Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of applying completely videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in pulmonary diseases treatment, and evaluate its safety, indication and efficacy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 47 patients with pulmonary diseases undergoing completely videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy at the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province between October 2008 and November 2010. Among the patients, there were 35 males and 12 females with their age ranged from 30 to 72 years averaging at 61.5 years. Adenocarcinoma was present in 27 patients, squamous carcinoma in 9 patients, small cell carcinoma in 1 patient, tuberculosis in 3 patients, bronchiectasis in 3 patients, pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor in 2 patients, hamartoma in 1 patient, and giant bulla in 1 patient. All patients underwent completely videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy which was carried out through three miniinvasive incisions without the use of rib spreader. Systemic lymph node dissection was performed for patients with malignancies. Blood loss, operation time, the rate of conversion to thoracotomy, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were observed. Results Completely videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy was successfully performed in 44 patients, and the other 3 patients were changed to open thoracotomy due to bleeding in one patient, T3 tumor in one patient and accidentally injured bronchus in one patient. The overall conversion rate was 6.4% (3/47). The mean operation time, blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were respectively 120±45 minutes, 150±80 ml, and 7±2 days. No perioperative death occurred. There were 9 patients of complications including lymphatic fistula, air leak, atrial fibrillation and atelectasis, and they all recovered after conservative treatment. Fortyfour- patients were followed up for -1 to 23 months with 3 patients missing. One-patient had bloody sputum during the followup, but recovered spontaneously later. Brain metastasis occurred to a stage Ⅲa patient with primary lung cancer 9 months after operation, and the patient survived after treatment with gamma knife. No recurrence happened to the other patients and their quality of life was good. Conclusion Completely videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure for patients with earlystage lung cancer and benign pulmonary lesions which need lobectomy. However, it is necessary to select the patients carefully in the early period of practising.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the application of a silicone guiding tube for endoscopic linear stapling device in complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy，so as to improve the safety and efficiency of manipulating the endoscopic linear stapling device. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 178 patients with peripheral non-small cell lung caner and 26 patients with benign lung lesions who underwent surgical resection in First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2009 to December 2011. There were 85 males and 119 females with their average age of 62±11 years. A total of 172 patients underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and 32 patients underwent segmentectomy. We designed a silicone guiding tube to facilitate the use of endoscopic linear stapling device. With the help of the tube， a1l pulmonary arteries， veins， bronchus and interlobar fissure involved were managed with endoscopic linear stapling devices. Results Three patients （1.47%）underwent conversion to thoracotomy because of dense lymph node adhesion， and all other complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries were successfully performed. There was no blood vessel injury， severe postoperative complications or perioperative death. The use rate of the tube was 95.6% （303/317）， 66.9% （115/172）， 22.7% （39/172） and 78.5% （255/325） in pulmonary arteries， veins， bronchus and interlobar fissure stapling for lobectomy respectively， and 94.4% （34/36）， 77.3% （17/22）， 25.0% （8/32）， 33.1% （45/136） in pulmonary arteries， veins， bronchus and interlobar fissure stapling for segmentectomy respectively. For lobectomy， a total of 986 staples were used with an average of 5.7 staples for each patient， the average operative time was 192.5±54.0 min and average intraoperative blood loss was 118.1±104.1 ml. For segmentectomy， a total of 226 staples were used with an average of 7.1 staples for each patient， the average operative time was 193.7±37.4 min and average intraoperative blood loss was 60.9±78.0 ml. Conclusion Using a silicone guiding tube can facilitate the application of endoscopic linear stapling device， shorten the learning curve of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy， and improve the safety， convenience and economical efficiency of endoscopic linear stapling device.
Abstract： Lung torsion is a very rare clinical event and characterized by rotation of entire lung or individual lobes around the proximal bronchus or blood vessel pedicle in a single direction. The outcomes of lung torsion vary according to different rotation degree. Mild lung rotation may cause hemodynamic changes of the rotated pulmonary tissue. Severe lung rotation may lead to pulmonary venous congestion， lung infarction， systemic intoxication symptoms， ischemia， hypoxia， respiratory failure， severe infection or even death. There are a number of causes of lung torsion， including thoracic surgery， blunt chest trauma， pneumonia， pneumothorax， pleural effusion and lung transplantation. The majority of lung torsion cases occur after thoracic surgeries especially lobectomy， with the right middle lobe being most easily endangered after right upper lobectomy. Lung torsion does not have typical clinical manifestations and thus is difficult to be differentiated from other diseases. Patients with lung torsion often cannot receive correct diagnosis， proper intervention and treatment in time， which may lead to a high mortality. This review focuses on the morbidity， pathogenesis， clinical manifestations， diagnosis， prevention and treatment of lung torsion.
Objective To investigate the feasibility, curative effect and perioperative treatments of lobectomy for pulmonary diseases by complete videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods Fiftysix patients of pulmonary diseases were treated with thoracoscopic lobectomy (including mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection for malignant diseases) from March 2006 to November 2007 in our Department. Twelve right upper lobectomy, three right middle lobectomy, fifteen right lower lobectomy, nine left upper lobectomy, fourteen left lower lobectomy and three bilobectomy were carried out. The bilobectomy included one right upper and middle lobectomy, two right middle and lower lobectomy. Mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection was simultaneously performed in the malignant cases. The feasibility, safety and postoperative complications were retrospectively analyzed. Results Fiftytwo patients (92.8%) were performed successfully by complete VATS. The median operative duration and blood loss were respectively 107±29min(from 45min to 168min) and 121±32 ml(from 50ml to 310ml). The incision in two cases (3.6%) were elongated to around 8 cm, the ribs were retracted, and the operations were completed by the help of VATS. Another two patients (3.6%) were changed to conventional thoracotomy for pneumonectomy or hemostasis. The postoperative pathology diagnosis was lung cancer in thirty nine, tuberculoma in seven, inflammatory pseudotumor in four, indurative angioma in four, bronchiectasis in one and metastasic chondrosarcoma in one. There was no surgical mortality. One case suffered from atelectasis in the middle lobe postoperatively and was cured by phlegm suction with bronchoscopy. Two air leakage healed automatically in three days. No other severe complications was observed. The average postoperative hospitalization was 8.9±3.1 d(from 8 d to 14 d). Conclusion Lobectomy for pulmonary diseases by complete VATS is technically fieasible, safe, minimally invasive with less complications and fast rehabilitation.
Abstract： Objective To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical outcome of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） lobectomy for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 160 consecutive patients（the VATS group, 83 males and 77 females with average age at 60.8 years）with early-stage NSCLC who underwent complete VATS lobectomy between January 2005 andDecember 2008 in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University，and compared them with 357 patients（the thoracotomy group, 222 males and 135 females with average age at 59.5 years）who underwent open thoracotomy in the same period. Results The conversion rate of the VATS group was 5.0%（8/160）. The operation time of the VATS group was significantly shorter than that of the thoracotomy group（113.0 min vs.125.0 min, P=0.039）. Length of postoperative hospital stay was not statistically different between the two groups（10.3±4.3 d vs.9.1±4.6 d，P=0.425）. The postoperative morbidity of the VATS lobectomy group and the thoracotomy group was 9.4%（15/160）and 10.1% （36/357） respectively，and the postoperative mortality of the two groups was 0.6%（1/160）and 2.0%（7/357）respectively. There was no statistical difference in the mean group of lymph node dissection （2.4±1.5 groups vs.2.4±1.7 groups，P=0.743） and the mean number of lymph node dissection （9.8±6.3 vs.10.1±6.4，P=0.626） between the two groups. The overall 5-year survival rate of the VATS group was significantly higher than that of the thoracotomy group （81.5% vs.67.8%, P=0.001）. Subgroup analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate of pⅠa stage, pⅠb stage, and pⅢa stage was 86.0%, 84.5%, and 58.8% respectively in the VATS group, and 92.9%, 76.4%, and 25.3% respectively in the thoracotomy group. Conclusion Complete VATS lobectomy is technically safe and feasible for patients with early-stage NSCLC. The lymph node dissection extension of complete VATS lobectomy is similar to that of open thoracotomy, and long-term outcome of complete VATS lobectomy is superior to that of open thoracotomy. Randomized controlled trials of large sample size are further needed to demonstrate superiority.