ObjectiveTo investigate effectiveness and safety of right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT) in surgical repair for intra-cardiac anomalies combined with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 patients who underwent intra-cardiac correction of congenital heart defects and PDA ligation simultaneously via RVIAT in our hospital from August 2014 to August 2019. There were 25 males and 9 females with an age range of 0.5-6.1 years.ResultsThe length of incision was 3.0 (3.0, 3.5) cm. The operation time lasted 110.0 (90.0, 121.0) min. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was 45.5 (38.8, 63.5) min and the aortic cross-clamp time was 22.5 (14.8, 34.8) min. The bleeding volume was 20.0 (13.8, 20.0) mL. ICU stay time was 17.0 (5.5, 22.3) h, post-operative mechanical ventilation time was 4.0 (2.0, 6.0) h, total in-hospital cost was 46 (39, 51) thousand yuan. There was no mortality or reoperation during perioperative and follow-up period. Within the median follow-up of 636.0 days, 1 patient had minimal residual ventricular septal defect shunt while no new-onset scoliosis, funnel chest or pectus carinatum was detected. No bilateral mammary developmental asymmetry was observed in the female patients during the follow-up period. All the patients’ parents or guardians were satisfied with the right vertical infra-axillary aesthetic skin incision.ConclusionThe minimally invasive repair for intra-cardiac heart defects combined with PDA via RVIAT is a safe and effective method with minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmesis.
ObjectiveTo explore the learning curve of endoscopic thyroidectomy using the gasless unilateral axillary approach for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 51 patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma who underwent an endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless unilateral axillary approach by the same surgeon from November 2019 to September 2020 in the Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to determine the learning curve of the technology, and the CUSUM learning curve was modeled by the best fit. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected, incidence of complications and postoperative hospital stay in different phases of the learning curve were compared.ResultsThe CUSUM fitting curve reached the top at the 18th case. As a cut-off point, the learning curve was divided into two stages: the learning improvement period and the proficiency period. The operative time of patients in the proficiency stage was significantly shorter than that in the learning improvement stage (P<0.05), and there were no statistically significant differences in other data of patients in the two stages (P>0.05).ConclusionThe CUSUM analysis method is used to accurately analyze the learning curve of endoscopic thyroidectomy using the gasless unilateral axillary approach for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, indicating that the cumulative number of operations required to master this technique is 18 cases.
Objective To explore the protection of the structure and function around the upper pole of the thyroid gland by endoscopic thyroidectomy combined with nerve detection through the gasless unilateral axillary approach. Methods From January 2019 to June 2020, 48 thyroid patients who underwent the gasless unilateral axillary approach combined with the endoscopy and nerve detection technology in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital were reviewed as the endoscopic group, and 53 thyroid patients underwent open surgery combined with the endoscopy and nerve detection technology as the open group. The protection of the functional structure of the suprathyroid pole were compared. Results In terms of operation time, the endoscopic group was longer than that of the open group (67.5 min vs. 54.1 min, P=0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative hospital stay and blood loss (P>0.05). Forty-seven patients with the endoscopic thyroid surgery through the gasless unilateral axillary approach effectively detected the superior laryngeal nerve (47/48, 97.9%), which was higher than that of the open group (40/53, 75.5%), P=0.003, and the exposure rate of hypoglossal nerve descending branch in the endoscopic group was also higher [31.3% (15/48) vs. 3.8% (2/53), P=0.001]. In the endoscopic group, the superior parathyroid gland was kept in situ during the operation, and there was no change of voice and cough after the operation. In the open group, there were 2 cases of autologous transplantation of the upper pole parathyroid gland, 2 patients had voice changes, and 1 case had partial upper pole banded muscle incision. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nerve injury complications, the rate of autologous transplantation of the upper pole parathyroid gland and the rate of anterior cervical banded muscle injury between the two groups (P>0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the levels of parathyroid hormone, blood calcium, blood magnesium and blood phosphorus between the two groups before/after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion During the endoscopic thyroidectomy through the gasless unilateral axillary approach, the nerve monitoring technology is combined with the exploration and protection of the superior laryngeal nerve on the surface of the medial cricothyroid muscle of the upper pole of the thyroid, and the fine capsule anatomy technology is used to protect the superior parathyroid gland in situ, which can more effectively expose the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. It is conducive to the protection of the structures around the upper pole.
