The role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of parapneumonic empyema after the failure of fibrinolytics

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of patients treated with intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytics fail to respond and therefore need more invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: During the period 1994-99, we treated 20 consecutive patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPE) and pleural empyema (PE) that did not resolve with urokinase instillation given through the chest tube in a dose of 100,000 IU diluted in 100 ml of normal saline/daily for 3-5 days. The patients' ages ranged from 21 to 68 years (median, 46); 14 were male and six female. All patients had pleural fluid pH <7.1, LACTATE DEHYDRAGENASE (LDH) >1000, glucose <40 mg/dl and were submitted to VATS. RESULTS: Complete drainage was observed in 17 patients (85%), in the other three (15%), the procedure had to be converted to open thoracotomy due to a thickened visceral pleural peel. The mean operative time was 80.3 min (range, 55-140), and the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 days (range, 4-19). CONCLUSION: We found that VATS is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated surgical procedure in CPE and PE patients who have failed to resolve with initial treatment with fibrinolytics.     

Primary treatment of malignant pleural effusions: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery poudrage versus tube thoracostomy

The objective of this study is to show that primary treatment of malignant pleural effusions secondary to ovarian carcinoma with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)-assisted talc poudrage (VATS-ATP) results in shorter hospital stays and reduced time with a chest tube than primary treatment with a chest tube and chemical pleurodesis. We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with a symptomatic pleural effusion secondary to primary ovarian carcinoma receiving intervention from January 1996 to December 2000. Patients either received tube thoracostomy with pleurodesis (n = 22) or VATS-ATP (n = 12). Of the patients treated with tube thoracostomy 18 per cent (4/21) died in the hospital before pleurodesis, 77 per cent (14/19) had successful pleurodesis, and 22 per cent (4/18) failed pleurodesis requiring VATS-ATP. In the group treated primarily with tube thoracostomy the chest tube was in place 8.36 +/- 2.61 days with a hospital stay of 12.64 +/- 5.80 days after the procedure. In the group treated with VATS-ATP there was 100 per cent successful pleurodesis. There were no mortalities. There was one prolonged intubation of 3 days and one incomplete lung reexpansion. The chest tube was in place for 4.58 +/- 1.78 days and a hospital stay of 7.50 +/- 4.12 days postprocedure. Groups treated by tube thoracostomy and VATS were statistically different; P < 0.001 for days with a chest tube and P = 0.011 for hospital days. We conclude that both tube thoracostomy with chemical pleurodesis and VATS-ATP provide adequate treatment of ovarian carcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusions. VATS-ATP provides a shorter duration of chest tube placement and postprocedure hospital stay.     

早期拔除胸腔引流管在胸腔镜肺部手术后的应用

目的探讨胸腔镜肺部手术后早期拔除胸腔引流管的可行性和安全性,探索胸腔引流管的拔除指征。 方法选择2019年11月至2020年4月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院行胸腔镜肺部手术,并于术后早期(48 h内)拔除胸腔引流管患者117例作为观察组;另外选择2018年11月至2019年4月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院行胸腔镜肺部手术,但术后非早期拔除胸腔引流管患者114例作为对照组。两组在年龄(P＝0.476)、性别(P＝0.216)、术式(P＝0.715)、是否行纵隔淋巴结清扫或采样(P＝0.200)、目标肺叶(P＝0.925)、病变性质(P＝0.957)方面均差异无统计学意义。回顾性分析两组患者术后临床结果、拔除引流管后并发症及再次行胸腔引流情况。 结果观察组和对照组拔管前24 h引流量[(245.7±98.1)ml比(120.8±46.8)ml,P<0.001]、术后引流时间[(43.9±2.6)h比(84.5±10.5)h,P<0.001]、术后住院时间[(2.2±0.4)d比(4.2±1.1)d,P<0.001]、住院费用[(5.3±0.4)万元比(5.6±0.3)万元,P<0.001]、拔管后疼痛视觉模拟评分(visionl analogue scale, VAS) [(4.4±1.2)分比(3.3±1.2)分,P<0.001]、拔管后总体并发症发生率(20.5%比10.5%,P＝0.036)差异有统计学意义,观察组拔管前后VAS [(5.9±0.8)分比(4.4±1.2)分,P<0.001]和对照组拔管前后VAS [(6.0±0.9)分比(3.3±1.2)分,P<0.001]差异有统计学意义。观察组和对照组拔管前VAS [(5.9±0.8)分比(6.0±0.9)分,P＝0.464]、拔管后气胸(1.7%比0.9%,P>0.999)、胸腔积液(12.8%比6.1%,P＝0.084)、皮下气肿(2.6%比1.8%,P>0.999)、发热(3.4%比1.8%,P＝0.703)、再次行胸腔引流(2.6%比1.8%,P>0.999)发生率差异无统计学意义。 结论虽然术后早期拔除引流管可能会增加拔除引流管后胸腔积液的发生率,但早期拔除引流管可以明显减轻患者术后疼痛,并且不会增加气胸、皮下气肿、发热的发生率,也不会增加再次行胸腔引流的风险。因此,胸腔镜肺部手术后早期拔除胸腔引流管是安全、可行的,有利于减轻患者经济负担,缩短住院时间,促进患者加速康复。     

Experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the management of complicated pneumonia in children

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the management of empyema in children. METHODS: This report involves cases of complicated pneumonia in children requiring surgical intervention after failure of medical treatment with antibiotics, with or without drainage from November 1997 to October 1999. The impact of VATS has been studied prospectively from October 1998 when VATS was introduced. The results have been compared with the previous year when similar cases were dealt with open thoracotomy. These 2 groups of patients with VATS (V) or without VATS (O) were studied for their progress in hospital and the final outcome. RESULTS: A total of 39 immunocompetent children with community-acquired pneumonia were studied. There were 17 cases in O and 22 in V. There were 2 conversions to open thoracotomy in V. Both of these cases required resection of the lung parenchyma for severe necrosis and bronchopleural fistula. The mean age in years was 5.3 (O) and 4.9 (V). Parameters that were significantly less in V compared with O include timing of referral (O, 13.6 days; V, 5.3 days), number of lung resections (O, 8; V, 2), blood transfusion (O, 14; V, 2), analgesia requirements (O, 7.8 days; V, 2.9 days), postoperative length of stay in hospital (O, 10.4 days; V, 4.6 days), time to become normothermic (O, 5.6 days; V, 1.7 days); and time to removal of chest drains (O, 6.0 days; V, 2.7 days). Cosmesis is superior in cases of VATS compared with open thoracotomy. All the children recovered well on follow-up with resolution of symptoms and no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: (1) VATS has ushered in a new era of hope for patients with complicated pneumonia. (2) Thoracotomy, lung resections, and the attending morbidity rate have decreased. (3) Patients are being referred earlier by the physicians because the management protocol is changing.     

Evolution of practice in the management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children

Aim

To assess the evolution in management of children with parapneumonic effusion and empyema in a tertiary referral centre.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the management of parapneumonic pleural empyema

Parapneumonic pleural empyema has been classified by international societies and by pleural diseases experts into different stages and classes. While the American Thoracic Society (ATS) classification is based on the natural course of the disease, Light has classified pleural empyema according to radiological, physical and biochemical characteristics, and the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has categorised patients with pleural empyema according to the risk of a poor outcome. According to these classifications, the management of the pleural empyema is based on the stage of the disease. The recommended treatment options in (ATS) stage I disease (Light classes I-III, ACCP categories I and II) are therapeutic thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy and antibiotics when necessary. In (ATS) stage II disease (Light classes IV-VI, ACCP category III), thoracoscopy (VATS) is the treatment of choice because it has a higher efficacy than treatment strategies that utilise tube thoracostomy or catheter-directed fibrinolytic therapy alone, whereas in (ATS) stage III disease (Light class VII, ACCP category IV), decortication via thoracoscopy or thoracotomy is the treatment of choice.     

