Objective To investigate application values and techniques of robot-assisted extended thymectomy for the treatment of typeⅠmyasthenia gravis （MG） using Da Vinci S system. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 3 patients with MG who underwent robot-assisted extended thymectomy in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from March 2012 to September 2012. All the patients were ocular MG （typeⅠ） including 2 men （33 years and 66 years old respectively） and 1 woman （21 years old）. Surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results All the 3 patients successfully received robot-assisted extended thymectomy without accessorial incisions. None of the patients required converting to open sternotomy or postoperative reexploration for bleeding. Intraoperative blood loss was 5-10 ml．Overall operation time was95-138 minutes, and thymoma dissection time was 26-80 minutes. No myasthenic crisis or other major postoperative complic-ation occurred. Postoperative chest drainage duration was 3-9 days and postoperative hospital stay was 10-15 days. Two patientswere followed up for 6-12 months after discharge without MG recurrence. Conclusion Robot-assisted extended thymectomy is safe and feasible for the treatment of typeⅠMG with satisfactory results．
ObjectiveTo compare the incidence of complications after removal of chest drainage tube in the early and late stages after sublobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to analyze the factors affecting postoperative pleural drainage volume (PDV), so as to explore the countermeasures and achieve rapid postoperative rehabilitation. MethodsThe patients with NSCLC who underwent minimally invasive sublobar resection in our hospital from January to October 2021 were enrolled. According to the median time of extubation, the patients were divided into an early extubation group (time with tube≤3 days) and a late extubation group (time with tube>3 days). The patients were matched via propensity score matching with a ratio of 1∶1 and a caliper value of 0.2. The incidence of complications and perioperative parameters after removal of the thoracic drainage tube were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed according to the PDV of all patients after the surgery. ResultsA total of 157 patients were enrolled, including 79 males and 78 females, with an average age of 58.22±11.06 years. There were 76 patients in the early extubation group, 81 patients in the late extubation group, and 56 patients were in each group after propensity score matching. Compared with late extubation group, there was no significant difference in the incidence of infection after extubation (10.7% vs. 16.1%, P=0.405) and pleural effusion after extubation (5.4% vs. 3.6%, P=0.647) in early extubation group, and there was no second operation in both groups. Univariate analysis showed that the following factors were influencing postoperative PDV increase, including smoking history (P=0.001), serum albumin difference (P=0.017), surgical approach (P=0.014), lesion location (P=0.027), differentiation (P=0.041), TNM stage (P=0.043), number of dissected lymph nodes (P=0.016), and intraoperative blood loss (P=0.016). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that smoking history (P=0.002), serum albumin difference (P=0.041), and the number of dissected lymph nodes (P=0.023) were independent risk factors for increased postoperative PDV. ConclusionThere is no significant difference in the incidence of complications after extubation between early and late extubations. Preoperative smoking history, excessive postoperative serum albumin decreases, and excessive number of dissected lymph nodes during the surgery are independent risk factors for increased postoperative PDV.
Objective To analyze the feasibility of totally no tube (TNT) in da Vinci robotic mediastinal mass surgery and its significance for fast track surgery. Methods A total of 79 patients receiving robotic mediastinal TNT surgery in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from January 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled as a TNT group; 35 patients receiving robotic mediastinal surgery in General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from January 2014 to December 2017 and 54 patients receiving thoracoscopic mediastinal surgery during the same period were enrolled as a non-TNT group and a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group. The muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation/laryngeal masking time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), hospitalization costs and postoperative complications and other related indicators were retrospectively analyzed among the three groups. Results Surgeries were successfully completed in 168 patients with no transfer to thoracotomy, serious complications (postoperative complications in 9 patients) or death during the perioperative period. All patients were discharged. Compared with the non-TNT group, the TNT group had significantly less muscle relaxation-tracheal intubation/laryngeal masking time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, VAS pain score, ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay (P<0.01); there was no significant difference in the total cost of hospitalization between the two groups (P>0.05). Between the non-TNT group and the VATS group, there was no significant difference in time of muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation, operation time and ICU stay (P>0.05). The non-TNT group was superior to the VATS group in terms of intraoperative blood loss, VAS pain scores on the following day after operation, chest drainage volume 1-3 days postoperatively, postoperative catheterization time and postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05); but the cost of hospitalization in the non-TNT group was significantly higher (P=0.000). Conclusion The da Vinci robot is safe and feasible for the treatment of mediastinal masses. At the same time, TNT is also safe and reliable on the basis of robotic surgery which has many advantages such as better comfort, less pain, ICU stay and hospital stay as well as faster recovery.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty and to summarize the experience of quality control and technical process management.MethodsFrom January to December 2018, our hospital completed robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty for 5 patients, including the upper right lung lobe in 2 patients, the middle right lung lobe in 1 patient and the lower left lung lobe in 2 patients. There were 3 males and 2 females with an age of 56.6 (39-75) years. The surgical approach was the same as the surgical incision of the robotic lobectomy. During the operation, the lobes were separated, all enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were cleaned, pulmonary hilum was dissected, pulmonary arteriovenous vessels and bronchi were exposed, and pulmonary vessels were treated. After exposing the main bronchi, the bronchi were cut off at the distal end of the lesion, and the lobes where the lesion was located (including lesions) were excised by sleeve type and the bronchi were continuously sutured with 3-0 Prolene from the back wall for anastomosis. After the anastomosis, no air leakage was found in the expanded lung, and the anastomosis was no longer wrapped.ResultsThe operation time was 147.4 (100-192) min, including bronchial anastomosis time 17.6 (14-25) min. Intraoperative blood loss was 60.0 (20-100) mL, and 20 (9-37) lymph nodes were dissected. Three patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 1 adenocarcinoma, and 1 neuroendocrine tumor. All patients showed negative results in the freezing pathology of bronchial stump during operation. All patients recovered well after surgery, without perioperative complications, and the anastomosis was smooth. Postoperative hospital stay was 10.8 (7-14) days. The patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months without anastomotic stenosis or other complications.ConclusionSince the robot system is a special instrument with 3D vision and 7 degrees of freedom for movable joints, the robotic bronchial suture is more flexible and accurate. The robotic sleeve lobectomy and bronchoplasty are safe and feasible.
