ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of changing of body posture on video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary bullae. MethodsFrom January 2011 to October 2012, 28 patients with pulmonary bullae including 21 males and 7 females were admitted to our department. The median age of these patients was 18 years old, ranging from 16 to 61. All patients were divided into two groups:video-assisted pulmonary bullae resection with changing of body posture (n=14) and without changing of body posture (n=14). Surgery time, blood loss during operation, drainage, duration of drainage, length of stay in hospital, incidence of complications and recurrence rate were observed and compared between the two groups. ResultsSurgery time in the non-change group was shorter than that in the change group (P<0.05). Blood loss during operation in the non-change group was less than that in the change group (P<0.05). There were no significant difference in drainage, duration of drainage, length of stay in hospital and recurrence rate between the two groups (P>0.05). No complications occurred. ConclusionFor patients with bilateral bullae having tolerated cardiopulmonary function and not-heavy pleural adhesions, non-changing of body posture is safe and effective, not only to avoid a second surgery, but also to avoid turning over and second surgical disinfection, which is more beneficial to the patients.
ObjectiveTo explore clinical outcomes of simutaneous video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for bilateral giant bullae (GB). MethodsClinical data of 160 GB patients who received surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2011 to April 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. According to GB location and surgical strategies, all the patients were divided into 3 groups. In group A, there were 108 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and unilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection with VATS, including 88 male and 20 female patients with their age of 31.36±16.14 years. In group B, there were 40 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent unilateral GB resection in the SP side with VATS, including 36 male and 4 female patients with their age of 37.63±18.84 years. In group C, there were 12 patients with SP and bilateral GB who underwent simultaneous bilateral GB resection with VATS, including 9 male and 3 female patients with their age of 32.58±16.06 years. Postoperative morbidity and SP recurrence rates were analyzed. ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed, and patients were followed up for 20 months after discharge. In group A, postoperative complications included acute pulmonary edema in 1 patient, pleural adhesion in 11 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients, and pulmonary air leak in 5 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 5 patients including 2 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 3 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group B, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 4 patients, respiratory failure in 1 patient, and pulmonary air leak in 3 patients. During follow-up, SP recurred in 18 patients including 3 patients with SP recurrence at the same side and 15 patients with SP recurrence at the other side of thorax. In group C, postoperative complications included pleural adhesion in 2 patients and pulmonary air leak in 1 patient. During follow-up, SP recurred in 1 patient at the same side of thorax. SP recurrence rates of group A and C were significantly lower than that of group B (P=0.000 and P=0.031 respectively). ConclusionSimultaneous VATS is safe, efficacious and reliable for the treatment of bilateral GB, and can effectively prevent SP recurrence at the other side of thorax.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical procedures for primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 52 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae, who underwent surgical treatment in Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between January 2008 and January 2013. There were 46 males and 6 females, with mean average age of 23.2±4.3 years (ranged from 16 to 34 years). According to the different methods of intraoperative surgery, all patients were divided into three groups. The patients in a group Ⅰ (n=20) underwent video-assisted thoracoscope (VATS) selective apex of low energy electric coagulation treatment. The patients in a group Ⅱ (n=21) underwent VATS lung tip part of lung resection. The patients in a group Ⅲ (n=11) received VATS resection of the pleura. The clinical effectiveness among the three groups was compared. ResultsCompared with other two kinds of operation schemes,the leak duration(2.61±1.89 d vs. 4.90±3.20 d vs. 5.36±2.57 d, P=0.012), postoperative chest tube drainage time (3.67±2.13 d vs. 6.00±3.73 d vs. 7.03±2.58 d, P=0.003), postoperative length of hospital stay (4.95±2.16 d vs. 7.35±3.03 d vs. 8.61±2.67 d, P=0.002) and the recurrence rate (0.0% vs. 23.1% vs. 12.5%, P=0.021) of the patients with lung tip part resection of lung tissue by VATS were significantly lower. There were no statistically significant differences in the indicators of the patients with selective apex of low energy electric coagulation by VATS and those with pleural resection by VATS (P>0.05). ConclusionLung tip part of the lung tissue resection by VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax without bullae is better than VATS selective apical low energy coagulation treatment and VATS resection of the pleura both in the short and long-term efficacy.
Objective To analyze the outcome of fast track surgery after intercostal nerve block (INB) during thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae. Methods We recuited 76 patients who accepted thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae from February 2013 to March 2015. They were randomly divided into two groups: an intercostal nerve block and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (INB+IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (30 males, 8 females, with a mean age of 23.63±4.10 years) received INB intraoperatively and IPCA postoperatively, and a postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (33 males, 5 females, with a mean age of 24.93±6.34 years) only received IPCA postoperatively. Their general clinical data and the postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Analgesia-associated side effects, rate of the pulmonary infection were observed. Expenses associated with analgesia during hospital were calculated. Results The score of VAS, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, fatigue and other side effects, pulmonary atelectasis and the infection rate in the INB+IPCA group were significantly lower than those in the IPCA group. Postoperative use of analgesic drugs was significantly less than that in the IPCA group. Medical expenses did not significantly increase. Conclusion INB+IPCA is beneficial for fast track surgery after thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae.
