Abstract: Objective To explore the protection of pulmonary function by shortening the thoracic opening time inesophagectomy of esophageal carcinoma. Methods A retrospective review of the postoperative pulmonary function of 54 patients with upper esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy with triple incisions in Tongji Hospital from January 2007 to April 2010 was conducted. The patients were divided into two groups. Twentyeight patients including 25 males and 3 females aged at 58.9±8.2 years were in in the classic procedure group, accepting classical esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, there were 26 patients with squamous carcinoma and 2 with adenocarcinoma. Twentysix patients including 22 males and 4 females aged at 54.7±9.4 years were in the improved procedure group, accepting improved esophagectomy with triple incision approach. Among them, 25 patients had squamous carcinoma and 1 had adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the difference of the thoracic opening time, onelung ventilation time during the operation, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide differential pressure(PaCO2), pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2), postoperative mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, postoperative oxygen support days, postoperative inhospital days, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and respiratory failure between the two groups. Results There was a statistical difference between the two groups in thoracic opening time (4.7±1.2 hours versus 2.6±0.8 hours, t=7.51, Plt;0.05) and onelung ventilation time (3.7±15 hours versus 23±0.8 hours, t=4.23, Plt;0.05). The PaO2 and SpO2 on the 1st day and the 3rd day after operation were significantly lower than those before operation in both the classic procedure group (on the 1st day after [CM(159mm]operation, PaO2: F=516.03, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=129.63, Plt;0.05; on the 3rdday after operation, PaO2: F=213.99, Plt;005; SpO2: F=61.84, Plt;0.05) and the improved procedure group (on the 1st day after operation, PaO2: F=423.56, Plt;0.05; SpO2: F=184.24, Plt;0.05; on the 3st day after operation, PaO2: F=136.78, Plt;0.05). On the 1st day after operation, PaO2 and SpO2 in the improved procedure group were significantly higher than those in the classic procedure group (F=36.20, Plt;0.05; F=93.42, Plt;0.05), while PaCO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly lower than that in the classic procedure group (F=155.49, Plt;0.05). On the 3rd day after operation, PaO2 in the improved procedure group was significantly higher than that in the classic procedure group (F=29.23, Plt;0.05). The postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay time in the improved procedure group were significantly shorter than those in the classic procedure group (t=3.81, P=0.00; t=4.65, Plt;0.05). Conclusion Improved esophagectomy of carcinoma with triple incision approach can significantly shorten the thoracic opening time and onelung ventilation time during operation, which plays a good role in protecting pulmonary function and lowering the incidence of pulmonary complications.
Objective To investigate the effect of modular disscection of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (uniportal-VATS) for lung cancer radical resection and assess its safety and feasibility. Methods Data of 311 patients (171 males and 140 females, a mean age of 59.4±5.1 years) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received modular dissection of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in uniportal-VATS or three portal VATS (3P-VATS group) during March to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 208 patients (110 males and 98 females, a mean age of 59.2±5.3 years) in the uniportal-VATS group and 103 patients (61 males and 42 femals, a mean age of 59.7±5.1 years) in the 3P-VATS group. The effects of lymph nodes (LNs) dissection and postoperative clinical data were compared between the two groups, especially for N2 LNs dissection. Results There were no perioperative death in two groups. The overall number of dissected stations and LNs in the uniportal-VATS group (7.3±1.0, 17.5±3.0) were similar with those in the 3P-VATS group (7.2±1.0, 17.7±2.7, P=0.208, P=0.596). The dissected stations (uniportal-VATS: 4.3±0.7, 3P-VATS: 4.3±0.6) and number (uniportal-VATS: 8.6±1.1, 3P-VATS: 8.5±1.1) of N2 LNs were both similar between the two groups (P=0.850, P=0.587). The chest tube duration and postoperative hospital stay of uniportal-VATS group (4.4±1.3 d and 9.2±0.9 d) were much shorter than those of 3P-VATS group (5.0±1.3 d and 9.8±2.0 d, both P<0.001). No significant difference was found in morbidity rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Modular dissection of mediastinal lymphadenectomy could meet the requirment of radical resection and it is a safe and valid method which could be used during uniportal-VATS for radical resection of lung cancer.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive sternal depression by autologous force for the correction of pectus carinatum. Methods Between October 2011 and September 2015, 22 pectus carinatum patients underwent minimally invasive surgical correction of pectus carinatum in Tongji Hospital. Clinical data of 22 patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 males and 3 females with a mean age of 12.00±2.87 years, ranging from 6 to 15 years. Among them, 17 patients were symmetric malformation, and the others were asymmetric. Preoperative chest CT scan was performed on 14 patients. Haller index was 1.65-2.23 (1.97±0.15). All the patients underwent the minimally invasive surgical correction of pectus carinatum with a NUSS bar via sternal depression by autologous force. Results All the operations were completed successfully. The mean operation time was 55-120 (83.73±16.62) min and blood loss volume was 10-50 (28.18±11.63) ml. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3-6 (4.23±1.17) d. Postoperative complications included wound infection in 2 patients, minor pneumothorax in 3 patients, who were cured by conservative treatment. One patient suffering postoperative hydropneumothorax received drainage. All the patients were followed up for 6-48 months after discharge and very satisfied with the chest appearance following surgery. No patient complained of persistent pain. There was no displacement of the bar or the stabilizers. Nine patients underwent the removal of the NUSS bar without pectus carinatum recurrence. Conclusion Minimally invasive sternal depression by autologous force simplifies the procedure of correction of pectus carinatum with reliable and satisfactory outcomes.
