Objective To find out the best time and investigate the indications for conversion to horacotomy in completely thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Between Sep. 2006 and Feb. 2009, 172 patients including 88 male and 84 female with the median age of 58.9 years, underwent completely thoracoscopic lobectomy. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 133 cases of primary lung cancer, 7 cases of lung cancer metastasis and other malignant tumors, and 32 cases of benign diseases. Among them, 46 patients had the tumor on the right upper lobe (RUL), 23 on the right middle lobe (RML), 31 on the right lower lobe (RLL), 36 on the left upper lobe (LUL) and 36 on the left lower lobe (LLL). Three incisions were made in all operations. The procedures of systematic lymphadenectomy and anatomic lobectomy were similar with routine thoracotomy. If there was mediastinal lymph node adhesion, metastasis or bleeding, the incision would be extended to 12-15 cm and the surgery would be converted to thoracotomy. According to whether the maximum tumor dimension was above 5 cm or under 3 cm, the patients were divided into two groups. At the same time, we also divided the patients into two groups based on whether thoracotomy was performed. The data of both two groups were compared respectively. Results All surgeries were carried out safely with no serious complications or perioperative deaths. The average surgical duration was 185 minutes, and the average blood loss was 213 ml. Thirteen operations were converted to thoracotomy with a conversion rate of 7.6%. Among them, 9 were interfered by lymph nodes and bleeding happened in 4 operations. Lobectomy was performed on 12 patients and pneumonectomy was performed on 1 patient after thoracotomy. For the 16 cases of tumor with its dimension larger than 5 cm, the average operation time was 187 minutes and the average blood loss was 203.8 ml, while for the 98 cases of tumor with its dimension smaller than 3 cm, the average operation time was 202 minutes and the average blood loss was 231.3 ml. The difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. Among the 13 cases of conversion to thoracotomy, the mean age of the patients was 68.7 years old and the average tumor dimension was 23.8 mm. For the 159 cases without thoracotomy, the average age was 59.3 years old and the tumor dimension averaged 27.8 mm. There was a significant difference between them (P=0.016). Conclusion Interference by lymph nodes and bleeding are the most important causes of conversion to thoracotomy in completely thoracoscopic lobectomy while size of tumor, fused fissure or plural adhesions can be always managed thoracoscopically.
Objective To investigate the application and techni ques of endoscop ic linear stapling device in complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, a n d to improve the safety and quality of the operation. Methods From September 2006 to January 2008,sixty consecutive complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lo b ectomies were performed. The patients include 30 men and 30 women with average a ge of 59.8 years old. Eight patients suffered from benign lung lesions, and 52 p atients suffered from primary lung cancers or other pulmonary malignancy. The op erations were performed under general anesthesia with doublelumen intubation a nd complete thoracoscopy.The procedures include 12 right upper lobectomies, 10 right middle lobectomies, 14 right lower lobectomies, 8 left upper lobectomies a nd 16 left lower lobectomies. All arteries, veins, bronchus involved were manag ed with endoscopic linear stapling devices. Results All the pr ocedures were successful with one conversion case（1.67%） due to tense lymph no des adhesion, no severe complications, as active bleeding, continuous air leak, foreign body reac tion or operation related death occured. Endoscopic linear stapling devices were used for stapling in 381 different procedures with average of 6.35 per case, am ong which 124 (2.06 per case)were for pulmonary arteries, 66(1.10 per case) for pulmonary veins, 60 for lobar bronchus and 131 for interlobar fissures.A period of 11.3 months (2-18 months) follow-up of all patients shows no dela yed bleeding, bronchialpleural fistula, pyothorax or pneumonia. Concl usion The application of endoscopic linear stapling device is one of th e major difficulty in complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Careful manipulation under some specific principles is the key for the security of the operation.
This guideline systematically reviewed and summarized the 20 years' clinical and basic research experience of minimally invasive treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PH) in China, and discussed the hot and difficult issues of minimally invasive treatment of PH. We have formed a new consensus of PH in terms of its definition, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and classification, surgical indications and contraindications, surgical procedures and management of complications, especially in the area of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis (CH). This guideline confirmed that endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) was the most effective treatment for PH and that CH was the most common side effect. In order to reduce the incidence of CH, eliminate patient's distress and improve patient's satisfaction, the guideline emphasized that the keys to prevent CH were to pay attention to pre-operative interview, communicate with patients, select patients carefully, avoid the enlargement of operative indication and optimize operative procedure. This guideline also introduced the advantages and disadvantages of various methods to reduce the incidence of CH. We provided this authoritative guidance document in order to avoid the surgical risk, strengthen the perioperative management and improve the sugery effect.