不同手术方式治疗小儿肺隔离症的比较研究

目的比较胸腔镜手术与传统开胸手术治疗小儿肺隔离症的临床疗效,探讨胸腔镜手术治疗小儿肺隔离症的优势。方法收集2012年3月至2017年3月入住本院小儿外科并实施手术治疗的26例肺隔离症患儿临床资料,根据采用手术方式的不同分为胸腔镜手术组和传统开胸手术组。比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后胸腔引流时间及住院时间。结果 26例均顺利完成手术,无手术死亡病例。平均手术时间:胸腔镜手术组(118.36±7.61)min,传统开胸手术组(119.60±7.11)min,差异无统计学意义(t=-0.425,P=0.674)。平均术中出血量:胸腔镜手术组(2.18±0.40)mL,开胸手术组(4.47±0.64)m L,差异有统计学意义(t=-11.125,P=0.000)。胸腔引流管平均留置时间:胸腔镜手术组(3.54±0.69)d,开胸手术组(6.67±0.98)d,差异有统计学意义(t=-9.064,P=0.000)。术后平均住院时间:胸腔镜手术组(7.54±0.82)d,开胸手术组(8.80±0.77)d,差异有统计学意义(t=-3.981,P=0.001)。术后并发症:胸腔镜手术组3例,其中肺部感染2例,肺不张1例;开胸手术组6例,其中肺部感染4例,肺不张2例,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。除4例失访以外,其余22例随访1～2年,其中2例发生肺炎,其余病例均恢复良好。结论胸腔镜手术治疗肺隔离症较传统开胸手术具有切口小、术中出血少、恢复快、术后住院时间短等优点,是一种安全可靠的手术方式。     

全胸腔镜手术与传统开胸手术治疗儿童肺隔离症的对比研究

目的比较电视胸腔镜手术与传统开胸手术治疗儿童先天性肺隔离症的安全性与有效性,探讨全胸腔镜手术治疗儿童先天性肺隔离症的临床价值。方法选择2010年5月至2018年1月于南京医科大学附属儿童医院心胸外科接受手术治疗的66例先天性肺隔离症患儿作为研究对象,其中27例采取全胸腔镜手术,为全胸腔镜手术组; 39例采取传统开胸手术,为开胸手术组。对比两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量与引流管留置时间以及术后住院时间的差异。结果全胸腔镜手术组中有1例中转开胸手术,无一例手术中死亡,手术后均恢复顺利,无严重并发症发生。全胸腔镜手术组和开胸手术组中位随访时间分别为0. 7年、4. 1年。全胸腔镜手术组手术时间(80±5. 6) min,术中出血(20±9. 2) m L,术后住院时间(5. 1±2. 1) d、术后引流量(50±9. 6) m L,术后引流管留置时间(4±1. 3) d,均明显优于传统手术组(P 0. 05)。结论与开放手术相比,全胸腔镜下手术治疗儿童先天性肺隔离症具有手术时间短、出血少、恢复快、切口美观等优点,对患儿心肺功能影响小,临床效果基本满意。     

经胸径路手术治疗小儿膈疝9例

目的探讨经胸径路手术治疗小儿膈疝的临床效果。方法总结2010年8月至2016年10月本院收治的9例经胸径路手术治疗的膈疝患儿临床资料。结果 9例患儿中,左侧8例,右侧1例,均采用经胸径路完成手术。手术时间(85.5±19.1)min;术中出血量(5.1±0.3)mL,术后留置胸腔引流管(8.6±0.5)d,平均住院时间(18.2±3.0)d。所有患儿随访1~12个月,均恢复良好,X线片无异常,无一例复发。结论经胸径路手术治疗小儿膈疝,术中可获得满意的手术视野和操作空间,便于处理合并胸腔内畸形等较复杂CDH患儿,膈肌修补确切牢靠,对腹腔干扰小,且术后恢复时间较短,复发率低。结合相关辅助治疗手段,更有助于降低CDH患儿病死率,提高患儿生活质量。     

