Objective To investigate the impact of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and open lobectomy on perioperative heart rate （HR） and blood oxygen saturation （SO2） of lung cancer patients，and explore whether minimally invasive surgery can enhance postoperative recovery of lung cancer patients. Methods A total of 138 lung cancer patients were chosen from 161 consecutive patients with pulmonary diseases who were admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University between September 2010 and December 2011. According to different surgical approach，all the 138 lung cancer patients were divided into routine thoracotomy group （thoracotomy group，70 patients including 53 males and 17 females with their average age of 56.1±9.7 years） and complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy group （VATS group，68 patients including 46 males and 22 females with their average age of 53.4±6.5 years）. There was no statistical difference in preoperative clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. Preoperative and postoperative （1st，3rd，7th and 30th day） numeric pain rating scale （NPRS），HR and SO2 were compared between the 2 groups. Results （1） There was no statistical difference in NPRS on the 1st and 3rd postoperative day between the 2 groups （3.83±0.79 vs. 3.93±0.67， 2.88±0.59 vs. 3.03±0.71，P＞0.05），but on the 7th and 30th postoperative day，NPRS of the thoracotomy group was signi- ficantly higher than that of VAST group （1.61±0.33 vs. 1.22±0.12，1.58±0.26 vs. 1.19±0.31，P＜0.05）. （2） Postop- erative sedentary HR of both VATS group and thoracotomy group were significantly higher than preoperative levels ［（84.13±17.21） / minute vs. （73.67±10.32）/minute， （86.13 ±19.67） / minute vs. （72.24±14.21） / minute， P＜0.05］. Postoperative HR of VATS group decreased to preoperative level on the 3rd postoperative day，while postoperative HR of the thoracotomy group decreased to preoperative level on the 7th postoperative day. （3） There was no statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative （all the time points） sedentary SO2 of both VATS group and thoracotomy group （96.34 %±2.11% vs. 97.12%±2.31%，95.33%±4.13% vs. 94.93% ±4.31%，P＞0.05）.（4） The changes of HR and SO2 before and after exercise of VATS group were significantly smaller than those of the thoracotomy group on the 3rd postoperative day ［（11.11±4.81）/minute vs. （18.23±6.17）/minute，3.1%±1.2% vs. 7.4 %±2.7%，P＜0.05］ . Conclusion The impact of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy on cardiopulmonary function is comparatively smaller，which is helpful for postoperative fast-track recovery of lung cancer patients.
Objective To study the distribution and drugresistance of pathogens isolated from patients who suffered from lower respiratory infections after thoracotomy and provide basis for rational use of antibiotics in clinical practice. Methods A total of 118 patients suffered from lower respiratory infections after thoracotomy in Beijing Lung Cancer Center and the Thoracic Surgery Department of Xuanwu Hospital between January 1,2006 and December 31, 2009. We performed a retrospective study on pathogens from their lower respiratory tract. Of these patients, 89 are male and 29 are female with a mean age of 64.6 years. Sputum specimens were obtained by sterile sputum collectors or bronchofibroscopes, and then were sent to microorganism laboratory immediately. Cytological screening was carried out before specimen inoculation. Bacterial culture, identification and drug sensitivity test were performed with routine methods. Results A total of 201 strains of pathogens from the lower respiratory tract were identified. There were 126(62.7%) strains of gramnegative bacilli, 66(32.8%) strains of grampositive cocci, and 9(4.5%) strains fungi. The four prevalent gramnegative bacilli strains with the highest isolating rate between 2006 and 2009 included 34(27.0%) strains of acinetobacters, 28(22.2%) strains of verdigris Pseudomonas, 19(15.1%) strains of Klebsiellas and 19(15.1%) strains of Escherichia coli. Verdigris Pseudomonas ranked first in isolating rate among prevalent gramnegative bacilli strains from 2006 to 2008, but it was replaced by cinetobacters (9 strains, 40.9%) in 2009. The most prevalent strains of grampositive cocci were staphylococcus aureus (35 strains, 53%) from 2006 to 2009. Gramnegative bacilli were most sensitive to imipenem and no grampositive cocci were resistant to vancomycin. Conclusion Gramnegative bacilli are the most common pathogens in lower respiratory infections after thoracotomy and show extremely high drugresistance rate. Drugresistance monitoring of pathogens should be promoted. It may contribute to rational antimicrobial therapy and effective control of infections.