Objective To investigate the clinical value on application of endoscopic parathyroiddectomy by gasless unilateral axillary approach, and perioperation management of patients. Methods Twenty-four patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were enrolled and were divided into open group (14 patients underwent open parathyroid surgery) and lumpectomy group (10 patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy by gasless unilateral axillary approach) according to the surgical method. All patients received the “5A” model management. The indexes related with perioperative conditions, postoperative incisional pain, and anterior cervical function were compared between the two groups. Results In the open group, 1 patient suffered from transient hoarseness after operation, 5 patients suffered from hypocalcemia on the first day after operation, and 6 patients suffered from temporary hypoparathyroidism. In the lumpectomy group, hypocalcemia occurred in 3 cases and temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred in 3 cases. There were no incision hematoma and infection cases occurred. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of hypocalcemia and the incidence of temporary hypoparathyroidism after operation (P>0.05). There was no case of incisional hematoma and infection, incisional pain, coughing and sputum excretion or painful swallowing with pain ≥3 in either group. The swallowing disorder index on postoperative day 3 and at 6 months, the scar assessment score and cosmetic satisfaction score at 6 months were higher in the open group than those in the lumpectomy group (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients underwent parathyroidectomy by gasless unilateral axillary approach have the advantages of good cosmetic results and preservation of the function of the anterior cervical region while safely removing the lesion.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of compression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach for Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fractures. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 patients with Ideberg type Ⅱ scapular glenoid fractures treated with compression screws combined with Buttress plate fixation through the direct axillary approach between January 2014 and June 2022. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 34 to 75 years, with an average of 56.0 years. The causes of injury included 4 cases of falling from height injury, 4 cases of heavy object injury, and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The time from injury to operation was 2-5 days, with an average of 3.8 days. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, complications, and fracture healing time were recorded. The Constant-Murley score, American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion were used to evaluate shoulder joint pain and function. ResultsThe operation time was 45-105 minutes, with an average of 79.0 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 80-200 mL, with an average of 99.2 mL; the hospital stay was 3-8 days, with an average of 5.8 days. One patient had poor wound healing after operation, and the wound healed after strengthening dressing change; the rest wounds had primary healing, and no axillary nerve paralysis occurred. Except for 1 patient lost follow-up, the remaining 10 patients were followed up 10-54 months, with an average of 26.4 months. The postoperative X-ray film examination showed that the fractures healed well within 8-15 weeks, with an average of 11.0 weeks. There was no complication such as fracture displacement, internal fixator failure or fracture during follow-up. At last follow-up, the patient’s shoulder joint flexion, abduction, external rotation (neutral position), and internal rotation (neutral position) range of motion, Constant-Murley score, and ASES score significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). ConclusionCompression screw combined with Buttress plate through direct axillary approach is an effective way to treat Ideberg typeⅡ scapular glenoid fracture, with advantages of small trauma, concealed incision, and good effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and feasibility of domestic MP1000 robotic surgical system assisted thyroidectomy via submaxillary approach in porcine animal model. MethodThe thyroidectomy process assisted by the MP1000 robotic surgical system via submaxillary approach for a Bama pig in the 960th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force was retrospectively analyzed. ResultsThe operation was performed as planned programme using the MP1000 robotic surgical system without opening, adding or lengthening the surgical incision. There was no mechanical problems during the MP1000 robotic surgical operation. The operative time was 53 min and the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 10 mL. There was no shaking of instruments and robotic arm during the operation, and the 3 surgical instruments cooperated skillfully, the establishment of surgical operation space successfully was completed, the thyroid blood vessels accurately and finely was dissected, and the separation, coagulation and cutting of blood vessels were smoothly completed. The recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid gland were delicately dissected and protected. The carotid sheath, trachea, esophagus, and other important organs around the thyroid did not be damaged. The master-slave mapping frequency was high, and there was no delay sense during the operation. The lens resolution of MP1000 was 1 920×1 080, the surgical field of vision was clear, no visual field was defected and the visual field was stable and not shaking, light source front and intelligent adaptive temperature control system reduced the fogging of the lens, and the lens was scoured for 4 times during the operation. ConclusionAccording to the preliminary results of the experimental animal in this study, MP1000 robotic surgical system can successfully complete thyroidectomy via submaxillary approach in porcine animal model.