ObjectiveTo report the effect and experience of the extended resection and reconstruction of superior vena cava(SVC) and innominate vein for invasive mediastinal tumors.MethodsA retrospective study of 11 patients who underwent extended resection and grafts of SVC and innominate vein for invasive mediastinal tumor in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2001 to 2003 was performed. Radical resection was performed in 9 cases, among which SVC and left innominate vein were reconstructed with pericardium patch in 2, with prostheses(ringed GoreTex) interposed in 7.The other 2 patients who had incomplete resection also underwent prostheses interposition for SVC reconstruction. During operation, SVC and left innominate vein were clamped in turn,to avoid total interruption of blood return, clamping time for each site was 22.15±6.29 min. The volume of blood loss was 1 342.86± 692.48ml during operation.ResultsThe tumor included 4 invasive thymoma, 5 thymic cancer, 2 primary mediastinal small cell carcinoma. The patency was good in the grafts with external ring support and no SVC symptoms were observed in all cases postoperatively. One patient died of respiratory infection two weeks after operation, others are alive till now. The longest patent and functional graft is 30 months postoperatively.ConclusionSVC and innominate vein reconstruction by prostheses interposition can effectively eradicate the SVC syndrome. Clamping SVC needs careful study. Attention to the invasive extention of tumor should be made to avoid palliative operation,because complete resection is most important for long term survival.
Endobronchial ultrasound guided tranbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new technology developed in the past 10 years. In the USA, EBUS-TBNA has been recommended as an important means for preoperative lymph node staging of lung cancer, and becomes a new standard for mediastinal staging of lung cancer. A large number of clinical data shows that EBUS-TBNA is a novel approach which owes the advantages of accuracy in diagnosis and safety in operating. What's more, its value in the diagnosis of some disease in chest has been widely recognized. The aim of this article is to review the current application of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of early lung cancer, diagnosis and tumor staging of advanced lung cancer, the relationship between EBUS-TBNA and traditional inspection including CT, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET) and mediastinoscopy, and the application value of EBUS-TBNA for superior vena cava syndrome and some non-neoplastic diseases.
Objective We modeled superior vena cava (SVC) occlusion in rabbits to observe the effect of different blocking time on brains. Method Forty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Group Ⅰ was set as a control group (n=10). Group Ⅱ was set as a 30 minutes SVC blocking time group (n=10). Group Ⅲ was set as a 60 minutes SVC blocking time group (n=10). And group Ⅳ was set as a 90 minutes SVC blocking time group (n=10). We detected the patho- logical and physiological changes in the course of the experiment. After the intervention, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of brain tissue homogenate in each group were detected. Brain sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). And we observed the edema and damage of brain tissue under the microscope. Results There was no obvious change on the content of MDA and SOD within 30 minutes interruption (P>0.05). When the blocking time was longer than 60 minutes, the content of MDA increased significantly (P<0.05) and the SOD decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared to the group Ⅰ and the group Ⅱ, the brain water content in the group Ⅲ and the group Ⅳ with a interruption time above 60 minutes increased significantly. And under the microscope, the cell edema and damage induced by ischemia and hypoxia increased significantly. Conclusion The blocking time of SVC within 30 minutes is relatively safe. But there would be significant brain edema and neurocyte degeneration when the blocking time is more than 60 minutes.
Objective To summarize the clinical experience of vascular repair and reconstruction for treating superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) caused by thoracic tumor. Methods Between October 2008 and June 2016, 26 patients with thoracic tumor and SVCS were admitted. There were 18 males and 8 females, aged from 27 to 70 years (mean, 45.9 years). Tumor was typed as B1-B3 thymoma in 13 cases, thymic carcinoma in 6 cases, large B-cell lymphoma in 3 cases, T lymphocytic lymphoma in 1 case, malignant teratoma in 1 case, right lung squamous cell carcinoma in 1 case, and carcinoid in 1 case. The tumor diameter ranged from 8 to 15 cm with an average of 10 cm. The patients had different degrees of neck, face, and upper extremity edema, jugular vein distention, and chest wall collateral venous filling. The superior vena cava pressure was 2.45-5.39 kPa. After excision of tumor and invading superior vena cava, 7 patients underwent superior vena cava reconstruction and 19 patients underwent artificial vascular replacement. Results There was no perioperative death, and the symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction were eliminated. Postoperative pulmonary infection, respiratory muscle weakness, and right chylothorax occurred in 4 cases, 1 case, and 1 case respectively. Twenty-four patients were followed up 2-92 months (mean, 37 months), and 2 patients failed to be followed up. At 1, 3, and 5 years, the survival rate was 83.3% (20/24), 41.7% (10/24), and 25% (6/24), respectively. In 6 patients with 5-year survival, there were 1 case of type B1 thymoma, 3 cases of type B3 thymoma, and 2 cases of large B-cell lymphoma. Conclusion For preoperative evaluation of SVCS caused by resectable thoracic tumors, vascular repair and recons-truction technique can be used to quickly and effectively relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life.