Objective To investigate the clinical value of using videoassisted thoracoscopic lobectomy（VATS lobectomy） to treat primary nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC) so that the videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) can be better used in clinic. Methods From September 2007 to December 2008, seventysix NSCLC patients were collected. Thirtyseven patients underwent VATS lobectomy(VATS group), 21 male and 16 female with an average age of 60.4 years. Among them 20 underwent videoassisted minithoracotomy lobectomy, and 17 underwent total thoracoscopic lobectomy. Thirtynine patients underwent conventional thoractomy(conventional thoracotomy group), 32 male and 7 female with an average age of 58.7 years. Perioperative clinical and laboratory parameters of the two groups were compared. Results There was no severe complication and perioperative mortality in both groups. There were statistical significances between VATS group and conventional thoracotomy group in incision length (7.6±1.9 cm vs. 28.5±3.6 cm, t=-31.390,P=0.000), postoperative dosage of dolantin(160±125 mg vs.232±101 mg，t=-2.789,P=0.007), postoperative chest tube time(chest tube output＞100ml,4.8±2.5 d vs. 8.1±3.2 d，t=-4.944,P=0.000） and postoperative hospitalization time(12.1±3.0 d vs. 15.7±4.7 d，t=-3.945,P=0.000). There was no statistical significance between two groups in operation time（t=1.732，P=0.087）, intraoperative blood loss（t=-1.645，P=0.105） and the number of lymph node dissection（t=-0.088，P=0.930）. The total hospitalization expenses in VATS group were higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group, but there was no statistical significance（t=1.303，P=0.197）. The serum levels of glucose at 1st day after operation（7.2±1.2 mmol/L vs. 8.4±2.2 mmol/L, t=5.603,P=0.000）and the total count of white blood cell (12.7±3.8×10.9/L vs. 15.1±5.9×10.9/L,t=5.082,P=0.004) in VATS group were significantly lower than that in conventional thoracotomy group. The prealbumin(PA) level in VATS group was significantly higher than that in conventional thoracotomy group（215.0±45.5 mg/L vs.147.3+50.8 mg/L,t=-7.931,P=0.000). Conclusion VATS lobectomy could clean lymph node completely. Its advantages include less postoperative trauma, lower acute phase response, mild pain, rapid recovery, shorter hospitalization time and less economic burden. It could be an operation approach for early NSCLC patients who have been strictly selected.
Accurate identification of intersegmental plane is one of the key steps of segmentectomy. Identification of intersegmental plane is usually based on differences in ventilation or circulation between the targeted segment and the reserved segment. In recent years, many methods of showing the intersegmental plane after blocking pulmonary circulation have emerged, and these methods have simplified segmentectomy and shortened the operation time. In this paper, we reviewed the related methods of blocking pulmonary circulation to identify the intersegmental plane.
ObjectiveTo examine the high-risk factors and prognosis of patients with superior interlobar lymph nodes (11s nodes) metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) located in the right middle or lower lobe.MethodsThe clinical data of 157 patients with NSCLC in the right middle or lower lobe from January 2015 to July 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 98 males and 59 females aged 23-86 (60.01±10.58) years. The patients underwent lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection along with dissection of 11s nodes. They were divided into a 11s (+) group and a 11s (–) group according to whether the 11s nodes were involved.ResultsThere were 31 patients with invasion in the 11s nodes, and the overall incidence of metastasis was 19.75%, including 13.64% with middle lobe tumors and 20.74% with lower lobe tumors. The 2R+4R nodes involvement was the influencing factor associated with 11s nodes metastasis (P=0.026). The 7th nodes and the inferior mediastinal lymph nodes involvement were high-risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients (P<0.05). The 11s nodes metastasis had nothing to do with the location of the tumor, and it was not an independent factor affecting disease-free survival.ConclusionThe 11s nodes may be a transit for 2R+4R nodes metastasis in the right middle or lower lobe lung cancer, and the 11s nodes should be cleared in the surgical treatment for NSCLC in either the middle or lower lobe of the right lung. The influencing factors for disease-free survival after surgery for lung cancer in the right middle or lower lobe are the metastasis of the subcarinal lymph nodes and the inferior mediastinal lymph nodes.