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the feasibility of videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) ronchial sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer, and to describe this treatment method. Methods Between December 2010 and April 2011, three patients in our hospital underwent VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy as treatment for right upper lobe nonsmall cell lung cancer. The patients were one female and two males, aged 61, 65, and 62 years. Surgical incisions were the same as for singledirection VATS right upper lobectomy. The right superior pulmonary vein was firstly transected, followed by the first branch of the pulmonary artery. Then, the lung fissure was transected and the mediastinal lymph nodes, including the subcarinal nodes, were also dissected to achieve sufficient exposure of the right main bronchus. The bronchus was transected via the utility incision, and the anastomosis was accomplished by continuous suture with 30 Prolene stitches. Another 0.5 cm port in the 7th intercostal space at the posterior axillary line was added in the third operation for handling of a pair of forceps to help hold the needle during anastomosis. A sealing test was performed to confirm that there was no leakage after completion of the anastomosis, and the stoma was covered with biological material. Bronchoscopy was performed to clear airway secretions and to confirm that there was no stenosis on postoperative day (POD) 1. Results The lobectomy and lymph node dissection was finished in 5158 minutes (averaging 54.7), and the time needed foranastomosis was 4055 minutes (averaging 45.7). Total blood loss was 55230 ml (averaging 155.0 ml). Number of dissected lymph nodes was 1821 (averaging 19.3). One patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe with metastatic hilar lymph node invasive to the right upper lobar bronchus. The other two patients were both diagnosed with centrally located squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper lobe, and all the patients achieved microscopically negative margins. There was no stenosis of the anastomosis stoma, and the postoperative course was uneventful. These patients were discharged on POD 810 (averaging 8.7 days), and they recovered well during the followup period, which lasted 2 to 6 months. [WTHZ]Conclusion [WTBZ]For experienced skillful thoracoscopic surgeons, VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy is safe and feasible. Making the incisions of a singledirection VATS lobectomy with an additional miniport may be an ideal approach for this procedure.
Abstract： Objective To compare clinical outcomes of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （cVATS） lobectomy with routine thoracotomy lobectomy for the treatment of bronchiectasis, and evaluate the feasibility, safety and specific considerations of cVATS lobectomy for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 115 patients who underwent lobectomy for the treatment of bronchiectasis in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from May 2009 to January 2012. According to the way of operation, these patients were divided into two groups （cVATS group and thoracotomy group）. In the thoracotomy group, there were 62 patients （28 males and 34 females with an age of 46.2±11.9 years） who underwent routine thoracotomy lobectomy. In the cVATS group, there were 53 patients （19 males and 34 females with an age of 45.7±12.2 years） who underwent cVATS lobectomy. Operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative thoracic drainage, complications and hospitalization, and cost of hospitalization were compared between the two groups. Results There was no perioperative death in all patients. There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups. Intra-operative blood loss of thoracotomy group patients was significantly higher than that of cVATS group patients （228.8±121.7 ml vs. 157.1±123.8 ml, t=2.592, P=0.011）. Postoperative thoracic drainage （866.7±439.5 ml vs. 1 805.3±466.7 ml, t=9.003，P=0.000）, duration of chest tube drainage （6.6±3.3 d vs. 9.8±4.6 d,t=3.339，P=0.001）, and postoperative hospitalization （7.5±2.2 d vs. 11.2±5.4 d, t=3.424，P=0.001） of cVATS group were significantly lower than those of thoracotomy group. The cost of hospitalization of cVATS group was significantly higher than that of thoracotomy group （38 543.6±11 051.8 yuan vs. 30 523.4±10 028.5 yuan，t=3.423, P=0.001）. There was no statistical difference in postoperative complications between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Forty-five patients in cVATS group were followed up for 2 to 14 months. Among them, 42 patients completely had no sputum or haemoptysis and 3 patients still intermittently had some sputum. Conclusion cVATS lobectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Compared with routine thoracotomy lobectomy, cVATS lobectomy does not increase surgical risk, but can significantly reduce operation injury and length of hospital stay. During cVATS, the lung residual should be handled cautiously especially for patients with nonanatomic pulmonary resection, and the non-single-order operation is recommended.
