Current management of postoperative chylothorax

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to review our experience with postoperative chylothorax and describe our current approach. In addition, we wanted to estimate the impact of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) on our current management policy. METHODS: From January 1991 to December 1999, 12 patients developed chylothorax after various thoracic procedures. Their mean age was 61.5 (range 31 to 80 years). The procedures were cardiac, aortic, and pulmonary operations. RESULTS: All patients were initially treated conservatively. In addition, 7 patients needed surgical intervention, including one thoracotomy and six VATS. The site of thoracic duct laceration was identified and treated with VATS in 4 patients. In 2 patients, the leak could not be localized by VATS, and fibrin glue or talcage were applied in the pleural space. All patients were discharged without recurrent chylothorax. CONCLUSIONS: VATS is an effective tool in the management of persisting postoperative chylothorax. Its easy use, low cost, and low morbidity rate suggest an earlier use of VATS in the treatment of postoperative chylothorax.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer

Since 1990s, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has become a standard procedure for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, VATS lobectomies are less common, and no randomized controlled trial of VATS versus conventional open lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer has been performed in Japan. Furthermore, VATS lobectomy procedures are not standardized in Japan, and may vary by institution or by practitioner, which complicates their evaluation. Although VATS procedures (such as pneumonectomy, bronchoplasty, and chest wall resection) have been reportedly performed for patients with advanced disease, whether VATS could be a standard modality for advanced lung cancer is unclear from an oncological perspective. Until recently, VATS lobectomies commonly used three or four ports to conduct systemic lymph node dissection; however, VATS lobectomies with reduced port have been recently reported. This article reviews current trends in VATS lobectomy procedures.     

电视胸腔镜辅助食管平滑肌瘤摘除术

目的探讨电视胸腔镜辅助手术在食管平滑肌瘤患者治疗中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2002年6月至2009年1月第二军医大学附属长海医院87例食管平滑肌瘤患者在电视胸腔镜辅助下行食管平滑肌瘤摘除术的临床资料,其中男61例,女26例;年龄20～65岁,平均年龄38．2岁。食管中段平滑肌瘤66例,下段9例,上段12例。肿瘤最小直径约0．5cm,最大体积约10．5cm×5．2cm×4．0cm,均为食管壁内型和纵隔型。87例患者中在全电视胸腔镜辅助下行食管平滑肌瘤摘除术80例;另7例术中采用辅助小切口完成手术。结果术后所有患者均恢复顺利,无死亡及其他严重并发症发生。术后第1d进流质食物,术后第3d进普通食物。术后病理检查：均为食管平滑肌瘤。随访81例,随访时间6个月～6．5年,平均3．8年,食管平滑肌瘤无复发。结论电视胸腔镜辅助下行食管平滑肌瘤摘除术是食管平滑肌瘤首选的治疗方法,对食管平滑肌瘤直径〉1．0cm者,应积极在电视胸腔镜下手术摘除。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with special reference to primary treatment for lung cancer

From the viewpoint of patients, physicians, and health insurers, the ideal surgical treatment would be based on a precise diagnosis, followed by minimally invasive, high-technology-assisted, potentially curative surgery and the shortest possible period of hospitalization, while incurring the lowest possible medical fees. Such treatment would also be tailored to the medical, social, and employment needs of individual patients. Remarkable advances in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) techniques occurred in the late 20th century, making it minimally invasive compared with conventional thoracotomy. VATS results in less postoperative pain, shortens hospital stay, and improves the postoperative quality of life of patients. Among 570 institutions in Japan, the nationwide statistical record revealed that a total of 34,987 thoracic field surgeries were performed ??BETWEEN 19?? AND 19?? PLEASE GIVE YEARS??, of which 29.4% involved VATS. Of total thoracic surgical procedures recorded, VATS was performed in 76.7% of pneumothorax cases, 58.5% of benign tumor cases, and 38.8% of inflammatory disease cases. In cases of bullous disease excluding pneumothorax, VATS was performed in 44.5% of cases, in 38.0% of pleural tumor cases, and in 30.2% of mediastinal lung disease cases. The technique is also used in lung cancer. Of a total of 11,323 lung cancer lobectomies, VATS was performed in 539 (4.7%). Mediastinal dissection with VATS is becoming increasingly common. Satisfactory results have been achieved in terms of survival in patients with stage T1N0M0 lung cancer, which is recognized as an indication for VATS. This paper describes the current status of VATS in the field of general thoracic surgery as well in lung cancer.     

Guía clínica en el manejo perioperatorio para la cirugía de resección pulmonar por videotoracoscopia (Sección de Anestesia Cardiaca,Vascular y Torácica,SEDAR; Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica,SECT; Asociación Española de Fisioterapia,AEF)

The introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) techniques has led to a new approach in thoracic surgery. VATS is performed by inserting a thoracoscope through a small incisions in the chest wall, thus maximizing the preservation of muscle and tissue. Because of its low rate of morbidity and mortality, VATS is currently the technique of choice in most thoracic procedures. Lung resection by VATS reduces prolonged air leaks, arrhythmia, pneumonia, postoperative pain and inflammatory markers. This reduction in postoperative complications shortens hospital length of stay, and is particularly beneficial in high-risk patients with low tolerance to thoracotomy.Compared with conventional thoracotomy, the oncological results of VATS surgery are similar or even superior to those of open surgery.This aim of this multidisciplinary position statement produced by the thoracic surgery working group of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology and Reanimation (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery (SECT), and the Spanish Association of Physiotherapy (AEF) is to standardize and disseminate a series of perioperative anaesthesia management guidelines for patients undergoing VATS lung resection surgery. Each recommendation is based on an in-depth review of the available literature by the authors.In this document, the care of patients undergoing VATS surgery is organized in sections, starting with the surgical approach, and followed by the three pillars of anaesthesia management: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anaesthesia.     

Lung wedge resection improves outcome in stage I primary spontaneous pneumothorax

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of apical lung wedge resection in patients with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax with no endoscopic abnormalities at surgery as compared with simple apical pleurectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on 126 consecutive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures in 113 patients treated for stage I recurrent PSP between January 1994 and December 2001. Two surgical strategies were applied: simple apical pleurectomy (57 procedures, 45.2%: group A) and apical pleurectomy together with an apical lung wedge resection (69 procedures, 54.8%: group B). RESULTS: Mean duration of chest tubes was 1.4 days (range, 1 to 7), mean hospital stay was 2.4 days. Three patients (2.4%) required redo VATS, 2 in group A (3.5%) for persistent air leak and 1 (1.4%) in group B for apical hematothorax. Mean follow-up was 38.7 months. Overall recurrence rate was 3.2%. Four patients in group A (7%) experienced recurrent ipsilateral pneumothoraces 4 to 73 weeks (mean, 30.2) after surgery. No recurrences were observed in group B (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: In this selected group of patients without endoscopical abnormalities, VATS offers low recurrence rates. However, these data suggest that apical pleurectomy should be accompanied by apical lung wedge resection even for this favorable category of patients.     

Thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic disc herniation

Technical improvements in endoscopy have had a major effect in the practice of minimally invasive surgery, which is preferable to more invasive surgical procedures for central and hard thoracic disc herniation. Eleven patients underwent surgery between 2002 and 2008. Data was collected from self-reporting questionnaires completed by the patient at each visit before surgery and after surgery at 3,6,12 and 24 months. The questionnaires included in the study were the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and a visual analog scale(VAS) for the evaluation of pain. In all eleven patients, the thoracoscopic approach was technically performed satisfactorily. There was a significant initial improvement in both the Oswestry score and the VAS pain score at up to nine months(P<0.05). The average relative difference in the Oswestry and VAS score was not significant at 12 and 24 months. The complication rate(pleurisy and lung contusion) in our small study was 18%, which compares favorably with the literature. Video assisted thoracic spine surgery (VATS) clearly provides a minimally invasive and effective alternative to open thoracic surgery. A surgeon must be familiar with the surgical anatomy and the endoscopic techniques to ensure an optimal surgical outcome. Hence, that is one limitation in the practice of thoracoscopic discectomy.     

Videothoracoscopic surgical approach for spontaneous pneumothorax: review of the pertinent literature

Spontaneous pneumothorax is usually caused by the rupture of subpleural blebs/bullae in the underlying lung and is one of the most common elective applications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). VATS has been used as an alternative to thoracotomy in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Recurrent pneumothorax and persistent air leakage are quite often indications for spontaneous pneumothorax, and bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is also considered to be an indication for surgical intervention. The goals of surgical intervention are to eliminate intrapleural air collection and prevent recurrence. Diverse procedures have been reported in the surgical treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax. We review the literature regarding the VATS approach for spontaneous pneumothorax.     