Position paper on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as treatment of pediatric empyema

Pediatric empyema can be managed with a variety of modalities, and the evidence for an ideal management strategy is limited. Early or simple effusions can be treated with antibiotics alone or with drainage when respiratory distress occurs. Once fibrinopurulent empyema has developed, therapy may involve either chest tube placement with instillation of fibrinolytics or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with pleural decortication. In late or fibrotic empyema, an assumption persists that the fibrotic peel must be managed by decortication that can be done either thoracoscopically or through a minithoracotomy incision.This position paper is coauthored by the New Technology Committee of the American Pediatric Surgery Association. The goal is to discuss the ongoing controversies and summarize, in an evidence-based manner, the various treatment options and to suggest a reasonable therapeutic algorithm for the care of children with empyema.     

电视胸腔镜在小儿胸外科中的临床应用

目的探讨电视胸腔镜手术(VATS)在小儿胸部疾病诊治中的应用价值. 方法对41例平均年龄6.9岁(9 d～16岁),平均体重22.5 kg(2.8～54.0 kg)的患儿施行VATS,其中14例＜5岁.手术包括脓胸清除 15例、纵隔肿瘤活检或摘除11例,肺楔形切除6例,肺囊肿或肺隔离症行肺叶切除5例、血胸清除与先天性膈疝处理各2例. 结果全组患者平均手术时间 74 min,平均失血量33 ml(10～220 ml).术后留置胸腔引流管平均2.4 d,平均住院7 d(4～15 d).术后并发症发生率7.3%,手术病死率2.4%.40例患儿术后随访15.6个月(2.0～30.0个月),生长发育良好.结论 VATS能安全有效地用于小儿胸部疾病的诊断和治疗,这一新技术将在小儿胸外科占有重要的地位.     

电视胸腔镜诊治胸腔积液的临床体会

目的:探讨电视胸腔镜手术诊治胸腔积液的应用价值。方法:回顾分析2006年3月至2012年8月为152例胸腔积液患者行电视胸腔镜手术的临床资料。双腔气管插管全麻后置入胸腔镜及活检钳,取胸膜组织送病理检查,并根据病理检查结果决定治疗方案。结果:152例患者中肺癌胸膜转移83例,恶性胸膜间皮瘤18例,胸腺瘤3例,恶性肿瘤胸膜转移16例,来源不明的转移肿瘤4例,结核性胸水25例,3例未明确诊断。恶性胸腔积液患者行滑石粉胸膜固定,根据病理类型术后予以规范化抗肿瘤治疗。结核性胸腔积液患者,术后予以正规抗结核治疗。余者均根据病理回报结果进行相应后续治疗。结论:电视胸腔镜手术诊治胸腔积液微创,确诊率高,疗效确切,为进一步治疗疾病提供了有力证据。     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for children with stage II empyema

Children with stage II empyema often fail traditional medical management, frequently succumbing to the effective albeit morbid clutches of thoracotomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been recently introduced as a viable and potentially less morbid alternative to open thoracotomy. We review our VATS experience in children with empyema, assessing surgical outcome. Between August 1996 and March 1999, 13 patients at our institution with stage II empyema that did not respond to conventional medical management underwent a modified VATS with decortication. Data from retrospective chart review reflects intraoperative findings and postoperative course, including average time to defervescence, removal of thoracostomy tube, and hospital discharge. VATS was completed in all 13 patients. All intraoperative cultures of pleural fluid and fibrinopurulent debris obtained at VATS showed no growth. The average time to defervescence was 2.2 days (range, 0-4 days) and to removal of thoracostomy tube 3.6 days (range, 2-5 days). Average total chest tube days in patients with pre-VATS thoracostomy (n = 6) was 14.5 days (range, 8-37 days) versus 3.1 days (range, 2-5 days) in patients (n = 7) who underwent primary VATS (t test, p < 0.05). The average time to surgical discharge after VATS was 5.8 days (range, 3 to 19 days). All patients were well on follow-up clinic visits without delayed complications. VATS can be performed safely and effectively in children with stage II empyema, thus avoiding the morbidity of open thoracotomy and decortication. Importantly, early application of VATS significantly relieves patients of unnecessary days of thoracostomy drainage.     

Efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in managing childhood empyema: a large single-centre study

Background/Purpose

A randomised controlled trial evaluating the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in childhood empyema reported a failure rate of 16.6%. Our aim is to determine the outcome of VATS in a large series of children managed by 3 paediatric surgeons experienced in endoscopic surgery.

Method

A retrospective study of all children with empyema admitted under the care of the 3 surgeons between February 2004 and February 2008 was undertaken. Recorded details included demographic data, mode of presentation, preoperative investigations, operative details, antibiotic usage, microbiological data, postoperative course, follow-up data and complications.

Results

114 children (69 boys, 45 girls) had VATS for empyema. Their median age was 5 (0.2-15) years. The pleural cavity was drained for a median of 4 (2-13) days. Median postoperative hospital stay was 7 (4-36) days. Median follow-up was 8 (1-24) months. There were 8 (7%) treatment failures: 5 conversions to thoracotomy and 3 recurrent empyemas. There were 7 complications (6%): air leak (n = 6) and lung injury (n = 1). 104 (91%) children had full resolution of symptoms. There were no deaths.

Conclusion

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has a better outcome in childhood empyema than reported in a recent randomised trial and it has an important role in the management of this condition.     

单操作孔全胸腔镜手术在儿童纵隔肿瘤中的应用

目的总结单操作孔全胸腔镜手术治疗12岁以下儿童纵隔肿瘤的经验。方法 12岁以下儿童纵隔肿瘤48例,行单操作孔全胸腔镜下纵隔肿瘤切除术。所有患儿患侧卧位,腋中线第7—8肋间做腔镜孔,腋前线第3-5肋间做2~3 cm操作孔。结果所有患儿均在单操作孔下完成手术,无中转开胸,其中前纵隔肿瘤8例,中纵隔肿瘤4例,后纵隔肿瘤36例,肿瘤直径2~7 cm,平均(3.69±1.19)cm,手术时间56~153分钟,平均(93.45±35.62)分钟,术中出血10~50 ml,平均(22.74±14.67)ml,总住院时间5~18天,平均(10.67±2.97)天,术后住院时间3~10天,平均(6.13±1.75)天,住院期间无死亡病例,2例术后出现霍纳综合征,其余患儿均恢复。结论单操作孔全胸腔镜下手术治疗儿童纵隔肿瘤,创伤小,恢复快,治疗效果满意。     

Avoiding chest tube placement after video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lung.

OBJECTIVE: A chest tube is usually placed in the pleural cavity after wedge resection of the lung, even after thoracoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the validity and safety of postoperative management without chest tube placement for patients undergoing thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lung. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2002, 93 patients underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lung. In January 2000, we established the following criteria for avoiding chest tube placement: (1) absence of air leaks during intraoperative alternative sealing test, (2) absence of bullous or emphysematous changes on inspection, (3) absence of severe pleural adhesions, and (4) absence of prolonged pleural effusion requiring chest drainage preoperatively. Seventeen of 93 patients did not satisfy the criteria. The other 76 patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 34 patients who underwent thoracoscopic resection before 1999 and in whom a chest tube was routinely placed in spite of retrospectively meeting the criteria, group 2 consisted of 42 patients who underwent thoracoscopic resection after 2000 and in whom chest tube was not placed. The clinical data were evaluated and analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS: Two patients in group 1 required new intervention after removal of a chest tube that had been inserted during the operation due to recurrence of a pneumothorax, so did two patients in group 2 after the operation. The rate of late pneumothorax requiring intervention is similar in groups 1 and 2. No differences were found between the two groups with regard to postoperative chest pain and hospital stay. No patients experienced a significant adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding the chest tube placement did not increase postoperative morbidity if carefully selected criteria are met.     

One-lung ventilation with a handmade double-lumen tube in an infant for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

A 3-month-old infant was scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for sequestration of the right lung. One-lung ventilation was performed with our handmade double-lumen tube. Intubation was performed easily using a laryngeal fiberscope and X-ray fluoroscopy. Good thoracoscopic view was obtained with simple deflation of the right lung. Perioperative course was uneventful.     