ObjectiveTo compare the the effectiveness of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), in stageⅠ lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsFrom January 2012 to December 2018, 291 patients were included. The patients were allocated into two groups including a RATS group with 125 patients and a VATS group with 166 patients. Two cohorts (RATS, VATS ) of clinical stageⅠ lung adenocarcinoma patients were matched by propensity score. Then there were 114 patients in each group (228 patients in total). There were 45 males and 69 females at age of 62±9 years in the RATS group; 44 males, 70 females at age of 62±8 years in the VATS group. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcomes.Results Compared with the VATS group, the RATS group got less blood loss (P<0.05) and postoperative drainage (P<0.05) with a statistical difference. There was no statistical difference in drainage time (P>0.05) or postoperative hospital stay (P>0.05) between the two groups. The RATS group harvested more stations and number of the lymph nodes with a statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in 1-year, 3-year and 5-year OS and mean survival time (P>0.05). While there was a statistical difference in DFS between the two groups (1-year DFS: 94.1% vs. 95.6%; 3-year DFS: 92.6% vs. 75.2%; 5-year DFS: 92.6% vs. 68.4%, P<0.05; mean DFS time: 78 months vs. 63 months, P<0.05) between the two groups. The univariate analysis found that the number of the lymph nodes dissection was the prognostic factor for OS, and tumor diameter, surgical approach, stations and number of the lymph nodes dissection were the prognostic factors for DFS. However, multivariate analysis found that there was no independent risk factor for OS, but the tumor diameter and surgical approach were independently associated with DFS.ConclusionThere is no statistical difference in OS between the two groups, but the RATS group gets better DFS.
ObjectiveTo analyze risk factors for chronic cough after minimally invasive resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and explore the possible prevention measures.MethodsA total of 128 NSCLC patients who received minimally invasive resection in 2018 in our hospital were enrolled, including 63 males and 65 females with an average age of 60.82±9.89 years. The patients were allocated into two groups: a robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) group (56 patients) and a video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) group (72 patients). Chronic cough was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), meanwhile, other perioperative indicators were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for postoperative chronic cough and explore the prevention strategies.ResultsOverall, 61 (47.7%) patients were diagnosed with chronic cough after surgery, including 25 (44.6%) patients in the RATS group and 36 (50.0%) patients in the VATS group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the VATS group, the RATS group got shorter endotracheal intubation time (P=0.009) and less blood loss (P<0.001). The univariate analysis showed that age (P=0.014), range of surgery (P=0.021), number of dissected lymph nodes (P=0.015), preoperative cough (P=0.006), endotracheal intubation time (P=0.004) were the influencing factors for postoperative chronic cough. The multivariate analysis showed that age <57 years (OR=3.006, 95%CI 1.294-6.986, P=0.011), preoperative cough (OR=3.944, 95%CI 4.548-10.048, P=0.004), endotracheal intubation time ≥172 min (OR=2.316, 95%CI 1.027-5.219, P=0.043), lobectomy (OR=2.651, 95%CI 1.052-6.681, P=0.039) were the independent risk factors for chronic cough.ConclusionThere is no statistical difference in postoperative chronic cough between the RATS and VATS groups. The RATS group gets less blood loss and shorter endotracheal intubation time. Patients with younger age (<57 years), preoperative cough, lobectomy, and longer duration of endotracheal intubation (≥172 min) are more likely to have chronic cough after surgery.