Objective To compare the effects of epidural anesthesia with intubated anesthesia in the postoperative recovery of patients with thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae. Methods Sixty patients (53 males, 7 females, aged 16-65 years) undergoing thoracoscopic resection of unilateral pulmonary bullae in our hospital from December 2014 to December 2015 were randomly divided into two groups: a group A (epidural anesthesia group) received thoracic epidural block combined with intraoperative interthoracic vagus nerve block; a group B (general anesthesia group) received general anesthesia with double lumen endobronchial intubation and pulmonary sequestration. Postoperative anesthesia-related complications and postoperative recovery were recorded. Results Both of the two anesthesia methods could meet the requirements of operation. The patients with the vocal cord injury and sore throat in the group B were more than those in the group A. The difference was statistically significant in the incidence of sore throat (P<0.01) . Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in the group A was significantly higher than that of group B before lung recruitment (P<0.01). Compared with the group B, the group A had less visual analogue scale (VAS) score (P<0.05), earlier activity and feeding, less postoperative ICU and hospital stay (P<0.01). Conclusion Epidural anesthesia combined with intraoperative interthoracic vagus nerve block can meet thoracoscopic bullectomy surgery requirements with few complications and fast postoperative recovery.
Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae surgery. Methods Totally 112 patients with pulmonary bullae in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from March 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled. According to the random number chosen by computer, the patients were randomly divided into two groups: a tubeless group (spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportalthoracoscopy) and a control group (uniportal thoracoscopy by general anesthesia with tracheal intubation) . There were 49 males and 7 females with an average age of 25.5±6.5 years in the tubeless group, and 50 males and 6 females with an average age of 23.5±4.5 years in the control group. The difference of the lowest intraoperative arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), SaO2 at postoperative one hour, operation time, postoperative awakening time, hospital stay, hospitalization cost and postoperative pain score were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in the operation time, the lowest SaO2, SaO2 at one hour after the operation and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). The awakening time and duration of postoperative hospital stay in the tubeless group was shorter than those in the control group (P=0.000). The cost of hospitalization in the tubeless group was less than that in the control group (P=0.000). The discomfort caused by urinary tract and visual analogue score (VAS) in the tubeless group were better than those in the control group. Conclusion It is safe and feasible to use spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae resection.
Objective To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS), and to analyze its related factors. Methods The medical record of patients with MFS who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from March 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively collected, to analyze the incidence of pneumothorax and related risk factors. Results A total of 53 patients (including 29 males, 55%) were included, with a median age of 32 years (ranging from 13 to 65 years). All patients denied family history of pneumothorax. Four cases (8%) had one episode of spontaneous pneumothorax, with pulmonary bullae involved the ipsilateral apex. Among them, 3 cases (75%) had single pulmonary bulla and thoracic deformity. Of the 49 patients without previous pneumothorax history, 9 (18%) had pulmonary bullae, of which 6 (67%) were located at the apex of the lung, and the remaining 3 (33%) were in the middle and lower lobes of the lung; In addition, 6 cases (12%) were coexisted with thoracic deformity. The incidence of pneumothorax in patients with pulmonary bullae in MFS was significantly higher than those without pulmonary bullae (31% vs. 0%, P=0.002), and the incidence of pneumothorax in patients with thoracic deformities was significantly higher than those with normal thorax (33% vs. 2%, P=0.013). Of the 4 patients with pneumothorax, 2 underwent bullectomy, 1 underwent thoracic drainage, and the other underwent thoracic puncture and aspiration procedures, respectively. No recurrence of pneumothorax was observed during the follow-up period. Sixteen cases of MFS with spontaneous pneumothorax (11 males, 69%) were reported in Chinese literature, with a median age of 17 years (ranging from 13 to 28 years). Among them, 3 cases (19%) had a family history of pneumothorax, and 14 cases (88%) had thoracic deformities. Bullae was found in all 5 patients with pneumothorax, 4 of them with chest CT images involved the ipsilateral upper lobe. Forty-four percents of 16 patients had pneumothorax recurrence. Conclusions The incidence of MFS complicated with spontaneous pneumothorax is significantly higher. However, most of them have no family history of pneumothorax. The incidence of pneumothorax with MFS is associated with pulmonary bullae (especially the apex of lung) and thoracic deformity. Timely surgical intervention should be carried out when pneumothorax happened.