ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of naked eye 3D thoracoscopic surgery in minimally invasive esophagectomy.MethodsClinical data of 65 patients, including 50 males and 15 females aged 47-72 years, with esophageal cancer who underwent minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy from October 2018 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods including a naked eye 3D thoracoscopic group (group A: 30 patients) and a traditional 2D thoracoscopic group (group B: 35 patients). The effects of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe operation time in the group A was significantly shorter than that in the group B (P<0.05). The number of dissected lymph nodes in the group A was more than that in the group B (P<0.05). The thoracic drainage volumes on the 1th-3th days after operation in the group A were significantly larger than those in the group B (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups on the 4th-5th days after operation (P>0.05). The indwelling time in the group A was longer than that in the group B (P<0.05). Postoperative hospital stay, pulmonary infection, arrhythmia, anastomotic leakage, and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionNaked eye 3D thoracoscopic surgery for minimally invasive esophagectomy is a safe and effective surgical procedure. Compared with traditional 2D minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery, it is safer in operation and more thorough in clearing lymph nodes. The operation is more efficient and can be promoted.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of 3D thoracoscopic surgery in uniportal lobectomy.MethodsClinical data of 248 patients with lung cancer who underwent uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy in our hospital from September 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods, a 3D thoracoscopic group (76 patients, including 52 males and 24 females with an average age of 58.59±7.62 years) and a 2D thoracoscopic group (172 patients, including 102 males and 70 females with an average age of 57.75±8.59 years). Statistical analysis of clinical and pathological data, lymph node dissection, surgical complications, postoperative hospital stay, etc was performed.ResultsCompared with the 2D thoracoscopic group, the 3D thoracoscopic group had shorter operation time, more lymph nodes dissected and pleural effusion on the first day after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the postoperative chest tube duration, postoperative hospital stay, incidence of pulmonary infection, arrhythmia, bronchopleural fistula, or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between the two groups.ConclusionCompared with the traditional 2D thoracoscopic minimally invasive surgery, uniportal lobectomy with 3D thoracoscopic surgery is safer and more efficient during operation, and lymph node dissection is more thorough, which is worth promoting.
ObjectiveTo introduce the application of mixed reality technique to the preoperative and intraoperative pulmonary nodules surgery.MethodsOne 49-year female patient with multiple nodules in both lobes of the lung who finally underwent uniportal thoracoscopic resection of superior segment of left lower lobe and wedge resection of left upper lobe was taken as an example. The Mimics medical image post-processing software was used to reconstruct the patient's lung image based on the DICOM data of the patient's chest CT image before the surgery. The three-dimensional reconstructed image data was imported into the HoloLens glasses, and the preoperative discussions were conducted with the assistance of mixed reality technology to formulate the surgical methods, and the preoperative conversation with the patients was also conducted. At the same time, mixed reality technology was used to guide the surgery in real time.ResultsMixed reality technology can clearly pre-show the important anatomical structures of blood vessels, trachea, lesions and their positional relationship. With the help of mixed reality technology, the operation went smoothly. The total operation time was 49 min, the precise dorsal resection time was 27 min, and the intraoperative blood loss was about 39 mL. The patient recovered well and was discharged from hospital smoothly after surgery.ConclusionMixed reality technology has certain application value before and during the surgery for pulmonary nodules. The continuous maturity of this technology and its further application in clinics will not only bring a new direction to the development of thoracic surgery, but also provide a wide prospect.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of 3D single-portal inflatable mediastinoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.MethodsClinical data of 28 patients, including 25 males and 3 females, aged 51-76 years, with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing single-portal inflatable mediastinoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy from June 2018 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods including a 3D mediastinoscopic group (3D group, 10 patients) and a 2D mediastinoscopic group (2D group, 18 patients). The perioperative outcome of the two groups were compared.ResultsCompared with the 2D group, the 3D group had shorter operation time (P=0.017), more lymph nodes resected (P=0.005) and less estimated blood loss (P=0.015). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the main surgeon's vertigo and visual ghosting (P>0.05). The other aspects including the indwelling time, postoperative hospital stay, pulmonary infection, arrhythmia, anastomotic fistula, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were not statistically significant between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionThe 3D inflatable mediastinoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, which optimizes the surgical procedures of 2D, is safe and feasible, and is worthy of clinical promotion in the future.