Clinical scientists have paid more and more attention to the acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS), a severe complication after thoracotomy, for its high mortality rate. Compared with other surgical patients, patients who received thoracotomy often have a worse cardiopulmonary function and are prone to suffering from ARDS. Surgical treatment or injury, massive blood transfusion, respiratory tract infection, improper fluid replacement and ventilation are probable reasons to cause ARDS. Mechanical ventilation is an important treatment for ARDS，but ventilation with lungprotective strategies was proved to be the only therapy which can improve the prognosis of patients with ARDS. At present, thinking highly of and promoting the perioperative management, lessening surgical injury and active prevention are still very important measures to reduce the mortality after thoracotomy. This article is aimed to review the high risk factors of ARDS after thoracotomy as well as its treatment.
Objective To investigate the clinical value of using videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy（VATS lobectomy） to treat primary nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC) so that the videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) can be better used in clinic. Methods From September 2007 to December 2008, seventysix NSCLC patients were collected. Thirtyseven patients underwent VATS lobectomy(VATS group), 21 male and 16 female with an average age of 60.4 years. Among them 20 underwent videoassisted minithoracotomy lobectomy, and 17 underwent total thoracoscopic lobectomy. Thirtynine patients underwent conventional thoractomy(conventional thoracotomy group), 32 male and 7 female with an average age of 58.7 years. Perioperative clinical and laboratory parameters of the two groups were compared. Results There was no severe complication and perioperative mortality in both groups. There were statistical significances between VATS group and conventional thoracotomy group in incision length (7.6±1.9 cm vs. 28.5±3.6 cm, t=-31.390,P=0.000), postoperative dosage of dolantin(160±125 mg vs.232±101 mg，t=-2.789,P=0.007), postoperative chest tube time(chest tube output＞100ml,4.8±2.5 d vs. 8.1±3.2 d，t=-4.944,P=0.000） and postoperative hospitalization time(12.1±3.0 d vs. 15.7±4.7 d，t=-3.945,P=0.000). There was no statistical significance between two groups in operation time（t=1.732，P=0.087）, intraoperative blood loss（t=-1.645，P=0.105） and the number of lymph node dissection（t=-0.088，P=0.930）. The total hospitalization expenses in VATS group were higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group, but there was no statistical significance（t=1.303，P=0.197）. The serum levels of glucose at 1st day after operation（7.2±1.2 mmol/L vs. 8.4±2.2 mmol/L, t=5.603,P=0.000）and the total count of white blood cell (12.7±3.8×10.9/L vs. 15.1±5.9×10.9/L,t=5.082,P=0.004) in VATS group were significantly lower than that in conventional thoracotomy group. The prealbumin(PA) level in VATS group was significantly higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group（215.0±45.5 mg/L vs.147.3+50.8 mg/L,t=-7.931,P=0.000). Conclusion VATS lobectomy could clean lymph node completely. Its advantages include less postoperative trauma, lower acute phase response, mild pain, rapid recovery, shorter hospitalization time and less economic burden. It could be an operation approach for early NSCLC patients who have been strictly selected.