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.
ObjectiveTo summarize our experience of surgical resection of multiple ground-glass opacity (GGO) in recent years.MethodsClinical data of patients who underwent one-stage resections of multiple GGO from November 2015 to May 2019 in our hospital were collected, including 13 males and 52 females at an average age of 56.0±9.4 years. The clinical effects and pathological types of GGO were evaluated.ResultsTime interval from first discovery to surgery was 8-1 447 (236.5±362.4) days. There were 48 patients with unilateral surgery and 17 patients with bilateral surgery during the same period. Except for 2 patients who underwent open thoracotomy due to total thoracic adhesions, other patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.2±4.3 days. No severe perioperative complication or death occurred. A total of 156 GGO lesions were resected, 80 lesions were pure GGO, including 58 (72.5%) malignant lesions and 22 (27.5%) benign lesions, with an average diameter of 7.7±3.3 mm and 5.5±2.6 mm, respectively. Another 76 lesions were mixed GGO, including 69 (90.8%) malignant lesions and 7 (9.2%) benign lesions, with an average diameter of 13.6±6.6 mm and 7.7±3.5 mm, respectively.ConclusionPatients with multiple GGO should be treated with anti-inflammatory therapy firstly. When conservative treatment is ineffective and no benign outcomes are observed, surgical treatment should be considered. And when lung function is sufficient for patients to underwent surgeries, the simultaneous unilateral or bilateral thoracoscopic resection is suggested, and the sublobar resection or lobectomy methods can be adopted flexibly according to the clinical features of the lesion and the rapid pathological results, which will not increase the risk of postoperative complications. Otherwise, surgical resection should be given priority for pure GGO lesions with a diameter > 7.7 mm and mixed GGO lesions.
ObjectiveTo investigate CT image features of ground glass opacity (GGO)-like 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia (COVID-19) and early-stage lung carcinoma for control and therapy of this acute severe respiratory disease.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients who received therapy in Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology between January 17th and February 13th, 2020. These 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients were as a COVID-19 group. And 80 GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma patients who underwent resection were as a lung carcinoma group. Clinical features such as sex, age, symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia and dyspnea, detailed exposure history, confirmatory test (SARS-CoV-2 quantitative RT-PCR) and pathologic diagnosis were analyzed.ResultsSignificantly different symptoms and exposure history between the two groups were detected (P<0.001). More lesions (61 patients at percentage of 85.92%, P<0.001), relative peripheral locations (69 patients at percentage of 97.18%, P<0.001) and larger opacities (65 patients at percentage of 91.55%, P<0.001) were found in chest radiographs of GGO-like COVID-19 compared with GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma. Similar features appeared in early-stage of COVID-19 and lung carcinoma, while pneumonia developed into more extensive and basal predominant lung consolidation. Coexistence of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma might occur.ConclusionConsidering these similar and unique features of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma, it is necessary to understand short time re-examination of chest radiographs and other diagnostic methods of these two diseases. We believe that the findings reported here are important for diagnosis and control of COVID-19 in China.
ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of lymphadenectomy in different regions for esophageal squamous cell carcinomas located differently according to the lymph node grouping by Chinese expert consensus. MethodsThe medical records of 1 061 patients (886 males and 175 females with a median age of 60 (54, 65) years with esophageal cancer from March 2011 to December 2017 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the pathological report, the lymph nodes were regrouped according to the Chinese lymph nodes grouping standard of esophageal cancer. The metastasis rate of each group of lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate of metastatic patients and efficacy index (EI) were calculated. ResultsThe upper thoracic esophageal cancer mainly metastasized to the lymph nodes of C201-203 groups. The middle and lower thoracic tumors mainly metastasized to the lymph nodes of C205-207 groups. The lower thoracic tumor had a higher rate of metastasis to the abdominal lymph nodes. According to the metastasis rate, the mediastinal lymph nodes were divided into three regions: an upper mediastinum (C201-204), a middle mediastinum (C205-206), and a lower mediastinum (C207-209). The EIs of lymph nodes of C201-203 and C205-207 groups were higher. For patients with C201-207 groups metastasis, the 5-year survival rates ranged from 13.39% to 21.60%. For patients with positive lymph nodes in each region, tumors at different primary locations had no statistical difference in long-term survival (P>0.05). Patients with lymph nodes of C205 group in the upper thoracic tumors had lower EI and those in the middle and lower thoracic tumors had higher EIs. ConclusionThe effect of lymph node dissection in each area varies with the location of the tumor. No matter where the tumor is, it is necessary to dissect the upper mediastinal lymph nodes, especially the lymph nodes adjacent to the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves. Group C205 should be classified into the lower mediastinal lymph nodes.