Objective To analyze the medium and long-term effectiveness of microendoscope-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for lumbar degenerative diseases in comparison with conventional tubular retractor-assisted MIS-TLIF. Methods Between November 2008 and March 2013, 53 patients with single segment lumbar degenerative diseases were enrolled. According to the different working channel performed, 28 patients were treated by microendoscope-assisted MIS-TLIF (observation group), while the remaining cases received conventional tubular retractor-assisted MIS-TLIF via Wiltse approach (control group). Preoperative baseline data, including age, gender, body mass index, disease etiology, operated level, the ration for requiring bilateral canal decompression, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) socre of low back pain and leg pain, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, postoperative analgesic drug dose, postoperation in-bed time, and perioperative complication incidence were recorded respectively and compared between the two groups. Radiographic evaluation of interbody fusion was performed based on Bridwell grading system at 2 years after operation. VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain, JOA score, and ODI score were assessed before operation, at 2 years after operation, and at last follow-up respectively. Surgical outcome satisfaction was assessed by modified MacNab criteria at last follow-up. Results When compared with those in control group, both intraoperative blood loss and postoperative analgesic drug dose were significantly decreased in observation group (P<0.05); similarly, the operation time and intraoperative fluoroscopy time were also significantly increased in observation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of postoperative in-bed time between the two groups (t=–0.812, P=0.420). Both groups were followed up 6-10.3 years, with an average of 7.9 years. Regarding perioperative complication, its incidence was 14.3% and 20.0% in observation group and control group, respectively, showing no significant difference between both groups (χ2=0.306, P=0.580). Specifically, there were intraspinal hematoma formation in 1 case, incision infection in 1 case, urinary infection in 1 case, transient delirium in 1 case in observation group. By contrast, there were dural tear and cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 1 case, urinary infection in 1 case, pneumonia in 1 case, transient delirium in 2 cases in control group. Bridwell criterion was used to judge the intervertebral fusion at 2 years after operation, the fusion rates of observation group and control group were 92.9% and 92.0%, respectively, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.162, P=0.687). At both 2-year postoperatively and last follow-up, the VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain, JOA score, and ODI score were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.01), whereas no significant difference between the two groups at either time point was found (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the results of patients’ satisfaction with surgery evaluated by modified MacNab criteria, and the excellent and good rates of the observation group and the control group were 96.4% and 92.0%, respectively, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.485, P=0.486). Conclusion The medium and long-term effectiveness of microendoscope-assisted MIS-TLIF are similar to those of conventional tubular retractor-assisted MIS-TLIF for lumbar degenerative diseases. The former operation has the additional advantages in terms of more clear surgical site visually, less intraoperative blood loss, and reduced postoperative analgesic dose, all of which seem more feasible to clinical teaching.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term follow-up results of inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.MethodsClinical data of 102 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy were enrolled in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods, including a single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy group (group A, n=59, 53 males and 6 females, aged 63.3±7.6 years, ranging from 45 to 75 years) and a video-assisted thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy group (group B, n=43, 35 males and 8 females, aged 66.7±6.7 years, ranging from 50-82 years). The short-term follow-up results of the two groups were compared.ResultsCompared with the group A, the rate of postoperative pulmonary complication of the group B was significantly lower (18.64% vs. 4.65%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in other postoperative complications (P>0.05). The 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates were 96.61%, 89.83%, and 73.33%, respectively in the group A, and were 95.35%, 93.02%, and 79.17%, respectively in the group B. There was no significant difference in short-term survival rate after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionIn the treatment of esophageal cancer, the incidence of pulmonary complications of inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy is lower than that of traditional video-assisted thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy, and there is no significant difference in other postoperative complications or short-term survival rate between the two methods. Inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy for radical esophageal cancer is a relatively safe surgical method with good short-term curative effects, and long-term curative effects need to be further tested.
Mixed reality is a new digital hologram technology after virtual reality and augmented reality, which combines the real world with the virtual world to form a new visualization environment. At present, mixed reality has been applied in various fields, but its application in medical field is still in the exploratory stage. With the rapid development of the digital age, the prospect of the combination of mixed reality and medicine is boundless. It is believed that mixed reality will bring subversive changes in medical training, disease diagnosis, doctor-patient communication, clinical diagnosis, treatment and so on in the near future. In this paper, the application of mixed reality in medicine was summarized.
Objective To analyze the technical notes, effectiveness, and current issues of real-time three-dimensional CT navigation-guided full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion. Methods Between April 2020 and October 2021, a total of 27 patients received real-time three-dimensional CT navigation-guided full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion. There were 18 males and 9 females with an average age of 63.2 years (range, 48-84 years). There were 6 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, 1 case of lumbar instability, 9 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis with instability, 3 cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis, 6 cases of isthmus spondylolisthesis, and 2 cases of recurrent lumbar disc herniation. All patients showed neurological symptoms before operation (ipsilateral symptom for 15 cases and bilateral symptom for 12 cases). The symptom duration was 1-300 months (median, 24 months). The operations were performed via transforaminal approach in 8 cases, trans-facet joint approach in 18 cases, and combined approaches in 1 case. A total of 32 levels were fused, including 23 single-level cases, 3 two-level cases, and 1 three-level case. Lumbar fusion segment was L2, 3 in 1 case, L3, 4 in 4 cases, L4, 5 in 20 cases, and L5, S1 in 7 cases. The operation time, intraoperative estimated blood loss (IEBL), and perioperative complications were recorded. The improvement of intervertebral space height at fusion level was measured, and the accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) and Cage placement was also evaluated based on CT images performed at 1 week postoperatively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score for both low back pain and leg pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated before operation, at 1 week postoperatively, and at last follow-up. Satisfaction to effectivenss were assessed by patients using modified MacNab criteria at last follow-up. Results The operation time was ranged from 255 to 805 minutes (mean, 424.9 minutes). IEBL was 150-290 mL (mean, 219.3 mL). All patients received follow-up with the duration from 4 to 22 months (mean, 12.4 months). At 1 week postoperatively and last follow-up, VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain, JOA score, and ODI were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the clinical indicators were similar in comparison with those at 1 week postoperatively (P>0.05). There were 26 patients and 1 patient who respectively ranked excellent and mild in terms of effectiveness according to the modified MacNab criteria, with the excellent and good rate of 96.3%. There was 1 patient who suffered from incomplete injury of L5 nerve root and partial neurological function recovered after 3-month conservative treatments. There were 118 implanted PPSs, and 116 of them were implanted under navigation. There were 33 Cages that were implanted under navigation. The accuracy of PPS and Cage placement was 99.1% and 97.0% respectively based on CT performed at 1 week postoperatively. The postoperative intervertebral space height was significantly increased in comparison with that before operation (P<0.05). During follow-up, mild Cage subsidence was observed in 1 patient, whereas no fixation loosing was found. Conclusion Real-time three-dimensional CT navigation-guided full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion has great safety and effectiveness with satisfactory preliminary clinical results. Design and further improvement of surgical equipment and instruments are expected to resolve the current technical difficulties.