ObjectiveTo compare the effect on postoperative immune function between da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) , and to provide clinical support for more effective surgical procedures.MethodsA total of 90 patients undergoing radical resection of pulmonary carcinoma in our hospital from June to November 2019 were included. There were 49 males and 41 females with an average age of 62.67 (37-84) years. Among them, 50 patients underwent da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a RATS group) and 40 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (a VATS group). The perioperative indexes as well as postoperative inflammatory factors and immune level effects between the two groups were compared.ResultsCompared with the VATS, RATS could significantly shorten the operation time and decrease intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). RATS also effectively reduced the increase of postoperative inflammatory factor level (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in postoperative immune function between the RATS group and the VATS group (P>0.05).ConclusionRATS is superior to VATS in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in perioperative indicators and inflammatory factors.
Objective To compare the short- and long-term survival of patients with stage T1N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods The clinical data of 396 patients with stage T1N0M0 NSCLC treated with RATS or VATS in our hospital from 2012 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 209 males and 187 females, with a mean age of 61.58±8.67 years. According to surgical procedures, they were separated into two groups: a RATS group (n=157) and a VATS group (n=239). The two groups were compared in terms of the survival and prognosis-influencing factors. Results The intraoperative blood loss and postoperative 24 h drainage volume in the RATS group were less than those in the VATS group (48±42 mL vs. 182±231 mL, P<0.001; 250±119 mL vs. 324±208 mL, P<0.001). The groups and number of dissected lymph node in the RATS group were more than those of the VATS group (5±2 groups vs. 3±2 groups, P<0.001; 17±9 vs. 11±8, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative 48 h drainage volume (P=0.497), postoperative intubation time (P=0.180) or hospital stay (P=0.313). The survival state and recurrence-free survival state in the VATS group were better than those in the VATS group (1-year survival rate: 98.7% vs. 94.8%, 5-year survival rate: 90.5% vs. 75.8%, 8-year survival rate: 76.9% vs. 62.1%, mean survival time: 93 months vs. 79 months, P=0.005; 1-year recurrence-free survival rate: 97.4% vs. 95.6%, 5-year recurrence-free survival rate: 94.8% vs. 77.8%, 8-year recurrence-free survival rate: 82.6% vs. 64.8%, mean recurrence-free survival time: 95 months vs. 79 months, P=0.004). Univariate analysis showed that surgical method, the groups and the number of dissected lymph nodes were the influencing factors for postoperative overall survival and recurrence-free survival. At the same time, the results of multivariate analysis showed that surgical method was a common independent factor for overall survival and recurrence-free survival.Conclusion RATS can obtain better survival in patients with T1N0M0 NSCLC, and RATS has more thorough lymph node dissection, less intraoperative blood loss and postoperative 24 h drainage volume.
Objective To compare the effects of anterior mediastinal tumor resection by the Da Vinci robot and video-assisted thoracoscopy via subxiphoid approach. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to continuously enroll patients who underwent anterior mediastinal tumor resection between 2020 and 2021 in our department. They were divided into a robotic group and a subxiphoid thoracoscopic group. The differences of general indexes (intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheterization time, postoperative hospital stay), postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS), perioperative declining levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum prealbumin and serum albumin were compared and analyzed. Results A total of 113 patients were enrolled. There were 76 patients in the robotic group (46 males and 30 females, median age of 50 years) and 37 patients in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (21 males and 16 females, median age of 51 years). Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative catheterization time and postoperative hospital stay of the robotic group were better than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (P＜0.05). The postoperative VAS scores in the robotic group were lower than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group, but there was no statistical difference (P＞0.05). Perioperative declining levels of hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not statistically different between the two groups (P＞0.05). Declining levels of serum prealbumin, and serum albumin in the robotic group were lower than those in the subxiphoid thoracoscopic group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Da Vinci robotic and subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries for the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors are both safe and reliable, with short postoperative hospital stay, mild postoperative pain and quick recovery. Da Vinci robot surgery has a slight advantage in the treatment outcome.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of totally no tube three-port thoracoscopic surgery (TNTT) for thymic tumor via lateral thoracic approach. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with thymoma admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from November 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a TNTT group and a single utility port video-assisted thoracic surgery (SVATS) group according to different surgical methods. The clinical data were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 111 patients were collected. There were 44 patients in the TNTT group, including 20 males and 24 females, with an average age of 60.11±8.64 years, and 67 patients in the SVATS group, including 30 males and 37 females, with an average age of 62.40±7.92 years. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the baseline data (P>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay and intraoperative blood loss were shorter or less in the TNTT group (P<0.05), and the visual analogue scale score 48 hours after the operation was smaller in the SVATS group (P<0.05). ConclusionTNTT has a good surgical safety, and can shorten postoperative hospital stay, reduce intraoperative blood loss, and has significant advantages in enhanced recovery after surgery, but SVATS can reduce postoperative pain in patients.