Objective To evaluate clinical outcomes of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） lobectomy for patients with peripheral lung cancer.?Methods?We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 90 consecutive patients with peripheral lung cancer who underwent complete VATS lobectomy from July 2009 to December 2011 in Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University. There were 55 male patients and 35 female patients with their age of 33-79 （62.5 ±11.5） years. Lymph node dissection group and number, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of postoperative chest drainage, length of postoperative hospitalization, postoperative morbidity and pain score were analyzed.?Results?There was no hospital death in this group. Operation time was 135.0±32.5 min, intraoperative blood loss was 230.0±80.4 ml, length of postoperative chest drainage was 4.8±2.1 days, and pain score on the third postoperative day was 5.3±1.2. A total of 520 groups and 1 568 lymph nodes were dissected during the operation, with 5.8 groups and 17.4 lymph nodes dissected in each patient. There were 71 groups with lymph node metastasis, a positive rate of 13.7% （71/520）. Postoperatively, 2 patients had hoarseness and 3 patients had chylothorax, who were all cured after proper treatment. Ninety patients were followed up for 1-24 months. During follow-up, 4 patients died of tumor metastasis, and other patients were all alive with good quality of life.?Conclusion?Complete VATS lobectomy is a minimally invasive technique for patients with peripheral lung cancer with better postoperative recovery and reduced pain level. The safety and degree of radical resection of complete VATS lobectomy is similar to those of routine thoracotomy lobectomy. Complete VATS lobectomy can be recommended as a surgical treatment for patients with peripheral lung cancer.
Abstract： Air leak is still a common postoperative complication after selective lobectomy. The majority of patients undergoing lobectomy have some risk factors of postoperative air leak or persistent air leak. Nowadays，preventive measures of postoperative air leak mainly include preoperative, intraoperative （surgical technique，reinforcement material，pleural cavity reduction），and postoperative （pleurodesis，chest drainage management） strategies. Many of these new measures have been applied in clinical practice with satisfactory outcomes.
An retrospective analysis of 112 cases with localized left hepatolithiasis (LLH) treated in our center in recent two decades was made. The results showed: ①Coexisting involvements of both left external hepatic duct (LEHD) and left medial hepatic duct (LMHD) were the most common pathological pattern (83.08%), came next the only LEHD involvement (12.31%). There was no localized LMHD caculi in this group. ②The rate of concomitant LHD stricture was 59.82% and that of LMHD or LEHD were 84.85% and 84.00% respectively, in which severe degrees dominate. ③Lateral segmentectomy was the most common clinical practice for LLH (58.93%), and left lebectomy was much less frequently used (12.50%), although the latter led to a significantly smaller rate of residual (7.14% vs 21.21%) and had a satification follow-up rate of 85.71% being superior to lateral segmentectomy (46.97%), or cholangiojejunostomy (40.00%), bile duct exploration and drainage (0). ④The most common prognostic factors were residual or recurrent stones of LMHD (62.50%) and residual LHD stricture (37.50%). ⑤There was no significant difference between left lobectomy and lateral segmentectomy in length of operation, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative complications. The results indicate that too much dependence on lateral segmentectomy in the management of LLH is one of the most important factors affecting the longterm results, for which left lobectomy is an applicable and safe therapy of choice.