Objective To investigate the changes of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function after lung volume reduction surgery. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 patients of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with single or double lung volume reduction surgery through thoracoscope in our hospital from 2013 through 2014. Ultrasonic testing was conducted peroperatively, on postoperative day 3–5, at 1 month and 3 months after surgery. Results Right ventricular stroke volume (61.00±10.54 ml vs. 38.34±10.04 ml) and right ventricular ejection fraction decreased (58.00%±9.00% vs. 49.00%±10.00%), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (23.35±5.07 mm Hg vs. 29.57±6.32 mm Hg) and total pulmonary vascular resistance (9.28±2.14 mm Hg vs. 12.05±4.36 mm Hg) increased with statistical differences (P＜0.05) on postoperative day 3–5. Right heart ejection fraction was 51%±11% with a statistical increase (P＜0.05) at 1 month after surgery. There was no statistical difference in indicators above between 3 months after surgery and before surgery. Conclusion Changes of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function may be temporary. Right ventricular dysfunction decreases, pulmonary arterial pressure, and total pulmonary vascular resistance increases on postoperative day 3–5 d. But the changes gradually recover in 1–3 months after surgery, and could be gradually restored to preoperative level.
Objective To explore the feasibility and accuracy of using indocyanine green fluorescence (ICGF) to identify the intersegmental plane after ligation of the target pulmonary vein during thoracoscopic segmentectomy. Methods From December 2022 to June 2023, the patients with pulmonary nodules undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy with intersegmental plane displayed using ICGF after ligation of the target pulmonary vein by the same medical team in our hospital were collected. Preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction was used to identify the target segment where the pulmonary nodule was located and the anatomical structure of the arteries, veins, and bronchi in the target segment. The intersegmental plane was first determined by the inflation-deflation method after the target pulmonary vein was ligated during the operation. During the waiting period, the target artery and bronchus could be separated but not cut off. The inflation-deflation boundary was marked by electrocoagulation, and then ICGF was injected via peripheral vein to identify the intersegmental plane again, and the consistency of the two intersegmental planes was finally evaluated. Results Finally 32 patients were collected, including 14 males and 18 females, with an average age of 58.69±11.84 years, ranging from 25 to 76 years. The intersegmental plane determined by inflation-deflation method was basically consistent with ICGF method in all patients. All the 32 patients successfully completed uniportal thoracoscopic segmentectomy without ICGF-related complications or perioperative death. The average operation time was 98.59±20.72 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 45.31±35.65 mL, and the average postoperative chest tube duration was 3.50±1.16 days. The average postoperative hospital stay was 4.66±1.29 days, and the average tumor margin width was 26.96±5.86 mm. Conclusion The ICGF can safely and accurately identify the intersegmental plane by target pulmonary venous preferential ligation in thoracoscopic segmentectomy, which is a useful exploration and important supplement to the simplified thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy.