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： 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.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobec-tomy in the treatment of benign pulmonary diseases. MethodsFrom January 2011 to April 2014, 48 patients with benign pulmonary diseases underwent single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The patients included 21 males and 27 females, with their mean age of 47.4 years. There were 5 patients received right upper lobectomy, right middle lobectomy in 5 patients, right lower lobectomy in 5 patients, left upper lobectomy in 8 patients, and left lower lobectomy in 20 patients. the clinical outcomes included operation time, intraoperative blood loss, chest drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications. ResultsThere were 2 patients conversion to open surgery. The average operation time was 147.2±50.4 min, intraopera-tive blood loss was 160.2±25.3 ml, postoperative chest drainage duration was 4.8±2.8 d, postoperative hospital stay was 7.4±1.9 d. There was no hospital death or serious postoperative complications. Postoperative pathological diagnosis showed bronchiectasis in 17 patients, inflammatory pseudotumor in 11 patients, tuberculosis in 9 patients, aspergillosis in 4 patients, pulmonary sequestration in 3 patients, bronchogenic cyst in 2 patients, pulmonary abscess in 1 patient, and hamartoma in 1 patient. No long-term complications were noticed in 48 patients during a mean follow-up of 6 months. ConclusionSingle utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and feasible in the treatment of benign pulmonary diseases.
Objective To investigate the security and feasibility of silk ligating for pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, and to summarize the clinical skills. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 68 patients underwent the video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy from April 2013 to March 2015. There were 49 males and 19 females with the mean age of 59.6±10.3 years, ranging from 38 to 76 years. We divided the patients into an ECR60W cut-up group (31 patients) and a silk ligation group (37 patients). There were 22 males and 9 females patients with the average age of 59.3±9.9 years with ECR60W. There were 27 males and 10 females patients with the average age of 59.9±10.5 years with silk ligation. We observed the effect of hemostasis, and analyzed the amount of bleeding loss during operation, postoperative suction drainage and the cost of operation material between the two groups. Results There were 4 patients out of 68 converted to the open lobectomy, and all of them used ECR60W. The application of silk ligation for pulmo-nary artery could effectively control bleeding loss and avoid massive amount of bleeding due to the vascular tear in opera-tions. Furthermore, the application can reduce the rate of severe complications such as massive bleeding resulting from postoperative silk ligation slippage. There was a statistical difference between the two groups on the cost of operation mate-rials (P < 0.01). Conclusions Silk ligation for pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is simple and prac-tical to apply. Compared with the ECR60W, it can significantly reduce the cost of operation material. It's worth to popularize in clinic.
Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of completely thoracoscopic lobectomy and the indications of this procedure. Methods Between Sep. 2006 and Jun. 2008, 100 consecutive patients（46 men，54 women, median age60.1±12.5 years，range from 18 to 82 years) underwent completely thoracoscopic lobectomy. All candidates were either peripheral pulmonary nodules suspected of lung cancer (85 pts.) or benign lesions (15 pts.) localized within single lobe who needed to receive lobectomy. The lobectomy was completed through three tiny incisions in the intercostal space. Anatomic lobectomies were carried out in all cases and systemic lymph node dissection was performed in malignancies. This group consisted of lobectomies of right upper lobe (n=25), right middle lobe (n=14), right lower lobe (n=22), left upper lobe (n=18), and left lower lobe (n=21). Results All procedures were successfully completed except for 3 conversions to thoracotomy. Postoperative diagnosis were primary lung cancer (n=81), lymphoma (n=1), metastasis of clear cell carcinoma from kidney (n=1), and, benign lesions (n=17). Five patients had mild complications in which two had atelectasis, one needed temperately echanical ventilation, one had pneumonia and one had chylothorax. All were treated conservatively without reoperation. No operative mortality or serious complications occurred in this group. The operative duration was 186.4±52.9min (range from 60 to 300 minutes). The blood loss was 233.9±275.9ml（range from 50 to 750ml）, and only one case needed blood transfusion. Chest drainage time was 7.1±3.0 days. Postoperative hospital stay was 9.5±3.2 days. Followedup time was for 1 to 27 months, metastasis happened in two patients with primary lung cancer 15 and 3 months separately after operation. Conclusion The completely thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure with minimal invasiveness. The advocated indications include selected peripheral typed early stage lung cancer and benign pulmonary lesions which need lobectomy.
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.
ObjectiveTo evaluate effect and safety of a novel conservative therapy for post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 20 patients with post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula in our hospital between 2000 and 2013 year. There were 12 males and 8 females at average age of 67.7±8.7 years. Endobronchial naso-bronchial lavage (ENBL) was used for 10 patients (an ENBL group). Traditional method-thoracostomy drainage tube (TDT) was used for the other 10 patients (a TDT group). ResultsCompared with the TDT group, shorter hospital day was found in the ENBL group (49.7±9.6 d versus 68.3±9.8 d, P < 0.001). Fistula healing time was also shorter in the ENBL group than that in the TDT group (43.7±9.7 d versus 62.6±8.8 d, P < 0.001). There were lower complication rate, less inflammatory reaction, and better recovery in the ENBL group than those in the TDT group. ConclusionENBL may be a promising procedure for post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula.