Objective To analyze and summarize the changes of the bronchus and vessels of right B2 downwards-shift. Methods The 5 280 patients who underwent three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography between January 2019 and January 2022 were screened. Based on the opening position of B1+3, we classified variation bronchial variations into a normal type, over type, and tracheal-bronchus type. Results Finally 6 patients were included with 1 male and 5 females, aged 29 to 71 years. According to our bronchial classification, there were 4 (66.7%) patients of the normal type in this group, 1 (16.7%) of over type, and 1 (16.7%) of tracheal-bronchus type. About arteries, 4 (66.7%) patients was the trunk superior (Tr.sup)+posterior artery (A.post) type and 2 (33.3%) Tr.sup+trunk inferior (Tr.inf)+A.post type. About veins, 2 (33.3%) patients were the Ⅰab+right upper lobe vein posterior to the bronchus intermedius (UVPBI) type, 1 (16.7%)Ⅰb+UVPBI type, 1 (16.7%) anterior+UVPBI type, 1 (16.7%) central+UVPBI type and 1 (16.7%) central type. ConclusionIn the right B2 downwards-shift, A.post exists, and the posterior oblique fissure is poorly developed (RS2 and RS6 are interconnected). Therefore, it is easier for us to dissect and disconnect B2 intraoperatively, but it is necessary to be vigilant for vascular damage caused by opening the posterior oblique fissure.
ObjectiveTo introduce a new method for identifying intersegmental planes during thoracoscopic segmentectomy using pulmonary circulation single-blocking in the target segment. MethodsTo retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 83 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy from January 2019 to March 2020 using the pulmonary circulation single-blocking method. There were 33 males and 50 females, with a median age of 54 (46-65) years, and they were divided into a single vein group (SVG, n=31) and a single artery group (SAG, n=52), and the clinical data of two groups were compared. ResultsThe intersegmental planes were identified successfully in both groups and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of intersegmental plane management (P=0.823), operating time (P=0.786), intraoperative blood loss (P=0.775), chest drainage time (P=0.659), postoperative hospital stay (P=0.824) or the incidence of postoperative complications (P=1.000). ConclusionThe use of pulmonary circulation single-blocking for intersegmental plane identification during thoracoscopic segmentectomy is safe and feasible, and the intersegmental plane can be satisfactorily identified by the single-blocking of arteries or veins.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical pattern of intrapulmonary lymph node metastasis and the significance of No.13 and No.14 lymph nodes biopsy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe clinical data of 234 patients with primary peripheral NSCLC who underwent systemic dissection of intrathoracic lymph nodes and intrapulmonary lymph nodes in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2013 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 159 males and 75 females, aged 36-89 (61.35±8.57) years. Statistical analysis was performed accordingly on hilar (No.10), interlobar (No.11), lobar (No.12) and segmental (No.13 and 14) sites of the samples of N1 lymph nodes after surgery.ResultsA total of 3 019 lymph nodes of No.10-14 were dissected in 234 patients (12.9 per patient). The 263 lymph nodes were positive with a rate of 8.71% (263/3 019) and lymph node metastasisa occured in 99 patients with a rate of 42.31% (99/234), among whom there were 40 patients of N1 metastasis, 48 of N1+N2 metastasis and 11 of N2 skipping metastasis. Routine pathological examination demonstrated No.13 and No.14 lymph nodes metastasis in 16 patients with a rate of 6.84% (16/234). In 886 dissected lymph nodes of No.13 and No.14, 86 lymph nodes showed metastasis with a rate of 9.71% (86/886). Of the patients with swelling hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes reported by preoperative CT scan, only 56.32% of them were confirmed with lymph node metastasis by postoperative histopathology; while 34.01% of the patients with normal size lymph nodes had lymph node metastasis.ConclusionIn the surgical treatment of NSCLC, it is necessary to detect the metastasis of No. 13 and 14 lymph nodes and non-tumor parabronchial lymph nodes, which is helpful to obtain accurate postoperative TNM staging and is of great significance for guiding postoperative treatment. Preoperative CT is not a reliable method to judge lymph node metastasis, particularly for intrapulmonary lymph node metastasis.