Objective To assess the clinical value of a novel surgical technique—Tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in the resection of anterior mediastinal masses. Methods Patients who underwent tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via balance-shaped sternal elevation device in anterior mediastinal masses process at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March to April 2025 were included, and their clinical data were analyzed. Results A total of 4 patients were included, with 2 males and 2 females, aged 58-75 years. The diameter of the tumor was 2.5-3.0 cm. The operation time was 60.0-150.0 min, intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 mL, pain score on the 3rd day after surgery was 0 points, and postoperative hospital stay was 2-3 days. All patients achieved complete resection of the masses and thymus without perioperative complications. ConclusionThe tubeless subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with percutaneous suspension technique via balance-shaped sternal elevation device technique optimizes surgical visualization and instrument maneuverability while avoiding complications related to conventional anesthesia and tubing, thereby markedly enhancing the minimally invasive profile of anterior mediastinal masses resections. In addition to maintaining procedural safety, this approach effectively reduces postoperative pain and accelerates patient recovery, highlighting its potential for widespread clinical adoption.
Objective To develop a novel methylene blue staining technique to localize small esophageal leiomyomas (<1.5 cm) and evaluate its feasibility. Methods Between January 2013 and October 2016, 9 patients with small esophageal leiomyomas (<1.5 cm) underwent thoracoscopic enucleation in Tongji Hospital. There were 5 males and 4 females with an average age of 51 years. We preoperatively injected 0.5–1.0 ml methylene blue in the submucosa adjacent to the tumors under the guidance of gastroscope. Then, we transferred the patients to the operating room. Results Staining was successful in 9 patients. The unstained tumor was exposed after the blue-stained mediastinal pleura and overlying muscle were incised longitudinally during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via one utility port. No abnormalities were detected in the esophageal mucosa. No major complications, such as esophageal leakage or esophageal diverticulum occurred. Conclusion Endoscopic methylene blue staining is safe and feasible for localizing small esophageal leiomyomas during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via one utility port. This method will enable enucleation precise and easy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a central venous catheter for thoracic drainage after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy compared with a conventional chest tube.MethodsThis study collected 200 patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy and systematic hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection between January 2018 and September 2019 in our hospital. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, including a group A (left with 28F chest tubes postoperatively) and a group B (left with 12G central venous catheters postoperatively). Patients in both groups were left with 2 chest tubes after upper lobectomy and 1 chest tube after middle or lower lobectomy. Duration and total volume of drainage, length of hospital stay, maximum visual analogue scale score and so forth were compared between the two groups.ResultsFinally, 151 patients were included for analysis. There were 73 patients in the group A, including 26 males and 47 females, with an average age of 55.38±9.95 years, and 78 patients in the group B, including 37 males and 41 females, with an average age of 59.86±10.18 years. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in drainage volume on postoperative day 2, and proportion of prolonged air leaks, hemothorax, chylothorax or drain reinsertion (all P>0.05). There was a statistical difference in drainage volume on postoperative day 1 [200.0 (120.0, 280.0) mL vs. 57.5 (10.0, 157.5) mL, P=0.000], postoperative day 3 [155.0 (100.0, 210.0) mL vs. 150.0 (80.0, 215.0) mL, P=0.023], total volume of drainage [890.0 (597.5, 1 530.0) mL vs. 512.5 (302.5, 786.3) mL,P=0.000], maximum pain score (2.29±0.72 points vs. 2.09±0.51 points, P=0.013) and length of hospital stay [7 (7, 9) d vs. 5 (4, 7) d, P=0.000].ConclusionCompared with conventional chest tubes, central venous catheters for chest drainage in patients with lung cancer after thoracoscopic lobectomy shortens the length of hospital stay and reduces postoperative pain.
