Marco Nardini

Microlobectomy: A Novel Form of Endoscopic Lobectomy

Objective Microlobectomy is a novel form of videoscopic-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy. Strict inclusion criteria consist of the following: no intercostal incisions greater than 5 mm, 12 mm subxiphoid port, subxiphoid removal of the specimen, total endoscopic technique with CO2 insufflation, vision through a 5-mm camera, stapling via the subxiphoid port, or with 5-mm stapling devices. Methods The combined early experiences of six hospitals from three countries were combined from September 2014 to May 2016. During that time, the study represents a consecutive cohort study of this technique. Results Seventy-two patients underwent microlobectomy. The median (range) age was 66 (27–82). Half of the patients were female. There were 48 right-sided resections and 24 on the left. There were four segmental resections and there was one right pneumonectomy. Four operations were performed robotically (with 8-mm intercostal incisions). The median (range) operative time was 180 (94–285) minutes and the blood loss was 118 (5–800) mL. There were three conversions to thoracotomy and two conversions to videoscopic-assisted thoracic surgery by means of an intercostal utility incision to complete the operation. The median (range)length of stay was 3(1–44) days and 30 patients (42%) when home by day 2 and 16 patients (22%) were discharged on day 1. There were no deaths. Five patients (7%) had a prolonged airleak. There were no wound infections and there was one incisional hernia. Conclusions We believe that microlobectomy is an interesting novel form of videoscopic-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and has several theoretical advantages. We have presented our early results and hope that this will stimulate others to investigate this type of videoscopic-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy further.

Extended pleurectomy decortication: the current role

Extended pleurectomy/decortication (EPD) has been formally defined but there remain technical areas of debate between practitioners. This is partly attributable to the relative rarity of this operation which is largely confined to a small number of specialist centres. Nevertheless, there is a widespread acceptance that extended pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) is a realistic and favourable alternative to extrapleural pneumonectomy. There may, however, remain a small number of clinical cases where this more extensive operation may be indicated. Preservation of the lung has widened the selection criteria for this form of radical mesothelioma surgery but there remain important factors to consider when offering extended P/D. In many patients with poorer prognostic factors the less radical operation of video assisted partial pleurectomy may be preferable. However, a randomized trial showed no survival benefit for this operation over simple talc pleurodesis. The future for P/D may also lie in the outcome of the MARS2 randomized controlled trial which will report in the next few years. Meanwhile there is a clinical and ethical dilemma when asked to perform this operation outside of the context of a clinical trial in the face of the lack of high grade evidence. The role of P/D is in one respect expanding but this may be short lived pending the findings of its assessment against non-surgical treatment.

Microlobectomy—where do we stand?

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) have been shown to be superior to open procedures, particularly with regards to pain and post-operative recovery, though high-levels of pain may still be reported due to large intercostal port sizes. Microlobectomy is a novel endoscopic lobectomy technique building on VATS lobectomies, with the principle that there are no intercostal ports larger than 5 mm. CO 2 insufflation is used to improve access to the chest and a 12 mm subxiphoid port is created to function as a utility port and can be extended further to facilitate specimen removal. All instruments utilized are 5 mm in size, including a 5 mm camera. However, a standard 12 mm stapler can be used through the subxiphoid incision, which provides excellent access to all the hilar structures bilaterally. Additionally, newer instruments are being developed to facilitate easier improved dissection of vascular structures and lymph nodes, such as the FlexDex needle holder, which is an articulated endoscopic needle holder facilitating movements in all directions, similar to a robotic instrument. The main advantage of a microlobectomy is reduced post-operative pain and shorter time to mobilisation, enabling a faster recovery. In our experience of microlobectomies, we have had patients successfully discharged on the first post-operative day. The development of a greater variety of 5 mm instruments that are similar to conventional VATS instruments may enable more surgeons globally to adopt the microlobectomy approach.

Parenchymal sparing resection for carcinoid of the right main bronchus

Surgery represents the treatment of choice for bronchial carcinoid tumors. Bronchoplasty for malignant and benign conditions are safe procedure but not often used. We present a case of carcinoid tumour of the right main bronchus successfully treated with parenchymal sparing resection and bronchoplasty. This is the preferable procedure for central typical carcinoid tumour located closed to the carina.

Robotic left lower sleeve lobectomy with bronchoplasty for the removal of a carcinoid tumour

Lung carcinoid tumours constitute approximately 1-2% of all pulmonary tumours. They are derived from enterochromaffin cells, which are also known as Kulchitsky cells and generally have indolent growth and development patterns. Carcinoid tumours are categorized as typical or atypical, depending on the number of mitoses per high power field and the presence of necrosis. In terms of management, surgical resection has been recognized to be the standard treatment for pulmonary carcinoid tumours. To our knowledge, the da Vinci system and robotic surgery have not been applied in sleeve lobectomies and bronchoplasty for the removal of carcinoid tumours in the United Kingdom. Therefore, we present a case of a sleeve lobectomy with bronchoplasty procedure for the removal of a carcinoid tumour located in the left lower lobe of the patient. The bronchus was repaired using a V-lock suture & Prolene sutures with the surgery performed using the da Vinci robotic surgical system.