胸腔镜与开胸手术治疗婴幼儿先天性膈膨升的对比研究

目的比较开胸与胸腔镜手术治疗婴幼儿先天性膈膨升的疗效,总结胸腔镜手术治疗婴幼儿先天性膈膨升的的经验。方法回顾性分析2012年3月至2018年3月由河北省儿童医院收治的87例婴幼儿膈膨升患儿的临床资料,按手术方式分为开胸组与胸腔镜组,分析比较两组患儿年龄、性别、体重、发病侧别、膈肌抬高肋单元、手术时间、术后呼吸机支持时间、胸腔闭式引流天数、住院天数和术后并发症等情况。结果两组患儿年龄、性别、体重、发病侧别、膈肌抬高肋单元等基本特征比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。开胸组手术时间平均为(90.71±2.89)min,胸腔镜组为(78.81±3.48)min,胸腔镜组手术时间缩短(t=1.924,P=0.01)。开胸组术后呼吸机支持时间平均为(12.17±2.07)h,胸腔镜组为(5.71±0.89)h,胸腔镜组呼吸机支持时间短于开胸组(t=2.960,P=0.0036);开胸组胸腔闭式引流时间平均为(3.07±0.12)d,胸腔镜组为(1.85±0.23)d,胸腔镜组胸腔闭式引流时间短于开胸组(t=11.500,P0.001);开胸组术后住院天数平均为(10.57±0.19)d,胸腔镜组为(8.08±0.14)d,胸腔镜组住院天数短于开胸组(t=10.530,P0.001)。胸腔镜组瘢痕恢复程度优于开胸组,随访3个月至3年,均无复发。结论与开胸手术相比,胸腔镜具有手术打击小、恢复快、住院时间短、瘢痕小等优势,手术疗效确切、安全有效。     

胸腔镜在Ⅲ型食管闭锁合并气管食管瘘修补术中的应用研究

目的探讨胸腔镜在Ⅲ型食管闭锁合并气管食管瘘修补术中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2015年6月至2018年1月采用胸腔镜手术治疗的22例Ⅲ型食管闭锁合并食管气管瘘患儿临床资料,其中男性12例,女性10例;手术年龄2~9 d,平均手术年龄(4.27±1.81)d,体质量1.5~4.05 kg,平均体质量(2.44±0.68)kg。术前均经胸片和上消化道造影明确诊断,均在电视胸腔镜下行食管气管瘘修补及食管吻合术。结果 22例中,除1例中转开胸手术以外,其余病例均在胸腔镜下顺利完成手术;平均手术时间142.3(118~165)min,术后平均住院时间15.41(8~22)d,第一次经口喂养时间平均3.78(3~5)d,平均呼吸机通气时间26.54(9~52)h。术后有8例因吻合口狭窄行胃镜下食管球囊扩张术;2例出现吻合口瘘,1例予延长禁食时间,持续胃肠减压1周后好转,1例家属放弃治疗。除放弃治疗病例外,21例获随访1个月至2年,随访中1例术后1个月出现食管气管瘘经再次手术治愈;5例随访有吻合口狭窄,经1~4次球囊扩张后改善,现无明显吞咽困难;2例有胃食管反流,现保守治疗中;1例气管稍狭窄,现观察中;其余患儿生长发育良好。结论随着新生儿麻醉及手术技术的不断提高,胸腔镜下手术成为Ⅲ型食管闭锁合并气管食管瘘患儿首选的手术方案。     