达芬奇机器人与电视胸腔镜治疗纵隔神经源性肿瘤的对比研究

目的探讨和比较达芬奇机器人手术(robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery,RATS)、电视胸腔镜手术(video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery,VATS)治疗纵隔神经源性肿瘤的临床结果。 方法回顾性分析2015年7月至2019年12月期间,解放军总医院微创手术治疗的95例MNT患者临床病理资料,比较RATS、VATS的临床治疗结果。 结果RATS组31例,VATS组64例,均实现R0切除,两组基线资料差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);术中出血量、术后引流量、术后并发症发生率方面,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。RATS组手术时间长于VATS组,但术后引流管留置时间、术后住院时间显著低于VATS组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论RATS是治疗MNT安全、可行的手术方式,相比于VATS,患者术后恢复更快。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been used recently in the diagnosis and management of thoracic diseases. In this report, VATS experience with 95 cases, focusing on indications, surgical procedures, complications, and failure rates, are reviewed. Over the past 5 years, 95 VATS procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes were performed in 59 men and 36 women. The specific indications for VATS were lung biopsy for undiagnosed diffuse lung disease (48), mediastinal biopsy (12) and cyst (2), pleural effusion (10), empyema (5), pneumothorax and bullous lung disease (6), pericardial effusion (2) and cyst (2), paravertebral abscess (2), solitary pulmonary nodules (3), and thoracic trauma (3). In all patients, postoperative pain was controlled with non-narcotic analgesics and was measured according to the visual analogue scale (VAS). There was no surgical mortality. Postoperative nonfatal complications were seen in seven cases (7.5%). The overall median duration of chest tube drainage was 2.7 days and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. For diffuse lung disease, a tissue diagnosis was obtained in all the cases. Definitive diagnosis in the patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion was obtained in 90% of cases, and the overall diagnostic rate was 98.5%. The success rate of the therapeutic procedures was 100% after a mean follow-up of 12 months (range, 6-30 months). Conversion to thoracotomy was needed in six cases (6.6%). All patients scored postoperative pain <50% according to the VAS. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery should be considered as a procedure of choice, with exceptional results in the following chest diseases: (a) undiagnosed pleural effusions; (b) recurrent, post-traumatic, or complicated spontaneous pneumothorax; (c) stage II empyema; (d) accurate staging of lung cancer; (e) emergency traumatic injuries of the chest; (f) peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule <3 cm; and (g) lung biopsy for pulmonary diffuse disease.     

Complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

We introduced video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for chest disorders in our institution in March, 1992. At first, many of the subjects' disorders were non-malignant diseases such as spontaneous pneumothorax, but later we started to perform this procedure for lung cancer and mediastinum neoplasm, with improved result over thoracoscopic surgical procedures. Now most of the chest disorders at our institution are treated with VATS. However, many kinds of complications due to manual techniques and instrument troubles surfaced during this period. Therefore, in this article we would like to describe the complications that we have experienced in our institution using VATS and discuss how we have attempted to deal with these complications.     

电视胸腔镜手术在开放性胸部损伤中的应用

目的探讨电视胸腔镜手术（video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery,VATS）在开放性胸部损伤诊断、治疗中的价值。方法2003年7月～2008年7月选择64例开放性胸部损伤应用电视胸腔镜进行探查、诊断,同时进行肺修补、心包修补、膈肌修补、止血等操作,以及小切口辅助手术。结果64例经VATS探查明确胸内脏器损伤情况：肺裂伤43例,共56处;心包裂伤7例,其中1例合并右心室裂伤;膈肌破裂9例,合并脾破裂5例、肝脏裂伤1例、胃壁裂伤穿孔1例;单纯肋间血管损伤5例,合并肋间血管损伤3例。VATS肺裂伤修补24例,其中联合胸壁止血2例;VATS联合辅助小切口使用Endo—GIA切割缝合器行肺裂伤修补11例、应用丝线褥式缝合肺裂伤6例、肺组织楔形切除2例。3例心包破裂出血在胸腔镜下完成止血及缝合修补。胸腔镜下完成膈肌修补手术5例。中转开胸完成手术13例。胸腔镜探查及治疗时间32～124min,平均65．8min。术后气胸6例,轻度皮下气肿4例,9例术后1～12d少量咳血。64例随访2～60个月,平均28．5月,复查胸片无胸腔积液、积气及阴影。结论VATS应用于开放性胸部损伤能使诊断更加及时、准确,手术创伤小,疗效满意。     

