Shigehiko Itoh

Repair of intrathoracic visceral damage using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for blunt chest trauma and rib fixation at the site of mini-thoracotomy

We treated three patients with intrathoracic visceral damage caused by severely dislocated fractured ribs resulting from blunt trauma by using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and rib fixation through a mini-thoracotomy. Under general anesthesia and unilateral respiration, the thoracic cavity was inspected with a thoracic video scope through the port inserted through the thoracic drainage opening which was made upon arrival at hospital. As the visceral damage seemed restorable under VATS, a mini-thoracotomy was positioned just above the rib fracture. Two thoracic ports were inserted through the site of rib fracture or through the intercostal space and then VATS was performed using three ports. After the restoration of intrathoracic visceral damage, the fractured rib was fixated using a bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide rib fixation pin or a marlex mesh. Lung injuries were sutured and ligated under VATS in two of our cases and a spur of the fractured rib was shaved in one case. Only severely dislocated ribs were fixated through the mini-thoracotomy in all cases. Air leakage stopped just after this procedure and there were no complications. The rib fixation and bone regeneration were excellent after this procedure. The advantages of this method are the visceral restoration under VATS through a mini-thoracotomy and the ability to perform rib fixation without injuries to the intercostal muscle, artery, vein or nerve. This operative procedure is recommended for intrathoracic visceral damage caused by severely dislocated rib fracture.

Congenital saccular aneurysm of the superior vena cava

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for surgical treatment of a mediastinal mass. Midsternotomy was performed which revealed a saccular aneurysm of the superior vena cava, 6 cm in diameter, in the right superior mediastinum. Aneurysmectomy was done by dividing a 15×10 mm venous connection with the superior vena cava and the patient’s postoperative course was uneventful.

Surgical management of postoperative recurrence of primary lung cancer.

原発性肺癌切除症例514例において, 再発・転移により再切除を施行した症例は, 胸腔内再発14例, 胸腔外再発11例の25症例で, 全切除例の4.8%に相当し, 組織型は腺癌19例 (切除腺癌の8.3%), 扁平上皮癌6例 (切除扁平上皮癌の3.0%) である. 病期分類で, Stage Iの比率は, 胸腔内再発85.7%, 胸腔外再発36.3%で, 再切除までの期間, 予後についての各々の平均月数は, 胸腔内再発35.4ヵ月, 22.1ヵ月, 胸腔外再発8.9ヵ月, 4.6ヵ月である.