Ho Chang

Single-port thoracoscopic surgery can be a first-line approach for elective thoracoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND Thoracoscopic surgery has become very popular in recent years. Conventional thoracoscopic surgery requires three or more port wounds for manipulations of endoscopic instruments. For complicated cancer surgery, more port wounds and a larger thoracotomy wound may be required due to technical reasons. We want to investigate the effectiveness of single-port thoracoscopic approach in elective thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS From July 1st, 2010 to March 31, 2011, 90 consecutive patients underwent general thoracoscopic surgery performed by the same thoracic surgeon. Two patients with severe trauma and massive bleeding were excluded from the study. All patients included had thoracoscopic surgery with a single-port approach. The surgical outcomes, complications, mortality and conversion rates were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 88 patients were included in this study. All these patients were operated on by the same surgeon. For sixty-eight patients, the single-port thoracoscopic approach was used. Nineteen patients were changed to a two-port thoracoscopic approach and one patients was changed to mini-thoracotomy. Two patients died from terminal lung cancer and severe mitral regurgitation. Complications occurred in six cases. Eighty-seven patients (98.8%) were effectively managed with either single-port or a two-port approach. Only one patient was managed by mini-thoracotomy. CONCLUSION Elective thoracoscopic surgery performed through a single-port wound is feasible. Single-incisional thoracoscopic surgery can be safely applied as a first-line approach in most cases of elective thoracoscopic procedures.

A rare case of dysphagia and palpitation caused by the compression exerted by an enormous mediastinal lipoma

A 65-year-old woman presented with mild dysphagia, weight loss and intermittent palpitation. Chest radiograph revealed a large opacity in the right lower lung field. Subsequent CT scan showed a large posterior mediastinal lipoma extending from the level of the aortic arch to the thoracoabdominal junction. After thoracoscopic resection, the patients dysphagia and palpitation were resolved. After a follow-up of 2 years, the patient has had no evidence of recurrence.

Pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium complications arising from a case of wisdom tooth extraction

A 25-year-old woman underwent surgical tooth extraction. Several hours after the procedure, the woman complained of severe retrosternal pain and mild dyspnea. Subsequent imaging revealed subcutaneous emphysema from the mandibular region extending to the mediastinum and left side pneumothorax, as well as pneumopericardium. After treatment with antibiotics and analgesics, the patient recovered without any complications.