Objective To evaluate the safety，efficacy，short- and long-term clinical outcomes of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods Clinical data of231 consecutive patients with NSCLC who underwent complete VATS lobectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of NanjingMedical University between June 2006 and March 2011 were retrospective analyzed. There were 132 male and 99 femalepatients with their age of 15-81 （59.51±11.90） years. Preoperative cancer staging wasⅠa in 149 patients，Ⅰb in 50 patients，Ⅱa in 14 patients，Ⅱb in 13 patients and Ⅲa in 5 patients. There were 152 patients with adenocarcinoma，41 patients with squamous carcinoma，23 patients with bronchioalveolar carcinoma，5 patients with adenosquamous carcinoma，4 patients with large cell carcinoma，and 6 patients with other carcinoma. Follow-up data were statistically analyzed，and short-and long-term survival rates were calculated. Results No perioperative mortality was observed. Operation time was 60-370（199.14±51.04） minutes，and intraoperative blood loss was 10-2 300 （168.19±176.39） ml. Thirty-seven patients had postoperative complications including air leak，pulmonary infection，atelectasis，arrhythmia，subcutaneous emphysema andothers，who were all cured after conservative treatment. Mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 11.14±5.49，and meannumber of explored nodal stations was 3.66±1.52. There were 51 patients （22.08%） whose postoperative cancer staging wasmore advanced than preoperative cancer staging. Postoperative hospital stay was 3-36 （10.79±5.13） days. Primary causesof prolonged postoperative hospitalization included pulmonary air leak，pulmonary infection，preoperative concomitant chronic pulmonary diseases （COPD，asthma），and moderate to severe pulmonary dysfunction. A total of 228 patients werefollowed up for a mean duration of 40.83 months （22-82 months），and 3 patients were lost during follow-up. Overall 5-yearsurvival rates were 85.78%，52.54% and 32.70% for stageⅠ，stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳpatients respectively. Five-year cancerfreesurvival rates were 80.00%，45.37% and 20.99% for stageⅠ，stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳpatients respectively. ConclusionThe advantages of VATS lobectomy include smaller surgical incision，less injury and postoperative pain，quicker postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stay. Long-term survival rate is comparable to previous international and Chinese studies. VATS lobectomy can anatomically achieve complete tumor resection and systematic lymph node dissection. VATS lobectomy will become a standard surgical procedure for NSCLC patients.
Objective To evaluate the feasibil ity and effectiveness of percutaneous kyphoplasty in hyperextension position for treatment of stage II or III Kümmell disease. Methods Between May 2003 and February 2009, 17 patients with Kümmell disease (6 at stage II, 11 at stage III) were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty in hyperextension position. There were 5 males and 12 females with an average age of 71 years (range, 55-85 years). The involved vertebral bodies were T10 in 1 case, T11 in 3 cases, T12 in 7 cases, L1 in 4 cases, L2 in 1 case, and T12, L1 in 1 case by X-ray, CT, and MRI examinations. The effectiveness was determined by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disabil ity Index (ODI). The height and the kyphotic Cobb angle of the involved vertebral body were measured pre- and postoperatively. Results The operation was successfully completed in all the patients, and the incisions healed by first intention. Pain was alleviated or eliminated within 48 hours after operation; no spinal nerves injury or pulmonary embolism occurred. One patient had cement leakage to the adjacent disc, who did not manifest any cl inical symptoms. Thirteen patients were followed up 24 to 56 months (mean, 32 months). The VAS score, ODI, anterior and medial vertebral height, kyphotic Cobb angle of involved vertebral body were improved significantly at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P lt; 0.05), there was no significant difference between at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Adjacent vertebral fracture occurred in 1 patient at 6 months after operation and was cured after percutaneous kyphoplasty. Conclusion Percutaneous kyphoplasty in hyperextension position for treatment of stage II or III Kümmell disease can rel ieve back pain, improve viabil ity, decrease Cobb angle, and retain the vertebral body height and spinal alignment. The general condition of the patient is needed to be evaluated and the operation indication should be controlled strictly.