Extended uniportal bilateral sympathectomy

Hyperhidrosis affect 3% of the population and, despite benign nature of the disease, the individuals seek medical advice in order to improve their quality of life which can be severely compromised. The interruption of the sympathetic chain (sympathectomy) and of the nerve of Kuntz established its role as the definitive treatment of primary hyperhidrosis. In this manuscript, we present our extended uniportal technique with the aid of the video. Uniportal approach expresses all its benefit when applied for this procedure because there is no specimen to be retrieved and all the surgery is accomplished through a 1-2 cm port access.

Robotic resection of a middle mediastinal mass

Aorto-pulmonary paraganglioma is an exceptionally rare condition, and its diagnosis and treatment are a challenge for the general thoracic surgeon. We describe the case of a 35 years old man who was incidentally diagnosed with a visceral mediastinal mass, deeply encased in the aorto-pulmonary window. To our knowledge this is the first case of its kind to be successfully treated with the adoption of a minimally invasive technique. We conclude that the dissection was made easier by the robotic instrumentation and by the camera system, and a minimally invasive approach would have been more difficult by traditional thoracoscopy.

Diaphragmatic and pericardial reconstruction after surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy-decortication (P/D) are both recognised surgical procedures for selected cases affected by malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Surgical techniques have ameliorated over the last years, remaining the complete macroscopic resection of the disease the main surgical principle. EPP is defined as an en-bloc resection of the visceral pleura, parietal pleura, pericardium and diaphragm alongside the pneumonectomy. The thoracic domain of the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) recently clarified the, previously confused, surgical terminology. Extended P/D is considered as parietal and visceral pleurectomy, diaphragmatic and pericardial resection with the purpose to remove all macroscopic disease. The term radical was replaced by extended to underline that this procedure does not have oncologic radicality aims. Both operations above are technically challenging and associated with a significant rate of peri-operative morbidity and non-negligible mortality. The diaphragmatic and pericardial reconstruction technique is mandatory to avoid respiratory impairment and to reduce post-operative complications like gastric and cardiac herniation. The technical aspects of resection and reconstruction are described and the choice of different prosthetic materials, considering the most recent innovations in the field, are discussed.

99m Technetium and methylene blue guided pulmonary nodules resections: preliminary British experience

BackgroundnSubcentimetre pulmonary nodules can be challenging to locate either during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or by open techniques. In an era of increasing computed tomography scan availability the number of nodules that are identified that are suspicious for malignancy is rising, and thoracic surgeons require a reliable method to locate these nodules intraoperatively.nnnMethodsnOur aim was to evaluate, for the first time in the UK, resection of pulmonary nodules using radioactive dye labelling. Local research ethics approval was obtained and the study was submitted to the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS). All data were prospectively collected in our dedicated thoracic surgical database and analyzed at the conclusion of the study. This represents a consecutive series of patients, from January 2016 and until April 2017, who underwent this procedure at our institution: James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom. The primary outcome measured was successful resection rate of the target nodules.nnnResultsnTwenty-three patients underwent radiolabeled excision of pulmonary nodules, their average age was 61 years (range, 28-79 years), 13 women and 10 men. The average maximum diameter of the nodule was 8 mm (range, 3-16 mm). All patients underwent successful excision of the target lesion (success rate 100%). One patient (4.3%) sustained pneumothorax following the CT-guided injection of the radio-labelled dye and this required chest drainage prior to general anesthesia.nnnConclusionsnWe conclude that technetium guided pulmonary nodule resection is a very reliable method for localization and resection of subcentimetre nodules which may be otherwise be difficult to identify.

Robotic pericardial patch repair of the bronchus intermedius after bronchogenic cyst removal

Bronchogenic cysts are often asymptomatic mediastinal masses that are usually diagnosed as incidental findings. Surgical resection can be performed with robotic surgery, and if repair of the airway is needed, this can be achieved by direct closure or by applying a pericardial patch. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with a mass in the visceral mediastinum. She had undergone resection adopting a 4-armed, completely portal robotic technique. However, the removal of the cyst had led to a large tear in the bronchus intermedius. The bronchus was then repaired with a 2.4-cm-long pericardial patch sutured with the V-lock sutures. The entire procedure was performed in a total span of 189u2009min, and the patient was discharged on postoperative Day 2. The robotic platform, with articulated instruments, allowed complex suturing while conversion was not required. To our knowledge, the robotic surgery has not been applied in bronchial repairs by pericardial patches, and this case is the first of its kind.