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.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility,safety and short-term clinical outcomes of complete videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for patients with early-stage lung cancer (LC). MethodsClinical data of 138 consecutive patients with early-stage LC who underwent lobectomy in the First People's Hospital of Jining from January 2012 to May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 71 patients undergoing complete VATS lobectomy including 39 male and 32 female patients with their age of 57.9±10.6 years (VATS group) and 67 patients undergoing lobectomy via traditional thoracotomy including 36 male and 31 female patients with their age of 60.3±8.2 years (thoracotomy group). Operation time,intraoperative blood loss, groups and number of lymph node dissection,thoracic drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay,vision analogue scores (VAS) on the 1st,3rd and 30th postoperative day, and postoperative morbidity were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsAll the patients in both groups success fully received their operation. Intraoperative blood loss (147±113 ml vs. 146±91 ml) number of lymph node dissection (9.9±3.6 vs. 10.0±3.6) group of lymph node dissection (3.1±1.3 vs. 3.4±1.3) and VAS on the 1st and 3rd postoperative day of VATS group were not statistically different from those of the thoracotomy group (P>0.05). Operation time (119±27 minutes vs. 135±29 minutes) thoracic drainage duration (3.0±0.9 days vs. 3.8±1.2 days) postoperative hospital stay (8.0±2.1 days vs. 10.2±5.4 days) VAS on the 30th postoperative day (2.6±0.7 vs. 3.2±1.1) and postoperative morbidity (8.5% vs. 19.4%) of VATS group were significantly shorter or lower than those of the thoracotomy group (P<0.05). Fifty-nine patients in VATS group and 58 patients in the thoracotomy group were followed up for 2-18 months after disc harge. During follow-up,there was no death in either group. There was 1 patient with brain metastasis,1 patient with liver metastasis,and 2 patients with bone metastasis. ConclusionComplete VATS lobectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of early LC with the advantages of minimal invasiveness,less morbidity,better postoperative recovery and less chronic incision pain. Complete VATS lobectomy can also achieve similar standardization of lymph node dissection as routine thoracotomy.
Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Single-direction Four-hole Complete Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy HUANG Jia, ZHAO Xiao-jing, LIN Hao, TAN Qiang, DING Zheng-ping, LUO Qing-quan. (Shanghai Lung Tumor Clinical Medical Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai 200030, P. R. China) Corresponding author：LUO Qing-quan, Email：luoqingquan@hotmail. com Abstract： Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of single-direction four-hole video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Between January 2007 and December 2010, 428 patients with NSCLC were surgically treated by single-direction complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in Shanghai Chest Hospital. There were 186 males and 242 females; aged 33 to 78 years. All the patients were diagnosed as primary NSCLC at early clinical stage. Among the 428 patients, 134 patients underwent right upper lobectomy, 48 patients underwent right middle lobectomy, 98 patients underwent right lower lobectomy, 4 patients underwent right middle and lower lobectomy, 72 patients underwent left upper lobectomy, and 72 patients underwent left lower lobectomy. All the 428 patients were divided into two groups according to their surgical approach：a three-hole group (300 patients) and a four-hole group (128 patients).The clinical results of the two groups were analyzed. Results A total of 412 patients underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, and 16 patients (3.7%) underwent conversion to open surgery. The average operation time was 132.1 (120-180) min, average length of incision was 3.7 (3-5) cm, and average blood loss was 150.0 (50-800) ml. There was no statistical difference in extubation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. But the operation time of the four-hole group is significantly shorter than that of the three-hole group （P＜0.05）. The 16 patients who underwent conversion to open surgery received intraoperative blood transfusion. Five patients died of severe pulmonary infection, pulmonary embolism, and acute cerebral infarction. Fifty two patients had squamous cancer, 340 patients had adenocarcinoma, 20 patients had adenosquamous carcinoma, 8 patients had poorly differentiated carcinoma, 6 patients had big cell lung cancer, and 2 patients had carcinoid. Postoperative persistent lung air leak occurred in 4 patients, thoracic empyema in 2 patients, pulmonary infection in 4 patients, arrhythmia in 26 patients, pulmonary embolism in 2 patients, chylothorax in 2 patients, and acute cerebral infarction in 2 patients. The overall 3-year survival rate was 83.6%（358/428）. Conclusion Single-direction four-hole complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is feasible, safe and consistent with the operation standard in the surgical treatment for NSCLC patient. It is also helpful to reduce the operation time and facilitate lymph node dissection. Key words： Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery； Lobectomy； Single-direction； Four-hole； Non-small cell lung cancer