胸腔镜手术治疗婴儿先天性肺囊性畸形的可行性及手术时机探讨

目的探讨经胸腔镜手术治疗婴幼儿先天性肺囊性畸形的可行性、安全性及手术时机。方法回顾性分析本院2010年1月至2015年5月因先天性肺囊性畸形而采取胸腔镜手术治疗的10例患儿临床资料。分析其产前检查、产后情况、手术过程及手术后恢复情况。结果 10例中,男性4例,女性6例;手术年龄10天至6个月(平均4.6个月)。其中先天性肺囊腺瘤样畸形3例,肺隔离症6例,先天性肺囊腺瘤样畸形合并肺隔离症1例。10例均为产前检查疑肺囊性畸形,产后经胸部CT确诊。7例术前有肺部感染症状,经抗感染治疗后于生后6个月手术治疗,其中2例于生后1个月内手术,2例无症状,于生后3~6个月手术,患儿均治愈,元手术相关并发症,术后恢复顺利。患儿均在胸腔镜下完成手术。其中1例术后反复感染,2例术后并发肺炎,1例术后出现少许胸腔积液,均经治疗后痊愈。其余患儿恢复良好。平均手术时间175 min,术中平均出血约2 mL,术后拔除引流管时间平均为4.5 d,术后住院时间平均为8 d。全部患儿均门诊或电话随访,随访时间3个月至2年,平均1年4个月。均存活,无肺部相关症状,生长发育、活动量均与正常同龄儿无异。结论所有产前诊断怀疑肺囊性畸形的患儿产后均应随访,并定期行CT检查。对于产前诊断的肺囊性畸形患者,在产后3~6个月行胸腔镜手术治疗可取得满意效果。对于有症状的患儿1个月内行胸腔镜手术是安全的。经胸腔镜手术治疗婴幼儿先天性肺囊性畸形患儿,术后恢复快,手术创伤小,临床疗效满意,是安全和可行的。但手术者需具备熟练的微创手术技术及掌握适当的手术技巧。     

腔镜技术在小儿肿瘤切除手术中的应用及技巧探讨

目的探讨腔镜切除小儿肿瘤的可行性、临床效果、操作技巧与应用前景等,总结临床经验。方法回顾性收集2009年1月至2016年12月经胸腔镜、腹腔镜治疗的221例肿瘤患儿作为研究对象,分析治疗效果。结果 221例肿瘤患儿中胸腔镜切除肺及纵膈肿瘤53例,腹腔镜切除腹腔、盆腔及腹膜后肿瘤168例。其中2例腹膜后肿瘤中转开腹手术; 5例回盲部肿瘤,33例卵巢囊肿及19例卵巢畸胎瘤腹腔镜探查后经脐部拖出切除;其余手术均在腔镜下完成。术中无副损伤、无输血,术后Trocar口感染9例,瘢痕疙瘩5例;术后住院时间平均(5±1. 6) d。术后随访发现2例肺囊肿出现复发,行2次手术切除后治愈; 1例肠系膜淋巴管瘤出现黏连性肠梗阻,保守治疗后好转; 1例膀胱横纹肌肉瘤术后半年死亡; 1例腹膜后未成熟畸胎瘤化疗后死亡;其余恶性肿瘤患儿生存良好,恶性肿瘤生存率为80%(8/10)。结论腔镜切除小儿肿瘤就安全可行的;囊性肿瘤抽吸减压后经脐部拖出操作便捷、创伤小,囊实性肿瘤可以减压后拖出切除,也可全腔镜下切除;小的实性肿瘤不论良性、恶性均可腔镜更好切除;瘤体较大人实性肿瘤要适时中转开放手术。     

单切口胸腔镜辅助Nuss手术治疗26例儿童漏斗胸的疗效分析

目的探讨单切口胸腔镜辅助Nuss手术治疗儿童漏斗胸的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2012年7月至2016年7月我们收治的26例漏斗胸患儿临床资料,均行单切口胸腔镜辅助Nuss术,其中男性22例,女性4例。年龄最小3岁,最大12岁,平均年龄5.5岁。Haller指数3.25。结果26例均顺利完成手术,手术时间(65.3±14.2)min,术中出血量(2.5±1.3)mL,住院时间(5.8±1.2)d。术中无心脏穿孔和大血管损伤。术后2例出现右侧少量气胸,无胸腔积液及伤口感染。26例随访6~36个月,按Croitoru漏斗胸评价标准分均为优,其中16例术后2年取出钢板,无钢板移位及复发。结论单切口胸腔镜辅助Nuss手术治疗儿童漏斗胸安全有效,手术时间短,创伤小,并发症少,美容效果佳,值得临床推广。     

