Abstract: Objective To explore the outcomes of videoassistedthoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of esophageal leiomyoma. Me thods [WTBZ] We reviewed and analyzed the clinical data of 87 patients with esophageal leiomyoma treated with VATS in Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University between June 2002 and January 2009. [WTHZ]Results [WTBZ]Videoassisted thoracoscopic leiomyoma enucleations was performed in 80 patients, whilea conversion to minithoracotomy was required in 7 others. All procedures werecompleted smoothly and the postoperative recovery was uneventful, without mortality or severe complications. The patients were drinking liquids from postoperative day 1 and were eating a normal diet from day 3. All patients were pathologically diagnosed with leiomyoma after operation. Followups of 6 months to 6.5 years (mean: 3.8 years) found no recurrence. [WTHZ] Conclusion [WTBZ]Videoassisted thoracoscopic enucleation can be the first choice for esophageal leiomyomas derived from lamina propria. Patients with esophageal leiomyomas of diameter gt;1.0 cm should be treated with VATS .
Mini-invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been employed in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal diseases for about 10 years. The potential advantages of VATS over thoracotomy are reduction of chest pain just after the operation and in the long run, lower incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and reduction of aesthetic sequelae. Thoracoscopic staging of esophageal cancer is to evaluate the invasion and metastasis of cancer, which is helpful for better selection of patients for appropriate treatment .Operation of esophageal cancer with VATS is prescribed mainly in the early stage of carcinoma, but it’s application is restricted due to the multiple sites of operation and complexity of procedures. VATS for benign esophageal diseases such as esophageal leiomyoma and achalasia is becoming the preferable choice of operation in qualified medical centers.
Objective To explore the minimal invasiveness and practability of combined video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with two trocars and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the treatment of esophageal leiomyoma. Methods Between February 2007 and February 2012, we retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 166 patients who underwent various surgeries for the treatment of esophageal leiomyoma. Among them, 62 received routine thoracotomy (group A), 49 accepted conventional VATS surgery with three trocars (group B), and 55 underwent combined VATS surgery with two trocars and EUS (group C). Then, we summarized the clinical indexes of patients in all the three groups for further comparative analysis. Results There was no significant difference among the three groups in age, gender, and lesion location, origin level and size (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between group A and C in blood loss, surgery time, intraoperative localization, postoperative incision pain, hospitalization expenses, length of hospital stay, fasting time, pulmonary infection, and the complications during the follow-up (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between group C and B in blood loss, surgery time, intraoperative localization, fasting time and pulmonary infection (P < 0.05). Conclusion Combined VATS surgery with two trocars and EUS is safe, minimally invasive, thorough with few complications, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
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.