Objective To investigate the perioperative differences between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy after neoadjuvant therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Clinical data of NSCLC patients who underwent VATS or thoracotomy after neoadjuvant therapy at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively collected. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 260 patients were enrolled, 184 (70.8%) patients underwent VATS and 76 (29.2%) patients underwent thoracotomy. After propensity matching, there were 113 (62.4%) patients in the VATS group and 68 (37.6%) patients in the thoracotomy group. VATS had similar lymph node dissection ability and postoperative complication rate with thoracotomy (P>0.05), with the advantage of having shorter operative time (146.00 min vs. 165.00 min, P=0.006), less intraoperative blood loss (50.00 mL vs. 100.00 mL, P<0.001), lower intraoperative blood transfusion rate (0.0% vs. 7.4%, P=0.003), less 3-day postoperative drainage (250.00 mL vs. 350.00 mL, P=0.011; 180.00 mL vs. 250.00 mL, P=0.002; 150.00 mL vs. 235.00 mL, P<0.001), and shorter postoperative drainage time (9.34 d vs. 13.84 d, P<0.001) and postoperative hospitalization time (6.19 d vs. 7.94 d, P=0.006). Conclusion VATS after neoadjuvant therapy for NSCLC is safer than thoracotomy and results in better postoperative recovery.
Objective To compare the perioperative outcomes of atypical segmentectomy between robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsThe data of patients who underwent minimally invasive anatomic atypical segmentectomy in our hospital from October 2016 to December 2021 were collected. These patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group according to the operation method. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to select patients with close clinical baseline characteristics, and the perioperative results of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 1 048 patients were enrolled, including 320 males and 728 females, with a mean age of 53.51±11.13 years. There were 277 patients in the RATS group and 771 patients in the VATS group. After 1∶1 PS matching, 277 pairs were selected. Both groups were well balanced for age, sex, smoking history, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, pulmonary function, tumor size, tumor location, and histological type. All patients were R0 resection, and there were no deaths within 30 days after surgery. The RATS group had shorter operative time [85 (75, 105) min vs. 115 (95, 140) min, P<0.001] and less blood loss [50 (30, 100) mL vs. 60 (50, 100) mL, P=0.001]. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in lymph node resection, conversion to thoracotomy, thoracic drainage time, total amount of thoracic drainage or postoperative complications (P>0.05). ConclusionBoth RATS and VATS atypical segmentectomies are safe and feasible for early-stage NSCLC. RATS can effectively shorten the operative time, and reduce blood loss.
ObjectiveTo compare the short-term clinical effects of Da Vinci robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of posterior mediastinal tumors, and to explore the advantages of RATS posterior mediastinal tumor resection. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent posterior mediastinal tumors resection through the lateral chest approach admitted to the same medical group in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between January 2019 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group. The clinical data were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 85 patients were included in this study. There were 39 patients in the RATS group, including 25 females and 14 males, with an average age of 47.6±13.0 years, and 46 patients in the VATS group, including 14 males and 32 females, with an average age of 45.3±14.7 years. All patients completed the operation successfully. The hospitalization cost in the RATS group was significantly higher than that in the VATS group (P<0.001), and the white blood cell count and neutrophilic granulocyte percentage on the first day after operation in the RATS group were lower than those in the VATS group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, white blood cell count and neutrophil percentage on the third postoperative day, visual analogue scale score on the first and third postoperative days, duration of analgesic pump use, postoperative 12 h oxygen saturation (no oxygen inhalation), postoperative down bed time, total thoracic drainage volume, duration of drainage tube retention, and postoperative complication rates were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no perioperative death, conversion to thoracotomy or serious perioperative complications in both groups. ConclusionRATS resection of posterior mediastinal tumor via lateral thoracic approach is safe and feasible, and its short-term effect is similar to that of VATS via lateral thoracic single-hole approach. It is worth further comparative study to explore its benefit and cost performance.
