Abstract： Objective To explore the method and effect of single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Methods From Jan. 2008 to Jun. 2010, 158 patients with pulmonary diseases were treated by single working pore VATS in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Their diseases included 6 kinds of different lesions, such as pneumothorax（inflammatory pseudotumor, hamartoma, lymphangiomyomatosis） , lung tuberculoma, and lung carcinoma. Seventy patients had definite diagnosis before their operation, and the others had their final diagnosis by intraoperative frozen section evaluation and postoperative pathology examination. All the resections were carried out by pure thoracoscopic procedures with two ports, one working pore and one observing pore. A 28-Fr chest tube was placed to the pleural apex. Limited lung resection was performed in 151 patients, single lobectomy in 7 patients, and simultaneous bilateral operation in 6 patients. Results For limited lung resection patients, the average operation time was 18 （5-60） min, and the average blood loss was 33 （5-95） ml. No patient needed intraoperative blood transfusion . Ten patients received an increased pore, including 6 patients with pleural cavity obliteration or abundant pleural adhesions, and 4 patients with intraoperative bleeding . The average postoperative length of stay was 2.5 （2-4） days, and the average medical cost was 17 884 （15 476-25 387） Yuan. For patients undergoing lobectomy and lymph node dissection, the average operation time was 128 （50-220） min, and the average blood loss was 180 （80-478） ml. No patient needed intraoperative blood transfusion. One patient received an increased pore. The average postoperative length of stay was 4.7 （4-7） days, and the average medical cost was 42 385 （38 965-57 695） Yuan. No perioperative death or severe complications were observed in present series. Conclusion Single utility port VATS is a safe and efficient procedure with good patient recovery. It is a method of choice for selected patients with pulmonary diseases.
Objective To investigate the effect of surgical treatment of patients with esophageal foreign bodies (EFBs), in order to provide a reference for its prevention. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 18 patients with EFBs treated in West China Hospital from June 2005 to December 2010. There were 13 males and 5 females with an average age of 57.50±15.28 years (30 to 82 years). All the 18 patients had a history of ingesting EFBs which were mainly animal bones (10/18). The EFBs were mostly in the upper segments of the esophagus (12/18). Sixteen patients had complications like perforations and severe mucosal injuries, while complications were not detected in the other 2 patients. Fifteen patients received surgical treatment, while the other 3 patients didn’t. Results As for the 15 patients with surgical treatment, the operative time was 136.33±92.86 minutes (50 to 410 minutes), and the hospital stay was 16.35±15.8 days (4.00 to 69.92 days). Three patients (of which,one aged at 78 years and one 82 years) died, among whom two died of multiorgan failure, and 1 died of respiratory failure. All the other 12 patients were discharged from the hospital. For the 3 patients without surgical treatment, the hospital stay time was 5.06±1.47 days ranged from 3.71 to 6.63 days. They were cured and left the hospital. Conclusion EFBs should be treated as early as possible to reduce severe complications. Surgery is still one of the mostly used treatments for EFBs. Senility and complications are the major causes of death. It should be comprehensively assessed whether the EFBs patients should receive operations and which operative procedures should be performed.
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the impact of shortterm preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on the exercise capacity of lung cancer patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）. Methods Between March 2009 and August 2010, 30 lung cancer patients with moderate or severe COPD were treated with preoperative comprehensive PR for two weeks in Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital. The sample was comprised of 18 males and 12 females with an average age of 62.5±7.7 years. Twelve of the patients had moderate COPD, while 18 had severe COPD. We collected information on the length of postoperative hospital stay for each patient,as well as any pulmonary complications. Results (1) The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in one second % (FEV1%), forced expiratory volume in/ forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC),and maximal ventilatory volume (MVV) (1.30±0.30 L, 59.19±18.00 L, 47.74±1200 L, 56.63±13.00 L) values after PR were slightly better than those before PR(1.24±0.40 L, 51.89±14.00 L, 46.59±10.00 L, 49.67±13.00 L), but not significantly so(Pgt;0.05). The results for carbon monoxide diffusion capacity were similar. (2) The sixminute walking distance (before: 502.67±157.00 m, after: 594.87±116.00 m), peak expiratory flow (before: 209.33±66.00 L/min, after: 255.33±70.00 L/min), dyspnea index (Borg index) (before: 0.26±0.20, after: 0.12±0.10), and fatigue index (before:0.24±0.20, after: 0.12±0.10) all improved significantly aftercomprehensive PR (Plt;0.05). (3) All 30 patients underwent surgery, and none died during the perioperative period. Eight patients experienced cardiopulmonary complications. The average hospitalization time after surgery was 8.0±2.4 days. Conclusion Preoperative comprehensive PR appears to significantly improve exercise capacity and reduce the rate of postoperative lung complications in lung cancer, patients with lower cardiopulmonary function.
Objective To compare the perioperative outcomes of atypical segmentectomy between robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsThe data of patients who underwent minimally invasive anatomic atypical segmentectomy in our hospital from October 2016 to December 2021 were collected. These patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group according to the operation method. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to select patients with close clinical baseline characteristics, and the perioperative results of the two groups were compared. ResultsA total of 1 048 patients were enrolled, including 320 males and 728 females, with a mean age of 53.51±11.13 years. There were 277 patients in the RATS group and 771 patients in the VATS group. After 1∶1 PS matching, 277 pairs were selected. Both groups were well balanced for age, sex, smoking history, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, pulmonary function, tumor size, tumor location, and histological type. All patients were R0 resection, and there were no deaths within 30 days after surgery. The RATS group had shorter operative time [85 (75, 105) min vs. 115 (95, 140) min, P<0.001] and less blood loss [50 (30, 100) mL vs. 60 (50, 100) mL, P=0.001]. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in lymph node resection, conversion to thoracotomy, thoracic drainage time, total amount of thoracic drainage or postoperative complications (P>0.05). ConclusionBoth RATS and VATS atypical segmentectomies are safe and feasible for early-stage NSCLC. RATS can effectively shorten the operative time, and reduce blood loss.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience of robot-assisted lung basal segmentectomy, and analyze the clinical application value of intersegmental tunneling and pulmonary ligament approach for S9 and/or S10 segmentectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of 78 patients who underwent robotic lung basal segmentectomy in our hospital between January 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 32 males and 46 females with a median age of 50 (33-72) years. The patients who underwent S9 and/or S10 segmentectomy were divided into a single-direction group (pulmonary ligament approach, n=19) and a bi-direction group (intersegmental tunneling, n=19) according to different approaches, and the perioperative outcomes between the two groups were compared. ResultsAll patients successfully completed the operation, without conversion to thoracotomy and lobectomy, serious complications, or perioperative death. The median operation time was 100 (40-185) min, the blood loss was 50 (10-210) mL, and the median number of dissected lymph nodes was 3 (1-14). There were 4 (5.1%) patients with postoperative air leakage, and 4 (5.1%) patients with hydropneumothorax. No patient showed localized atelectasis or lung congestion at 6 months after the operation. Further analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the operation time, blood loss, thoracic drainage time, complications or postoperative hospital stay between the single-direction and bi-direction groups (P>0.05). However, the number of dissected lymph nodes of the bi-direction group was more than that of the single-direction group [6 (1-13) vs. 5 (1-9), P=0.040]. ConclusionThe robotic lung basal segmentectomy for pulmonary nodules is safe and effective. The perioperative results of robotic S9 and/or S10 complex segmentectomy using intersegmental tunneling and pulmonary ligament approach are similar.