Objective To compare the surgical trauma between videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) and conventional thoracotomy, and to investigate the possible minimally invasive mechanism. Methods Seventyseven patients who had undergone consecutive operations from April 2005 to January 2006 were chosen from cardiothoracic surgery department of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Twentytwo cases had spontaneous pneumothorax diagnosed by chest X-ray examination, twentynine had patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed by color echocardiography, and twentysix had congenital atrial septal defect. According to lesions and operative methods, the patients were divided into two groups: conventional thoracotomy group(CTH group) and videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery group(VATS group). The concentrations of serum C-reactive protein（CRP），interleukin6 (IL-6)，interleukin-8（IL-8） and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were selected as indexes to measure surgical trauma. ARRAY360 specific protein and pharmaceutical analysis system were used to determine CRP automaticly at the day before operation and on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day after operation. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the concentrations of IL-6，IL-8 and TNF-α. Clinical indexes such as operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, intraoperative blood lost, postoperative analgesic time and hospitalization time were analyzed and compared. Results Under the condition that patients had the same diseases, there was no statistical significance in preoperative concentrations of serum CRP，IL-6，IL-8 and TNFα between VATS group and CTH group（P=0.067, 0.062, 0.053,0.064）. The concentrations of serum CRP(P=0.045,0.043,0.044), IL-6(P=0.042，0.032，0.039), IL-8(P=0.046，0.045，0.048) and TNF-α(P=0.041，0.043，0.043) on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day after operation were significantly lower in VATS group than that in CTH group (Plt;0.05). Compared with CTH group, there were less blood lost（P=0.032）, shorter postoperative analgesic time and hospitalization time（P=0.041） in VATS group. There was no statistical significance in CPB time between two groups. However, hospitalization time varied with different diseases. Conclusion Compared with conventional thoracotomy，videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery has less surgical trauma, less intraoperative blood lost, shorter postoperative analgesic time, and can make patients recover rapidly. So it is worth spreading.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of lung-protective strategies of ventilation (LPSV) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients after thoracic operation. Methods-Thirtyseven ARDS patients without preoperative complications who had underwent thoracic surgery successfully were divided into the conventional mechanical ventilation group (CMV group, n=20) and lungprotective strategies of ventilation group (LPSV group，n=17). Results of arterial blood gas, index of oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2), airway plateau pressure (Pplat), inspiration peak pressure (PIP), PEEP, after ventilation treatment 24 h and mechanical ventilation time， pulmonary barotrauma and so on were observed. Results The mechanical ventilation time， pulmonary barotrauma and mortality of the LPSV group were 7.3d, 5.9％ and 29.4％ respectively, which were significantly better than those in the CMV group(17.6d，15.0％ and 60.0％, Plt;0.05). peak inflation pressure (PIP)，Pplat(plat pressure) in the LPSV group were significantly lower than those in the CMV group (Plt;0.05). However, there were no significant differences including arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2),pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (PaCO2) and PaO2/FiO2 in two groups. Conclusion LPSV is more effective for the patients in the ARDS patients after thoracic operation compared to CMV, which can markedly reduce the ventilatorinduced lung injuryand (VILI) and mortality.
Objective To investigate the causes and prevention of cardiopulmonary complications in elderly patients after thoracotomy. Methods Respiratory and circulatory status were monitored and postoperative complications were documented in 58 elderly patients either aged over 65 years, with major organ dysfunction or underwent highly invasive procedures （experimental group） during July 2001 to Dec. 2003. The results were compared with those from 56 young patients（〈65 years） receiving thoracotomy in the same period （control group）. Results Patients in experimental group had significantly more preoperative cardiopulmonary co-morbidities and poorer spirometry than those in control group （P〈0.05）. Four patients died after operation in experimental group. There were significantly more postoperative complications in experimental group than those in control group [58. 6% （34/58） vs. 17. 9% （10/56）, P=0. 000], especially functional complications [51.7% （30/58） vs. 12.5% （7/56）, P = 0. 000]. The rate of respiratory complications was also significantly higher in the experimental group . Multivariance logistic regression showed that preoperative pulmonary morbidity （OR=5.4） and obesity （OR=4. 9） were independent risk factors for pulmonary complications after thoracotomy in elderly patients. Conclusions Cardiopulmonary co-morbidities commonly seen are responsible for surgical morbidities, especially the functional complications in elderly patients underwent thoracotomy. Respiratory complications are the major causes of death in the elderly after thoracotomy. Pulmonary co-morbidity and obesity are independent risk factors for respiratory complications. Supraventricular tachycardia is the major type of cardiovascular complications after thoracotomy and is predicted by preoperative cardiovascular morbidity. Close monitoring of cardiopulmonary status of the elderly may identify patients at risk in developing functional complications and help improve surgical outcome.