后腹腔镜手术治疗肾上腺肿瘤的疗效及安全性

目的评价后腹腔镜手术治疗小儿肾上腺肿瘤的疗效及安全性。方法2003年6月～2006年12月应用腹腔镜经腹膜后途径行小儿肾上腺肿瘤摘除术5例,肾上腺切除术3例,对其临床资料进行总结分析。结果8例均获成功,手术时间为78～255min,平均148min,患儿术中、术后均未输血。术后恢复顺利,术后住院时间3～8d,平均4.8d。术后病理诊断：原发性醛固酮症腺瘤3例,肾上腺无功能腺瘤、嗜铬细胞瘤各2例,皮质醇腺瘤1例。结论后腹腔镜手术治疗小儿肾上腺肿瘤安全、有效,具有创伤小、痛苦轻、肠功能恢复快、住院时间短等优点,有望成为小儿肾上腺疾病的首选或重要手术方法。     

胸腔镜辅助治疗小儿脓胸的效果评价

目的 总结胸腔镜对小儿脓胸的治疗效果.方法 我院2010年1月至2011年12月共收治79例脓胸患儿,其中经胸腔镜手术48例,单纯胸腔闭式引流31例,对两组患儿的临床资料及疗效进行回顾性分析.结果 胸腔镜手术组和胸腔闭式引流术组比较,除手术时间及术中出血量多于后者外,留置胸管时间、术后使用抗生素时间、术后住院时间均明显短于后者,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 胸腔镜辅助治疗小儿脓胸安全、有效,术后治疗时间较胸腔闭式引流术明显缩短.     

小儿纵隔肿瘤的临床特征与外科治疗

目的 探讨小儿纵隔肿瘤的临床病理特征,总结外科诊疗方法.方法 回顾性分析本院43例纵隔肿瘤患儿的临床资料,分析其解剖位置、病理学类型、临床表现、诊疗方法及预后情况.结果 43例中,以神经源性肿瘤（15/43,34.9%）最常见,其次为胸腺肿瘤（9/43,20.9%）.呼吸系统症状是最主要的临床表现（17/43,39.5%）,无症状患者亦有较高比例（15/48,34.9%）.36例行全麻下肿块全部或部分切除,3例行开胸活检,4例仅在局麻下行活检术.4例患儿先行局麻下股-股心肺转流准备后再行全身麻醉,其中2例麻醉诱导时发生呼吸循环功能障碍而开启体外循环.1例未行体外转流患儿全麻诱导时突发急性呼吸循环功能衰竭而死亡.结论 小儿纵隔肿瘤可无特异性症状,胸部CT及MRI检查是诊断的主要依据.因儿童独有的生理解剖特性,小儿纵隔肿瘤麻醉风险大,术前应仔细评估患儿临床症状、肿块大小、位置及心肺功能情况,制定完善的手术策略.     

