ObjectiveBy establishing a set of evaluation system for thoracoscopic clinical function and applicability, to evaluate and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different brands of thoracoscopes, and to provide some suggestions for the innovation and upgrade of thoracoscopes, especially for the domestic thoracoscopes.MethodsThe project coordination team initially formulated the evaluation index system for the clinical function and applicability of thoracoscope by querying literature and brainstorming. The Delphi expert consultation method was used to distribute questionnaires to the selected experts. Experts provided scores which were based on the importance of each indicator, and clarified the basis of their judgment and the familiarity with the evaluation indicators. After two rounds of screening by Delphi method, a thoracoscopic clinical function and applicability satisfactory questionnaire was formed. The appropriate sample for pre-investigation was selected, and the reliability and validity were tested. The index composition was adjusted based on the results of the test to form a final evaluation scale.ResultsThe project coordination team initially formulated 24 thoracoscope-related evaluation indicators. After two rounds of experts consultation, the item "brightness adjustment" was deleted without any additional entries. The positive coefficients of the experts in the first round and the second round were 100.0% and 80.0%, respectively. The two rounds of authoritative coefficients were 0.86 and 0.90, and the coordination coefficients were 0.272 (P<0.001) and 0.523 (P<0.001), respectively. A total of 140 questionnaires were issued in this pre-investigation. The recovery rate was 100.0% and the effective rate was 90.0%. The Cronbach's α value of the scale was 0.936, and the Spearman-Brown split-half reliability coefficient was 0.972. The factor analysis finally extracted 3 common factors. The total variance of the cumulative interpretation was 70.9%. The three common factors were named "operation related", "image related" and "device related".ConclusionThe evaluation index system developed in this study has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a tool to evaluate the clinical function and applicability of thoracoscopes.
Objective To compare the differences in the application of ultrasound scalpel and coagulation hook in thoracoscopic anterior mediastinal tumor surgery and to analyze the respective advantages and indications of the two commonly used energy instruments. Methods The clinical data of 85 patients undergoing thoracoscopic anterior mediastinal tumor surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between June and November in 2017 were prospectively analyzed. There were 45 males and 40 females at age of 50.45 (18–75) years. The patients were divided into three groups including a ultrasound scalpel group (59 patients), a coagulation hook group (17 patients) and a mixed group (9 patients) according to the using time of energy devices. The clinical effect among the three groups were compared. Results No significant difference was found among the three groups in operation time, blood loss, average duration of chest tube drainage or volume of drainage (P>0.05). No significant complications occurred in all groups during operation or after operation. The proportion of subxiphoid approach in the ultrasound scalpel group was higher than that in the other two groups (49/59vs. 7/17 vs. 5/9, P<0.01). The maximum diameter of the tumor (4.58±2.19 cmvs. 4.05±1.07 cm vs. 3.00±1.45 cm, P<0.05) and the resected tissue weight (103.67±74.78 gvs. 61.17±31.97 g vs. 61.86±34.13 g, P<0.05) were also significantly greater than that in the coagulation hook group or the mixed group. Conclusion Ultrasound scalpel has good safety and reliability in the thoracoscopic anterior mediastinal tumor surgery, and is more suitable for operation in a narrow space.
Objective To present the preliminary clinical experience of robot assisted trans-subxiphoid (extended) thymectomy in patients with thymic neoplasms or myasthenia gravis. Methods A total of 62 patients (34 males and 28 females at an average age of 38±11 years) suffering from thymic neoplasms or myasthenia gravis who underwent robotic (extended) thymectomy via subxiphoid approach were included in our department between August 2016 and August 2017. All of the operation were completed through 4 ports. In details, the observation hole was created just below the xiphoid process, two ports for arm 1 and arm 2 were created below bilateral subcostal arch at the midclavicular line, and trocar for arm 3 was placed in the 5th or 6th intercostal space at the anterior axillary line, respectively. Patients with thymic neoplasms received thymectomy. Patients with myasthenia gravis received extended thymectomy. Results All the patients experienced uneventful operations. The mean operative time was 116.0±34.0 min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 5.6±4.3 ml. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.0±2.2 days. There was no intra-operational massive hemorrhage, mortality, conversion or postoperative complication during the postoperative and follow-up period. Conclusion Robotic trans-subxiphoid thymectomy is safe and feasible, which is a promising technique for extensive application.
ObjectiveTo present the initial clinical experience of robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer and to analyze the short-term outcomes of these patients.MethodsBetween February 2016 and December 2017, 148 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent robotic esophagectomy and two-fields lymph node dissection. There were 126 males and 22 females at average age of 62.0±8.0 years. Demographic data, intraoperative characteristics and short-term surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed.Results106 patients underwent McKeown esophagectomy and 42 patients underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. The mean operation time was 336.0±76.0 min, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 130.0±89.0 ml, the mean number of lymph nodes removed was 21.0±8.0 and the mean length of postoperative hospital-stay was 12.0±7.2 days. Postoperative complications included anastomotic fistula (n=8, 5.4%), pulmonary infection (n=13, 8.7%), hoarseness (n=23, 15.5%), tracheoesophageal fistula (n=1, 0.7%), chylothorax (n=4, 2.7%) and incision infection (n=2, 1.4%). There was no intra-operational massive hemorrhage or in-hospital mortality.ConclusionBoth robot-assisted McKeown and Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy are safe and feasible with good early outcomes.