There was a male novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia (COVID-19) patient after pulmonary surgery at age of 61 years. The patient had no clear history of contact COVID-19 patient before surgery. He developed transient fever on the 4th day after surgery. The body temperature returned to normal on the 5th day after antibiotic adjustment. The patient developed fever and fatigue again on the 6th day after surgery. A chest CT scan revealed postoperative pneumonia. The patient was treated by ganciclovir and moxifloxacin hydrochloride. The patient's temperature gradually decreased on the 7th to 9th days after the operation. CT scan on the 10th day after surgery showed viral pneumonia, so we immediately raised the level of protection. The novel coronavirus nucleic acid test was positive. The patient was immediately transferred to the designated hospital for treatment. The patient was treated by arbidol, moxifloxacin, human immunoglobulin (PH4), ambroxol and other nutritional symptomatic and supportive treatment. The patient's condition is currently stable. Ten people in close contact with the patient developed symptoms, and their CT scans showed viral pneumonia. Six of them were positive in nucleic acid tests, and the others were still under quarantine observation. This shows that it is easy to confuse the imaging manifestations of pneumonia with novel coronavirus pneumonia after lung surgery. We should perform nucleic acid detection as soon as possible in the early diagnosis of CT and reformulate the treatment protocol.
ObjectiveBy summarizing the clinical characteristics of perioperative patients with cross infection of novel coronavirus in thoracic surgery ward, to guide the prevention and treatment of nosocomial infection during the anti-epidemic period.MethodsThe clinical data of 451 patients with chest diseases in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1st to 24th, 2020 were analyzed and followed up. There were 245 surgical patients and 206 non-surgical patients.ResultsIn the department, 7 patients (7/451, 1.55%) were infected with the novel coronavirus and all of them were surgical patients, whose preoperative imaging data did not reveal the imaging changes of novel coronavirus. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged 56 to 68 years. The patients with old age, smoking, surgery, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease and tumor history were more susceptible to infection. From the spatial distribution of patient beds, it was found that the distance among infected patients was greater than 1 m, and no cross infection was found in the other patients of the same ward. During follow-up, two family members of noninfected patients were found to be infected one week after discharge. However, there was no overlap of spatiotemporal distribution between the family members and the infected patients during the hospitalization period.ConclusionThe novel coronavirus pneumonia rate in the department of thoracic surgery is low, which may be opportunistic infection. At the same time, a good control and prevention of epidemic disease can reduce the occurrence of cross infection in the department of thoracic surgery.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and feasibility of the application of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) anatomic segmentectomy in single-stage bilateral thoracic surgery for the treatment of bilateral localized bronchiectasis.MethodsFrom June 2014 to June 2018, 19 patients with bilateral localized bronchiectasis underwent single-stage bilateral thoracic surgery with VATS anatomic segmentectomy, including 11 males and 8 females aged 38.0±12.5 years. The clinical efficacy of the surgery was evaluated.ResultsAll surgeries were successfully completed, of which 17 were bilateral VATS, 2 were unilateral VATS with the other lateral converted to thoracotomy. The average number of bilateral resected segments was 4-8 (5.9±1.2). Mean operation time was 330.0±40.0 min and mean blood loss was 150.0±60.0 mL. Mean ventilator-assisted breathing time was 6.0±1.8 h, mean duration of chest-tube placement was 4.0±1.0 d and mean hospital stay time was 14.0±1.5 d. Three patients suffered pulmonary infection and 1 patient received tracheotomy. No perioperative death occurred. Arterial oxygen pressures on postoperative day (POD) 1 (F=340.18, P<0.05) and POD 3 (F=131.26, P<0.05) were significantly lower than that before operation, arterial carbon dioxide pressures on POD 1 (F=46.62, P<0.05) and POD 3 (F=48.21, P<0.05) were significantly higher than that before operation, and pulse oximeter saturation on POD 1 was significantly lower than that before operation (F=210.82, P<0.05). The patients were followed up for one to five years without recurrence.ConclusionApplication of VATS anatomic segmentectomy in single-stage bilateral thoracic surgery for the treatment of bilateral localized bronchiectasis is safe and feasible with strictly selected patients. Postoperative airway management is very important. The surgery is worthy of wide clinical practice.