电视辅助胸腔镜手术在小儿支气管源性囊肿外科治疗上的应用

目的 探讨电视辅助胸腔镜手术(VATS)在小儿支气管源性肺囊肿治疗中的作用.方法 回顾性分析笔者两院1993年6月至2007年6月经VATS切除并病理证实的41例小儿支气管源性肺囊肿患儿的临床资料.麻醉方式全部采取单腔管插管吸入全麻,手术采取胸腔镜进行,必要辅助小切口协助将病灶以及肺组织取出;气管残端采取间断缝合或者Endo-cutter钉合,统计分析手术时间、切口大小、术后引流时间及总量、术后住院时间.结果 患儿均经VATS手术治疗.年龄从8d～12岁,平均为4.81岁.2例纵隔型支气管囊肿行VATS纵隔囊肿切开+翻转术,14例肺内型行肺楔形切除术,25例肺内单发性囊肿或局限于肺段的多发性肺囊肿行肺叶切除术.全组手术时间为45～265min,平均71.5 min;切口为1.5～7.0 cm.平均4.4 cm;术中失血5～400ml,平均41.5 ml;术后均放置胸管1～2条,引流1～7 d,平均2.0 d;总引流量1 5～770 ml,平均207.2 mt;平均术后住院时间为1～25 d,平均7.0 d.结论 VATS的d,JL支气管源性肺囊肿治疗是可行、安全、彻底、微创的,可成为标准术式.     

经支气管针吸活检术在儿童肺结核诊断中的应用北大核心CSCD

目的:探讨经支气管针吸活检术(TBNA)在儿童纵隔淋巴结大肺结核诊断中的作用和临床意义。方法:回顾性研究山东大学附属儿童医院呼吸介入科2014年3月至2019年7月收治的8例纵隔淋巴结大肺结核患儿的临床资料。患儿均经胸部强化CT诊断纵隔淋巴结大后行TBNA并最终确诊,总结TBNA诊断经验。结果:8例纵隔淋巴结大患儿,年龄7个月~8岁6个月(婴幼儿占75.0%),中位年龄为22.5个月;男3例(37.5%),女5例(62.5%);体质量8.5~39.0 kg,中位体质量为10.7 kg;病程15~90 d,中位病程为18.5 d。临床表现有咳嗽8例,发热4例,喘息1例,喉鸣1例。行常规支气管镜检查及TBNA,留取细胞学、病原学、病理检查,6例患儿获得确诊依据,诊断率为75.0%,4例涂片中找到抗酸杆菌但病理检查阴性,1例病理符合结核感染特点但涂片检菌阴性,1例涂片及病理均提示结核。2例患儿未经TBNA检查取得病原学及组织学证据,根据肺泡灌洗液涂片抗酸染色阳性明确诊断。患儿术中、术后均无并发症发生。结论:TBNA是诊断儿童肺结核的重要手段,其有效、安全,有较高临床应用价值。     

儿童胸腔镜下肺叶切除术8例

目的总结本院8例胸腔镜下肺叶切除术患儿的手术经验,探讨儿童胸腔镜下肺叶切除术的可行性。方法回顾性分析2011年7月至2012年12月我们实施的8例儿童胸腔镜肺叶切除术患儿临床资料,对其诊治经过及手术经验进行初步总结。结果8例患儿中,男5例,女3例,年龄4～11岁。切除左肺下叶4例,左肺上叶2例,右肺下叶2例。除1例11岁患儿术中行单肺通气外,其余10岁以下患儿均行双肺通气。2例术中中转开放手术,其余在胸腔镜下顺利完成手术。术中出血10-30mL,手术时间50-90min。术后病理报告：肺腺瘤样囊性病变7例,叶内型隔离肺1例。术后第3～4天拔除胸腔闭式引流管,术后6—7d出院,无严重手术并发症出现。近期随访患侧剩余肺叶均代偿良好。结论胸腔镜肺叶切除术术野显露清楚,创伤小,手术时间短,患儿痛苦小,术后恢复快,呼吸系统并发症少。大龄儿童单肺通气能增加操作空间,同时肺萎陷后也有利于肺门部的解剖,使手术简化。若能掌握指征和操作技巧,即使没有单肺通气情况下,同样具有一定的可行性。     

