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 evaluate the effect of early clinical interference strategies on preventing the conversion of acute pancreatitis to the severe form and aggravation of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods The patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to this hospital were divided into two therapeutic phases by different therapeutic methods from January 2001 to December 2008. Patients in the first phase (from January 2001 to December 2004) were treated by the routine management, and the second phase (from January 2005 to December 2008) by the routine management combined with early clinical interference strategies. Then, the ratio of conversion from acute pancreatitis to SAP and prognosis of SAP between two phases were compared. Results Compared with the first phase, the rate of aggravation of acute pancreatitis was significantly decreased in the second phase (4.48% vs. 21.18%), the average healing time of SAP, the incidences of systemic and local complications and the mortality of pancreatitis were reduced (P＜0.05). When early clinical interference strategies were performed, some adverse reaction and complications occurred in 35 cases, but without severe consequence. Conclusion Early clinical interference strategies may serve as a beneficial strategy on preventing the progression of mild acute pancreatitis to the severe form or halting the aggravation of acute pancreatitis.
Objective To investigate the impact of conversion to open in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical resection (LRR) on postoperative recovery. Methods The data from Feb. 2003 to Feb. 2007 of 176 cases who were given LRR and 32 cases receiving conversion in LRR (CRR) were analyzed retrospectively, and were compared about operation time, hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses, intraoperative blood loss, recovery time of bowel movement and postoperative complications with 59 cases of open rectal cancer radical resection (ORR). Results There were no differences among LRR, CRR and ORR about operation time, hospitalization time, intraoperative blood loss and recovery time of bowel movement (Pgt;0.05). The hospitalization expenses of LRR and CRR were higher than that of ORR (P=0.001, P=0.001), there was no difference between CRR and LRR (P=0.843). But the postoperative complications rate of ORR was higher than those of LRR and CRR （P=0.023,P=0.004）. Conclusion Compared with ORR, LRR has relatively conversion rate, and then increases the hospitalization expenses.
Objective To investigate the relationship between early fluid management and the conversion rate to surgery in patients with sever acute pancreatitis( SAP) .Methods The patients with SAP admitted in ICU in West China Hospital from July 2005 to June 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into four groups according to the quartile of the accumulated fluid balance in the first three days after admission in ICU( lt; 25% , 25% ～50% , 50% ～75% , and gt; 75% , respectively) . The major demographic data, clinical characteristics, mortality, and conversion rate to surgery were evaluated respectively. Results 208 patients were enrolled. For each quartile, the conversion rate to surgery decreased at first, and then increased along with the increase of the accumulated fluid balance. Significant difference existed between the second quartile with the lowest conversion rate to surgery and other three quartiles ( P lt; 0. 05) . Differences were also found in mortality and the score of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ( APACHEⅡ) on 24th and 48th hour between the first three quartiles and the last quartile with the highest mortality and APACHⅡ score( P lt;0. 05) . However, sex ratio, age, Ranson criteria, and the score of sequential organ failure assessment( SOFA) did not have significant differences among each quartile( P gt; 0. 05) . Conclusion Fluid management in early stage can influence conversion rate to surgery and mortality in patients with SAP.
ObjectiveTo understand the latest progress of conversion therapies on increasing surgical resection rate of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, evaluate the clinical value of prognostic evaluation model in surgical resection of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, further offer guidance in comprehensive treatment to control disease and improve the quality of life. MethodsThe literatures about new progress in surgical treatment of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma at domestic and abroad were reviewed, including the indication of operation, prognostic evaluation model, and how to increase the resection rate for liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma patients with conversion therapies. ResultsPart of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma could get surgeries after accepting positive conversion therapies.For the patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma did not accepted surgeries all the way, it was a safe and effective treatment method by different conversion therapies such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, and so on, and it could improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time. ConclusionsDoctors should pay attention to conversion therapies of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and promote the usage of the prognostic evaluation model in liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma.
Risk ratio (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) are two common effect measures in prospective studies. When describing the magnitude of clinical effects in the original study and meta-analysis, they cannot be used interchangeably. Selecting an appropriate measures and interpreting them correctly is critical in clinical research. In this study, we summarized similarities and differences between risk and hazard, compared differences between RR and HR in estimation methods and clinical interpretation. The magnitude of RR and HR estimated from the same studies were compared, and two feasible formulas converting between RR and HR were presented for meta-analysis.
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rate in China, which seriously threatens the life and health of Chinese people. Locally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer is characterized by high heterogeneity and poor prognosis, and durvalumab consolidation therapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the main treatment modality. In recent years, advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy have changed the treatment landscape of lung cancer. A portion of locally advanced or advanced non-small cell lung cancer that was initially unresectable is down-staged and converts to surgically operable radical resection after comprehensive treatment, and this surgical treatment strategy is called conversion surgery. With the progress of comprehensive treatment modalities, it may occupy an increasing proportion in thoracic surgery in the future. This article reviews the treatment modality and conversion surgery for locally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.