ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a central venous catheter for thoracic drainage after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy compared with a conventional chest tube.MethodsThis study collected 200 patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy and systematic hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection between January 2018 and September 2019 in our hospital. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, including a group A (left with 28F chest tubes postoperatively) and a group B (left with 12G central venous catheters postoperatively). Patients in both groups were left with 2 chest tubes after upper lobectomy and 1 chest tube after middle or lower lobectomy. Duration and total volume of drainage, length of hospital stay, maximum visual analogue scale score and so forth were compared between the two groups.ResultsFinally, 151 patients were included for analysis. There were 73 patients in the group A, including 26 males and 47 females, with an average age of 55.38±9.95 years, and 78 patients in the group B, including 37 males and 41 females, with an average age of 59.86±10.18 years. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in drainage volume on postoperative day 2, and proportion of prolonged air leaks, hemothorax, chylothorax or drain reinsertion (all P>0.05). There was a statistical difference in drainage volume on postoperative day 1 [200.0 (120.0, 280.0) mL vs. 57.5 (10.0, 157.5) mL, P=0.000], postoperative day 3 [155.0 (100.0, 210.0) mL vs. 150.0 (80.0, 215.0) mL, P=0.023], total volume of drainage [890.0 (597.5, 1 530.0) mL vs. 512.5 (302.5, 786.3) mL,P=0.000], maximum pain score (2.29±0.72 points vs. 2.09±0.51 points, P=0.013) and length of hospital stay [7 (7, 9) d vs. 5 (4, 7) d, P=0.000].ConclusionCompared with conventional chest tubes, central venous catheters for chest drainage in patients with lung cancer after thoracoscopic lobectomy shortens the length of hospital stay and reduces postoperative pain.
ObjectiveBy applying the mutual corroboration in the diagnosis, we aimed to improve the accuracy of preoperative imaging diagnosis, select the appropriate timing of operation and guide the follow-up time for patients with pulmonary nodules.MethodsClinical data of 1 368 patients with pulmonary nodules undergoing surgical treatment in our department from July 2016 to October 2019 were summarized. There were 531 males and 837 females at age of 44 (21-67) years. The intraoperative findings, images and pathology were classified and analyzed. The imaging pathology and pathological changes of pulmonary nodules were shown as a dynamic process through mutual collaboration and interaction.ResultsOf 1 368 patients with pulmonary nodules, 376 (27.5%) were pure ground-glass nodules, 729 (53.3%) were mixed ground-glass nodules and 263 (19.2%) were solid nodules. Among the pure ground-glass nodules, adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) accounted for the highest proportion (156 patients), followed by microinvasive adenocarcinoma (MIA, 90 patients), atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH, 85 patients), and benign tumors (20 patients). Among mixed ground-glass nodules, 495 patients were invasive adenocarcinoma (IA) and 207 patients of MIA. In solid nodules, patients were characterized by pathology of either IA (213 patients) or benign tumors (50 patients), and no patient was featured by AAH, AIS or MIA.ConclusionThe mutual collaboration and interaction can improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary nodules, and it supports the choice of operation timing and the judgment of follow-up time.