小儿原发性纵隔肿瘤和囊肿的诊治

目的 探讨小儿原发性纵隔肿瘤和囊肿的诊断及治疗.方法 回顾性分析79例小儿原发性纵隔肿瘤和囊肿的临床资料.所有病例均经手术和病理证实.结论 本组病例中,小儿原发性纵隔肿瘤和囊肿占同期我科收治的原发性纵隔肿瘤及囊肿的13.96%(79/566).其中神经源性肿瘤21.5%(18/79)、肠源性囊肿15.2%(12/79)、畸胎瘤17.7%(14/79),其他肿瘤和囊肿44.30%(35/79).无临床症状而于查体时发现12例,占15.19%.手术切除74例,手术切除率93.7%(74/79),经治疗后康复出院76例,死亡3例.结论 小儿纵隔肿瘤和囊肿的术前诊断依据胸部X线、CT扫描及超声检查,必要时可以结合MRI扫描判断病变范围,而确诊则依赖于术中所见及术后病理检查.其病情复杂,变化快,可危及患儿生命,除淋巴瘤外宜选手术治疗.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts in children.Methods The data of 79 patients admitted from 1966 to 2009 with primary mediastinal tumors and cysts were retrospectively reviewed.All patients underwent surgery and pathological examination.Results The primary mediastinal tumors and cysts in children accounted for 13.96% of primary mediastinal tumors and cysts at the same period.In these 79 patients,neurogenic tumors were diagnosed in 18 (21.5%)patients,gastrointestinal cyst was 15.2%(12/79),teratoma was 17.7%(14/79),and the others were 44.30%(35/79).Twenty-two patients without clinical symptoms were diagnosed by health checkup,accounting for 15.2% in all cases.Tumors in 74 patients(93.7%)were resected,and the mortality rate was 3.8%(3/79).Conclusions The preoperative diagnosis of mediastinal tumors and cysts in children primarily bases on chest X ray,CT scan,ultrasonography,and MRI scan in some cases,but the final diagnosis depends on the intraoperative findings and pathologic examination.Except of lymphoma,primary mediastinal tumors and cysts should be treated by surgery appropriately.     

Childhood mediastinal masses in infants and children

We reviewed all cases of primary pediatric mediastinal masses diagnosed and treated over a 24-year period. In this study, out of 187 primary mediastinal mass cases diagnosed between 1980 and 2004 in Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, 37 pediatric primary mediastinal mass cases were retrospectively evaluated according to age, sex, symptoms, diagnostic procedure, anatomical location, surgical treatment, histopathological evaluation and postoperative adjuvant therapy. The patients ranged in age from 2 months to 15 years at the time of diagnosis, with a mean age of 8 years. There were 24 benign (64.8%) and 13 malignant (35.2%) tumors. The cases were lymphoma (27%), neurogenic tumors (21.6%), cystic lesions (18.9%), germ cell tumors (13.5%), thymic lesions (10.8%) and cardiac tumors (8.1%). Complete and partial resections of the tumor were the surgical procedures performed in 24 patients (64.8%) and 3 patients (8.1%), respectively. The three patients with a malignant tumor, in whom the entire mass could not be removed, received chemotherapy and radiation after surgery. In 10 patients with lymphoma, surgery was not a part of treatment and they received medical and radiation therapy after the establishment of the definitive diagnosis. All patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. Except for the cases with lyphoma, all patients are now free of recurrent disease. Compared to adults, children had more lymphomas and neurogenic tumors. Primary pediatric mediastinal malignancies are relatively common in infants and children. Lymphoma, neurogenic tumors and cystic lesions predominated. These differences between the age groups should also be considered when dealing with a mediastinal mass.     

Thymoma in a child: case report and review of the literature

Thymic lesions comprise approximately 2–3% of all pediatric mediastinal tumors and include thymic cysts, hyperplasia, carcinoma, and thymomas. Thymomas, which represent less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors, are rare mediastinal tumors in the pediatric population. Fewer than 30 cases in children have been described in the literature. These tumors are typically aggressive, with poor outcomes. We report a thymoma in a 14-year-old girl and review the available literature on thymomas and their treatment.     

Diagnosis of anterior mediastinal mass lesions using the Chamberlain procedure in children

The mediastinum is the most common site for primary intra-thoracic pathology in childhood. This paper describes the versatility of the Chamberlain operation in establishing tissue diagnosis and guiding definitive treatment in children with mediastinal mass lesions. During 1999-2006, 28 consecutive patients were referred to a National Oncology Center with anterior mediastinal pathology. Eleven underwent the Chamberlain procedure. Demographic data, diagnostic sensitivity, operating time and morbidity were recorded. All patients had preoperative chest X-ray and computed tomography scans. The Chamberlain operation was deployed in only those children without other ways of accurately establishing their diagnosis. Others with mediastinal pathology had a diagnosis established by lymph node biopsy, thoracentesis or other method(s). Eleven patients (nine male, two female; age range 2-13 years) underwent the Chamberlain procedure. In these children, there was no pre-existent diagnosis and this was the primary procedure employed. Diagnostic accuracy was 100%. Three patients had pleural disruption and chest tubes were placed at the time of surgery. No patient required a thoracotomy. Average operating time was 1.3 h. Five patients were diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, four had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and two children thymic hyperplasia. The Chamberlain operation provides excellent access to the antero-superior mediastinum for biopsy of obscure mediastinal mass lesions in childhood. Complications from this procedure are very rare.     

Median sternotomy provides excellent exposure for excising anterior mediastinal tumors in children

Median sternotomy (M-S) provides excellent exposure and allows dissection of the medial side of an anterior mediastinal tumor (AMT) with minimal risk. We report our experience of resecting AMT using M-S. Five children with AMT were treated using M-S between 1997 and 2004 at our institute. Ages at M-S ranged from 8 months (case 2) to 9 years (case 1) and AMT ranged in size from 5×6×7 cm³ (case 2) to large enough to occupy nearly the entire right thoracic cavity (cases 4 and 5). AMT were resected completely in all cases through M-S with the patient in the supine position. M-S alone was used in cases 1, 2, and 3, and cases 4 and 5 required additional incisions. There were dense adhesions between AMT and important mediastinal structures such as the anterior part of the pericardium (cases 1 and 2), left phrenic nerve (case 3), and pulmonary vessels (case 4, 5), but all were dissected safely under direct vision. There was no respiratory or cardiovascular compromise during M-S due to compression of the healthy lung and mediastinum. Histopathologic findings were mature teratoma in cases 1, 3, and 5, immature teratoma in case 2, and pleuropulmonary blastoma in case 4. Postoperative recovery was unremarkable. After mean follow-up of 3.4 years, cases 1, 2, 3, and 5 are currently well with no signs of recurrence, but case 4 died from disseminated intravascular coagulation during postoperative chemotherapy for massive local tumor recurrence 6 months after surgery. Based on our experience, M-S allows access to all aspects of AMT under direct vision, and provides excellent exposure, thus facilitating complete resection.     

Value of thoracoscopy in purulent pleuresies in children younger than four years]

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is widely performed in adults but there are few publications concerning the paediatric population. The objective is to effect optimal adhesiolysis of post-pneumonic loculated empyema with lower morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a 4-year period we used thoracoscopic debridement in five children younger than 4 years of age with loculated thoracic empyema. All patients failed initial treatment, including antibiotics and chest tube drainage. Early sonographic evaluation of the empyema organization guided the most appropriate moment for the intervention. The average duration of tube drainage after thoracoscopy was 4 days (range: 1 to 7 days). RESULTS: All patients made an uneventful postoperative recovery. At a follow-up visit 1 month after discharge, the children were clinically asymptomatic; however, some degree of pleural thickening was still visible on chest X-rays. CONCLUSION: In skilled hands, thoracoscopy is a safe procedure for post-pneumonic empyema in young children, providing a rapid clinical and radiological recovery with a good cosmetic result.