Thoracoscopic decortication vs tube thoracostomy with fibrinolysis for empyema in children: a prospective, randomized trial

Purpose

Management of empyema has been debated in the literature for decades. Although both primary video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and tube thoracostomy with pleural instillation of fibrinolytics have been shown to result in early resolution when compared to tube thoracostomy alone, there is a lack of comparative data between these modes of management. Therefore, we conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing VATS to fibrinolytic therapy in children with empyema.

Methods

After Institutional Review Board approval, children defined as having empyema by either loculation on imaging or more than 10,000 white blood cells/μL were treated with VATS or fibrinolysis. Based on our retrospective data using length of postoperative hospitalization as the primary end point, a sample size of 36 patients was calculated for an α of .5 and a power of 0.8. Fibrinolysis consisted of inserting a 12F chest tube followed by infusion of 4 mg tissue plasminogen activator mixed with 40 mL of normal saline at the time of tube placement followed by 2 subsequent doses 24 hours apart.

Results

At diagnosis, there were no differences between groups in age, weight, degree of oxygen support, white blood cell count, or days of symptoms. The outcome data showed no difference in days of hospitalization after intervention, days of oxygen requirement, days until afebrile, or analgesic requirements. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was associated with significantly higher charges. Three patients (16.6%) in the fibrinolysis group subsequently required VATS for definitive therapy. Two patients in the VATS group required ventilator support after therapy, one of whom required temporary dialysis. No patient in the fibrinolysis group clinically worsened after initiation of therapy.

Conclusions

There are no therapeutic or recovery advantages between VATS and fibrinolysis for the treatment of empyema; however, VATS resulted in significantly greater charges. Fibrinolysis may pose less risk of acute clinical deterioration and should be the first-line therapy for children with empyema.     

Optimal timing of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax in children

Purpose

There is no consensus in the pediatric surgical community about when to recommend video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). We aimed to identify factors that predict the likelihood of requiring VATS, and to compare recurrence rates and healthcare utilization among different management approaches to PSP.

A case report of pleural empyema treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in an elder patient receiving hemodialysis

A 79-year-old male who had the treatment of renal failure with hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital for the management of right pleural empyema. We performed thoracoscopic débridement and pleural irrigation in the management of empyema thoracis, because both chest tube drainage and antibiotic therapy had failed. Postoperatively pleural irrigation was performed for three weeks and the chest drains were removed after four weeks. He was successfully transferred to our department of internal medicine at four weeks after the operation. Thoracoscopic débridement and pleural irrigation for the elder patient with pleural empyema is safe, effective and minimally invasive surgical procedure.     

Primary thoracoscopic treatment of empyema in children

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment of pediatric empyema remains controversial. The objective of this study is to compare the use of conventional management versus primary thoracoscopic drainage and decortication in children with empyema. METHODS: Conventional management has consisted of chest drain insertion under general anesthesia plus intravenous antibiotics. Thoracoscopic drainage and decortication has consisted of primary thoracoscopic drainage and decortication plus antibiotics. The clinical course of 54 patients treated conventionally between 1989 and 1997 was compared with that of 21 patients treated by means of thoracoscopic drainage and decortication between September 2000 and September 2001. RESULTS: Results of the study demonstrated that patients in the drainage-decortication group had fewer invasive interventions per patient than those in the conventional management group (1.0 vs 1.26). Patients undergoing thoracoscopic drainage and decortication also had significantly shorter durations of intravenous antibiotic therapy (7.6 +/- 1.2 vs 18.2 +/- 7.5 days), chest tube drainage (4.0 +/- 0.5 vs 10.2 +/- 6.1 days), and hospital stays (7.4 +/- 0.8 vs 15.4 +/- 7.4). Moreover, there were no open thoracotomies and decortications in the thoracoscopic drainage and decortication group, whereas in the conventional management group 39% (21/54) of patients underwent an open procedure. CONCLUSION: Although the 2 groups were not prospectively randomized and they were treated in different time periods, the results of this study support the use of thoracoscopic surgery as the primary therapeutic modality in children presenting with pleural empyema. This strategy appears to offer significant benefits over conventional treatment in terms of duration of treatment and the need for more invasive surgery.