Ching Feng Wu

Management of intra-operative major bleeding during single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomic resection: two-center experience

BackgroundOur objective is to report on two centers’ experience of intra-operative management of major vascular injury during single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic (SPVATS) anatomic resections, including bleeding control techniques, incidence, results, and risk factor analysis.MethodsConsecutive patients (n = 442) who received SPVATS anatomic lung resections in two centers were enrolled. The different clinical parameters studied included age, previous thoracic surgery, obesity (BMI > 30), tumor location, neoadjuvant therapy, and pleural symphysis. In addition, peri-operative outcomes were compared between the groups, with or without vessel injury.ResultsThere were no intra-operative deaths in our study. Overall major bleeding incidence was 4.5%, whereby 70% of major bleeding episodes could be managed with SPVATS techniques. In order to determine risk factors possibly related to intra-operative bleeding, we used case control matching to homogenize our study population. After case control matching, pleural symphysis was significantly related in the univariate (p = 0.005, Odds ratio 4.415, 95% CI 1.424–13.685) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.006, Odds ratio 4.926, 95% CI 1.577–15.384). Operative time (p < 0.001), blood loss (p < 0.001), and post-operative hospital stay (p = 0.012) were longer in patients with major vascular injury. There were no differences in 30-day mortality and 90-day morbidity.ConclusionsIn summary, major intra-operative bleeding episodes during SPVATS anatomic lung resections are acceptable and most such bleeding episodes can be safely managed with SPVATS techniques.

Mid-term survival outcome of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection: a two-centre experience.

OBJECTIVES Single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SPVATS) anatomical resection has been shown to be a feasible technique for lung cancer patients. Whether SPVATS has equivalent or better oncological outcomes for lung cancer patients remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perioperative and mid-term survival outcomes of SPVATS in 2 different medical centres. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent SPVATS anatomical resections between January 2014 and February 2017 in Coruña University Hospitals Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Unit (Spain) and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan). Survival outcomes were assessed by pathological stage according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th and 8th classifications. RESULTS In total, 307 patients were enrolled in this study. Mean drainage days and postoperative hospital stay were 3.90 ± 2.98 and 5.03 ± 3.34 days. The overall 30-day mortality, 90-day morbidity and mortality rate were 0.7%, 20.1% and 0.7%, respectively. The 2-year disease-free survival and 2-year overall survival of the cohort were 80.6% and 93.4% for 1A, 68.8% and 84.6% for 1B, 51.0% and 66.7% for 2A, 21.6% and 61.1% for 2B, 47.6% and 58.5% for 3A, respectively, following the AJCC 7th classification. By the AJCC 8th classification, these were 92.3% and 100% for 1A1, 73.7% and 91.4% for 1A2, 75.2% and 93.4% for 1A3, 62.1% and 85.9% for 1B, 55.6% and 72.7% for 2A, 47.1% and 64.2% for 2B and 42.1% and 60.3% for 3A. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary results revealed that SPVATS anatomical resection achieves acceptable 2-year survival outcomes for early-stage lung cancer and is consistent with AJCC 8th staging system 2-year survival data. For advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer patients, further evaluation is warranted.

Nonintubated single port video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy: a promising future of treatment

We read a new article written by Pompeo et al . about glowing surgical technique of single port video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy with spontaneous ventilation for myasthenia gravis patients (1).

Technological aids in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

With the evolution of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the technological aids have come to help skill surgeons to improve the results in thoracic surgery and feasible to perform a complex surgery. The technological aids are divided into three important groups, which make surgical steps easy to perform, besides reducing surgical time and surgical accidents in the hands of experienced surgeons. The groups are: (I) conventional thoracoscopic instruments; (II) sealing devices using in uniportal VATS; (III) high definition cameras, robotic arms prototype and the future robotic aids for uniportal VATS surgery. Uniportal VATS is an example of the continuing search for methods that aim to provide the patient a surgical cure of the disease with the lowest morbidity. That is the reason companies are creating more and new technologies, but the surgeon have to choose properly and to know how, when and where is the moment to use each new aids to avoid mistakes. The future of the thoracic surgery is based on evolution of surgical procedures and innovations to try to reduce even more the surgical and anesthetic trauma. This article summarizes the technological aids to improve and help a thoracoscopics surgeons perform a uniportal VATS feasible and safe.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy and resection of a giant thymoma in a patient witness of Jehova

A rare case of a giant thymoma in a patient witness of Jehova treated by single port thoracoscopic resection is reported. A 78-year-old man with chest pain and mild dyspnea had been previously diagnosed with giant thymoma went to our hospital and asked for second opinion of operation. Computed tomography showed a 12.5 cm × 9.5 cm × 10 cm mass in the anterior mediastinum. Under the request of this patient, he is only willing to receive minimal invasive surgery without blood transfusion. Thirty-six hours after surgical resection, the patient safely discharged from our hospital without complication. Pathological diagnosis indicated a thymoma without capsular invasion, and a diagnosis of Masaoka stage I thymoma was made. Giant mediastinal thymoma is not rare, but how to perform minimal invasive surgery without complication and blood transfusion is a great challenge even for an experienced surgeon.

Troubleshooting of single port video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection

By now single port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is in full swing all over the world. Series of papers have been proved its safety and feasibility. There are still some tricks which could help beginner to overcome the obstacle of operation. In this article, we tried to focus on how to retrieve the specimen from chest wall cavity simply and how to deal with the bleeding episode during operation.