ObjectiveTo compare the effect on postoperative immune function between da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) , and to provide clinical support for more effective surgical procedures.MethodsA total of 90 patients undergoing radical resection of pulmonary carcinoma in our hospital from June to November 2019 were included. There were 49 males and 41 females with an average age of 62.67 (37-84) years. Among them, 50 patients underwent da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a RATS group) and 40 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a VATS group). The perioperative indexes as well as postoperative inflammatory factors and immune level effects between the two groups were compared.ResultsCompared with the VATS, RATS could significantly shorten the operation time and decrease intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). RATS also effectively reduced the increase of postoperative inflammatory factor level (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in postoperative immune function between the RATS group and the VATS group (P>0.05).ConclusionRATS is superior to VATS in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in perioperative indicators and inflammatory factors.
Objective To investigate clinical outcomes of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and summarize our preliminary experience. Methods Clinical data of 60 consecutive patients who underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command from March 2010 to August 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 37 male patients and 23 female patients with their median age of 52.1 （17-77） years. There were 7 patients undergoing left upper lobectomy， 19 patients undergoing left lower lobectomy， 12 patients undergoing right upper lobectomy， 3 patients undergoing right middle lobectomy， 17 patients undergoing right lower lobectomy， and 2 patients undergoing combined right middle and lower lobectomy. Results The average operation time was 161 （50-270） minutes， average intra-operative blood loss was 310 （50-800） ml， average number of lymph node dissection was 13.4 （6-29）， average postoperative thoracic drainage was 950 （250-2 800） ml， average duration of thoracic drainage was 4.6 （3-11） days， average intensive care unit stay was 1.2 （1-3） days， and average postoperative hospital stay was 7.7（4-14） days. None of the patients had any severe postoperative complication. Fifty-two patients were followed up for 7 to 24 months， and 8 patients were lost during follow-up. During follow-up， 5 patients had lung cancer metastases， including 2 patients with mediastinal lymph node metastases and 3 patients with distant metastases. After chemoradiotherapy，3 patients lived well but 2 patients died. None of the other patients had any severe complication during follow-up. Conclusion Complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is a safe and effective surgical strategy for patients with benign or malignantpulmonary disease.
Objective To compare video-assisted thoracic surgical technique (VATS) and conventional surgical technique (CSM) in mitral valve replacement (MVR). Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 93 patients in our hospital with mitral valve replacement between January 2010 and January 2015. The patients were divided into two groups including a VATS group and a CSM group.There were 43 patients with 25 males and 18 females at age of 57.43±5.65 years in the VATS group, and 50 patients with 27 males and 23 females at age of 56.40±6.32 years in the CSM group.The clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results There was no mortality. Echocardiography was normal in both groups during 1-year follow-up. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the operative time, aortic clamping time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, or ventilation time. As compared with the CSM group, the patients in the VATS group had a significantly lower complication rate, shorter chest incision length (5.23±1.36 cm vs. 18.21±3.89 cm), less blood transfusion (1.75±0.25 U vs. 3.15±1.50 U), less chest drainage (202.34±12.12 ml vs. 412.32±21.56 ml) and lower pain score (1.26±0.86 vs. 3.01±1.13), shorter time of postoperative hospital stay (8.20±2.36 d vs. 12.10±3.26 d). Conclusion MVR under VATS is not only technically feasible, but also with excellent clinical results.
Objective To monitor surgical quality and analyze learning curve of minimally invasive totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 150 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery in the Guangdong General Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015. There were 60 males and 90 females at age of 43.1 years. There were 60 patients with atrial or ventricular septal defect repair, 12 patients with cardiac tumor resection, 53 patients with mitral valve replacement and 25 patients with mitral valve repair. According to the surgical sequence, all the patients were divided into 3 groups including a group A, group B, and group C with 50 patients in each group (every 10 patients as a sequence, every 5 sequence as a group). Surgical outcomes were compared among the 3 groups, and surgical quality was analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results Surgical failure rate was 6.7% (10/150). There was no in-hospital mortality. Aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU stay, duration of hospital stays of the group C were significantly shorter than those of the group A and group B. Analysis showed a significant learning curve effect in totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery. When surgical cases reached about 100 cases, cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time was shorter than the average value stably. Conclusion Totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery is safe and reliable. For the beginners, it needs about 100 patients of surgery to master the totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery.