ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of airway management drugs on the respiratory function and postoperative recovery of patients who had moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD) undergoing an open chest surgery. MethodThere were a total of 22 patients suffering from both lung cancer, esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma and moderate to severe COPD(of which there were 16 males and 6 females; accepting traditional operation 5 cases and minimally-invasive operation 17 cases; lung cancer 16 cases, esophageal cancer 4 cases and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma 2 cases as the observation group). To statistic the respiratory function and arterial blood gas analysis before and after treating with airway management drugs. And compare the postoperative pulmonary complications(PPCs) and hospital-stay with 50 patients who have no COPD(of which there were 34 males and 16 females; accepting traditional operation 17 cases and minimally-invasive operation 33 cases; lung cancer 35 cases, esophageal cancer 11 cases and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma 4 cases as the control group). ResultThere was a statistical difference of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1), forced vital capacity(FVC) and maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV) after the above treatment by 7 to 10 days and comparing with prior treatment(P<0.05). Partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2) increased with no statistical difference(P>0.05) while PaCO2 decreased with a statistical difference(P<0.05）. Comparing with patients without COPD, the incidences of PPCs and postoperative hospital stay were of no statistical difference(P>0.05). ConclusionPatients with moderate or severe COPD with airway management drugs(antibiotics,glucocorticoids, bronchodilators and phlegm dissolving agent) in perioperative period could improve the respiratory function and operation tolerance effectively, reduce the incidence of PPCs and shorten postoperative hospital stay.
Objective To evaluate the security and outcomes of thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy (TLE) versus open approach (OA) for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods From June 2014 to June 2015, 125 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma underwent esophagectomy through McKeown approach, including TLE (a TLE group, 107 patients, 77 males and 30 females) and OA (an OA group, 18 patients, 13 males and 5 females). The data of operation and postoperative complications of the two groups were analyzed retrospectively. Results There was no statistical difference in the duration of operation and ICU stay and resected lymph nodes around laryngeal recurrent nerve between the TLE group and the OA group (333.58±72.84 min vs. 369.17±91.24 min, P=0.067; 2.84±1.44 d vs. 6.44±13.46 d, P=0.272; 4.71±3.87 vs. 3.89±3.97, P=0.408) . There was a statistical difference in blood loss, total resected lymph nodes and resected lymph nodes groups between TLE group and OA group (222.62±139.77 ml vs. 427.78±276.65, P=0.006; 19.62±9.61 vs. 14.61±8.07, P=0.038; 3.70±0.99 vs. 3.11±1.13, P=0.024). The rate of postoperative complications was 32.7% in the TLE group and 38.9% in the OA group (P=0.608). There was a statistical difference (P=0.011) in incidence of pulmonary infection (2.8% in the TLE group and 16.7% in the OA group). Incidences of complications, such as anastomotic leakage, cardiac complications, left-side hydrothorax, right-side pneumothorax, voice hoarse and incision infection, showed no statistical difference between two groups. Conclusion For patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, TLE possesses advantages of more harvested lymph nodes, less blood loss and less pulmonary infection comparing with open approach, and is complied with the principles of security and oncological radicality of surgery.