fibrinolytic, and surgery (n = 5); and group IV, surgery alone (n = 6). Preadmission, in-hospital, and outcome variables for the groups were recorded and compared using the Kruskall-Wallis test, with a P value less than .05 considered significant. All the patients who received fibrinolytics (group II and III) were grouped into subjects who received immediate transpleural fibrinolytics versus those who received fibrinolytics 48 hours after chest tube insertion. Length of stay (LOS), need for surgery, and hospital costs were compared between the early and late fibrinolytic groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with a P value less than .05 considered significant.

Results

Comparison of duration of symptoms, duration of preadmit antibiotics, initial white blood cell count, total lymphocyte count, and antibiotics showed no significance among the 4 groups. When comparing outcome variables, the “nonsurgery groups” (groups I and II) had shorter LOS, intensive care unit stay, and hospital charges when compared with the “surgery groups” (groups III and IV). The timing of fibrinolytic instillation (immediate versus later) did not significantly affect in the LOS, hospital charges, or the tendency to need surgery eventually in the patients who received intrapleural fibrinolytics (group II and III combined). LOS was predicted by preadmit duration of symptoms (P = .025) and overall duration of fever (P < .01). The level of pleural glucose seemed to be predictive of need for surgery (P = .015). Overall, 11 of 54 children (20.2%) eventually needed surgery.

Conclusions

Tube drainage with intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytics can be performed successfully in a large number of children with empyemas. Ultrasound characterization of the fluid and, perhaps, glucose levels may guide surgical versus nonsurgical therapy. In centers in which percutaneous drainage and tissue plasminogen activator are available, this option may be a safe and less costly alternative to surgery.     

Open,Video- and Robot-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Stage II-IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BackgroundThis study compares the short- and long-term outcomes of open vs robotic vs video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsOutcomes of patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC (excluding T4 tumors) who received open and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) lobectomy in the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2017 were assessed using propensity score-matched analysis.ResultsA propensity score-matched analysis of 4652 open and 4652 MIS patients demonstrated a decreased median length of stay associated with MIS compared with open lobectomy (5 vs 6 days; P < .001). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, or overall survival between the open and MIS groups. A propensity score-matched analysis of 1186 VATS and 1186 robotic patients showed that compared with VATS, the robotic approach was associated with no significant differences in 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, and overall survival. However, the robotic group had a decreased median length of stay compared with VATS (4 vs 5 days; P < .001). The conversion rate was also significantly lower for robotic compared with VATS lobectomy (8.9% vs 15.9%, P < .001).ConclusionsNo significant differences were found in long-term survival between open and MIS lobectomy and between VATS and robotic lobectomy for stage II-IIIA NSCLC. However, the MIS approach was associated with a decreased length of stay compared with the open approach. The robotic approach was associated with decreased length of stay and decreased conversion rate compared with the VATS approach.     

Pulmonary function, postoperative pain, and serum cytokine level after lobectomy: a comparison of VATS and conventional procedure

BACKGROUND: Although lobectomy by the video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) approach is assumed to be less invasive than lobectomy by the standard posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) approach, it has not been scientifically proven. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive, nonrandomized patients, underwent either a VATS approach (n = 13) or a posterolateral thoracotomy approach (n = 9) to perform pulmonary lobectomy for peripheral lung cancers in clinical stage I. Pain and serum cytokines were measured until postoperative day (POD) 14. Pulmonary function tests were performed on POD 7 and POD 14. RESULTS: Postoperative pain was significantly less in the VATS group on PODs 0, 1, 7, and 14. Recovery of pulmonary function was statistically better in the VATS group. Negative correlations between the recovery rates of pulmonary function and postoperative pain were observed on POD 7. The serum interleukin-6 level in the PLT group was significantly elevated on POD 0 compared with the VATS group (posterolateral thoracotomy: 21.6+/-24.3 pg/mL; VATS: 4.1+/-7.9 pg/mL, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Lobectomy by the VATS approach generates less pain and cytokine production, and preserves better pulmonary function in the early postoperative phase.     

Experience and Development of the Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy Technique: Comparative Study With Conventional Surgery in Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BackgroundSurgical treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be performed either by thoracotomy or by employing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The aim of this study was to compare long- and short-term results of conventional surgery (CS) vs VATS lobectomy in the treatment of stage I NSCLC.Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective, analytical study of patients undergoing surgery for stage I NSCLC during the period January 1993 to December 2005. The variables analysed were overall survival, recurrence, distant metastasis, morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. During this period, 256 anatomic lung resections were performed: 141 by CS and 115 by VATS.ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in: (i) mean hospital stay in patients with no complications (VATS group: 4.3 days vs CS group: 8.7 days, P=.0001); (ii) mean hospital stay in patients with complications (VATS: 7.2 days vs CS: 13.7 days, P=.0001), and (iii) morbidity (VATS: 15.6% vs CS: 36.52%, P=.0001). No statistically significant differences were found in: (i) mortality (VATS: 2.17% vs CS: 1.7%, P=.88); (ii) 5-year overall survival (VATS: 68.1% vs CS: 63.8%), and (iii) local recurrence and distant metastasis (P=.82).ConclusionsVATS lobectomy is a safe and effective approach, with a shorter hospital stay and lower morbidity than CS; no statistically significant differences were observed in survival in patients undergoing surgery for stage I NSCLC.