ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of improving chest drainage procedure by applying postoperative chest drainage with central venous catheter for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy in fast track recovery. MethodsBetween July 2016 and March 2018, a total of 150 patients who underwent uniportal VATS lobectomy by the same chief surgeon were recruited. All patients were randomly divided into two groups including a trial group and a control group. In the trial group, there were 44 males and 28 females with an average age of 47±11 years. Central venous catheter and 26F silicone rubber tuber were used and chest tube was removed when drainage volume less than 300 ml/d. Chest X ray was conducted three days after discharge from hospital and the central venous catheter was removed after thoracentesis. In the control group, there were 40 males and 29 females with an average ages of 52±13 years, 26 F silicone rubber tuber and chest tube were removed when drainage volume less than 100 ml/d. The clinical effectiveness was compared between the two groups. ResultsNo statistically significant difference was observed between the trial group and the control group in the date of preoperative general information, the occurrence of postoperative complications and the visual analogue score on Day1 after the operation. However, the visual analogue score, intubation time, post-operative length of stay, the frequency of using tramadol were all significantly shorter or lower in the trial group when compared with the control group (P<0.05). Seven patients of the trial group suffered moderate pleural effusion after intubation, which was significantly more than that of the control group (P<0.05). Six patients recovered after thoracentes through central venous catheter. The average amount of pleural effusions before removing the central venous catheter was 74.8 ml. ConclusionThe use of central venous catheter and 26 F silicone rubber tuber after uniportal VATS lobectomy is safe and feasible for the early removal of chest tube. It is beneficial to fast track recovery.
ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative efficacy and safety of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS) in the lobectomy for early lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsClinical data of 70 early lung adenocarcinoma patients, receiving RATS or UVATS lobectomy by the same surgical team in our hospital from November 2018 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 24 males and 46 females with an average age of 59.3±8.9 years. According to different surgical methods, the patients were divided into a RATS group (31 patients) and a UVATS group (39 patients). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, indwelling time, drainage volume, number of lymph node dissected, stations of lymph node dissected and perioperative complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no conversion to thoracotomy or perioperative death in both groups. There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, indwelling time of thoracic drainage tube, thoracic drainage volume or stations of lymph node dissected between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pulmonary infection, persistent lung leakage, chylothorax, arrhythmia or overall complications between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time of the RATS group was longer than that of the UVATS group (195.8±52.8 min vs. 154.0±43.1 min, P=0.001). The number of lymph node dissected in the RATS group was more than that of the UVATS group (P=0.016).ConclusionBoth RATS and UVATS are safe and feasible in the treatment of lung cancer. The number of lymph nodes removed by RATS is significantly more than that of UVATS.