Complications of major lung resections by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Lobectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is gradually being performed more frequently because of advantages regarding pain and pulmonary function. Complications sometimes occur during or after VATS lobectomy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and the causes of the complications. From 1997 to 2003, 185 patients underwent VATS lobectomies. Selected diseases for this approach included primary lung cancer (n = 172), metastatic lung cancer (n = 7), benign lung tumors (n = 3) and lung sequestration (n = 3). The VATS approach was converted to open thoracotomy in 15 (8.1%) of 185 patients because of bleeding (n = 8), dense hilar adenopathy (DHA, n = 3), local extent of disease (n = 3) of intraoperative cardiac trouble (n = 1). Intraoperative complications involved injury to a blood vessel (n = 21), stapling failure (n = 15), lung injury (n = 7), nerve injury (n = 3), and others. Predictive factors for injury to pulmonary arteries was DHA (OR 37.0, p < 0.0001). Postoperative surgical death occurred in 2 patients due to pneumonia. Postoperative morbidity was 22.9%. A surgical operation without any good direct or thoracoscopic view or the use of a thoracoscopic tool without knowledge of the directions on its use should be avoided. The VATS approach should be replaced by open thoracotomy if there are DHA.     

Preoperative localization of indeterminate pulmonary nodules before videothoracoscopic resection

Background: The management of a solitary pulmonary nodule is the subject of debate and minimally invasive diagnostic approaches have low sensitivity for small peripheral nodules. We discuss the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the management of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) ?1 cm performed with a preoperatory computed tomography-guided wire localization. Methods: Thirty-five selected patients underwent VATS resection for SPN, with localization by guide wire before surgery. Results: Seven patients, after VATS exploration, underwent thoracotomy because of pleuropulmonary adhesions, depth or dimensions. Histological diagnosis was obtained in all procedures; there was no postoperative morbility or morbidity. Conclusion: Preoperative computed tomography hook-wire localization is a suitable strategy for peripheral nodules ?1 cm in diameter.     

Common cardiac surgical procedures: bypass,valve repair and replacement

Cardiac surgery has undergone profound changes since Ludwig Rehn successfully repaired a right ventricular stab wound in 1896. The following century saw the rapid development of open-heart surgery, with minimally invasive surgical approaches following suit. Traditionally, sternotomy has been the incision of choice for cardiac surgical procedures, but technological advances have been applied to develop non-sternotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic approaches. Parallel to surgical innovation, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and transcatheter valve replacement procedures have offered important alternatives to surgery, currently reserved for specific patient subgroups. Despite the availability of catheter-based techniques, cardiac surgery remains relevant – the majority of our patients present with coronary artery disease or valvular pathologies and therefore coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and surgical valve replacement constitutes a substantial part of our daily practice. In this article we discuss the relevance of surgical options and highlight the most up to date surgical techniques and innovations, with a focus on the advances of minimally invasive cardiac surgery.     

VATS segmentectomy: past,present, and future

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has gradually been implemented in thoracic surgery, and the VATS approach has now been extended to technically challenging procedures, such as segmentectomy. The definition of VATS segmentectomy is changing over time, and the repertoire of segmentectomy is getting wider with increasing reports on atypical segmentectomy. VATS segmentectomy bears surgical, oncological, and technical advantages; however, there are still areas of controversy, particularly regarding oncological outcomes. The indication of VATS segmentectomy is diverse and is used for treating lung cancer, metastatic lung tumors, or a variety of nonmalignant diseases. It is particularly valuable for the lung-sparing resection of deeply located small nodules or repeated surgery for multiple lung lesions. VATS segmentectomy requires a thorough analysis of segmental anatomy and a tailored preoperative planning with the assessment of surgical margins. Technical challenges include intraoperative navigation, methods to identify and dissect the intersegmental plane, and the prevention of air leakage. This review will discuss the present state of VATS segmentectomy, with a focus on past studies, current indications and techniques, and future view.     

Fast-track video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: future challenges

Objectives To provide a short overview of fast-track video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and to identify areas requiring further research. Design A literature search was made using key words including: fast-track, enhanced recovery, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS), robotic, thoracotomy, single-incision, uniportal, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), chest tube, air-leak, digital drainage, pain management, analgesia, perioperative management, anaesthesia and non-intubated. References from articles were screened for further articles. Using abstracts, areas of interest for developing a fast-track protocol were selected. Results The minimally invasive approach can be divided into several surgical methods that need further research to establish superiority. The role of intubation has to be further examined as well as the role of chest drains. Multimodal analgesic treatment including preoperative methylprednisolone seems promising and requires further research. Conclusions The fast-track data from other procedures may support future development and improvement of fast-track VATS.