The surgical case report（SCARE）statement is the report checklist made by European researchers in 2016, which is specialized for surgical case report. As a reference for enhancing the research quality and transparency, the SCARE statement provides a fundamental framework for surgical case reports. The last SCARE statement was revised in 2020, and this paper interprets it to provide a practical tool for domestic researchers in surgical case report.
Objective To investigate evidence retrieval, appraisal, and reevaluation during evidence-based clinical decision making in China. Also, to analyze the related factors, so as to find the problems in the course of evidence-based clinical decision making and put forward corresponding solutions. Methods We searched Chinese Biomedical Literature Disc (CBM) and China Journal Full-text Database (Medical sciences) of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) to collect clinical evidence-based case reports. Relevant information was extracted from these reports by a selfdesigned investigation form.Then statistical analyses were performed. Results The search tools used in the course of evidence-based clinical decision making varied. The most frequently used were MEDLINE/PubMed (82.08%) and The Cochrane Library (60.38%). 30.63% of evidence-based case reports described the search strategy in detail, and 9.01% described how they modified their search strategy. All doctors evaluated the association between evidence and disease, but few of them integrated patient factors and relevant external factors when evaluating evidence. The scientific nature and validity of the evidence was evaluated in 74 evidence-based case reports (66.67%), and such evaluation was mainly based on the criteria of evidence grading (50.00%). Reevaluation was mentioned in 85.59% of evidence-based case reports. Conclusion In China, the application of evidence-based decision making varied in different clinical departments. Problems existed in the course of evidence retrieval, appraisal, and reevaluation. This revealed the low information diathesis level of doctors and their lack of evidence-based medicine knowledge. It is suggested that information education and evidence-based medicine education should be strengthened to improve doctors’ ability to use evidence-based clinical decision making. It is also recommended that the search tools, relevant search strategy, the modification of search strategy, and reevaluation on practice results of each case should be mentioned in evidence-based case reports.
The sternum is the pivotal component of the thoracic cavity. It is connected with the clavicle and ribs on the upper part and both sides respectively, and plays an important role in protecting the stability of the chest wall. Sternal resection usually results in a large segmental chest wall defect that causes the chest wall to float and requires sternal reconstruction. This paper reports a 62 years male patient with thymic squamous cell carcinoma with sternal metastasis, who underwent thymotomy, sternal tumor resection and autologous lilum graft combined with sternal reconstruction by titanium plate after relevant examination was completed and surgical contraindications were eliminated. The patient was followed up for 6 months, the respiratory and motor functions were normal and the thoracic appearance was good.
Surgical treatment of atrial septal defect (ASD) mainly includes occlusion or repair under cardiopulmonary bypass. Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation includes transcatheter radiofrequency ablation or Maze surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. There are many treatments for ASD patients combined with atrial fibrillation, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We reported an ASD patient combined with atrial fibrillation treated by totally endoscopic "one-stop" radiofrequency ablation and simultaneous transthoracic ASD occlusion of atrial fibrillation, with good postoperative results.
Magnetic anchoring and traction technique is one of the core technologies of magnetic surgery. With the "non-contact" traction force of the outer magnet on the inner magnet, we can drive the inner magnet and the gripper to multiple directions, and pull tissue or organ to required position in operations, so as to get a clearer surgical field of view. On the basis of the previous animal experiments, we applied magnetic anchoring and traction device in 3 human (males aged 63-71 years) thoracoscopic esophagectomies. Using the magnetic anchoring device, we could pull the esophagus dorsally or ventrally to assist in exposing the anatomical plane without special equipment or pleural puncture for retraction of the esophagus. The interference between operating instruments reduced. The mean blood loss in operation was 83 mL, the mean total operation time was 253 min and the mean length of hospital stay was 10 d. Postoperative follow-up showed that all 3 patients had good short-term prognosis. There was no swellling or pain in magnetic anchoring zone of chest wall.
We reported a 65-year-old female who was admitted to our institute with "recurrent subxiphoid pain accompanied by dyspnea for more than 10 days". Electrocardiogram examination suggested acute extensive anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography suggested ventricular septal rupture. The patient was planned for the repair of ventricular septal rupture with cardiopulmonary bypass. The formation of left ventricular aneurysm was diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The surgeon decided to abdopt the modified incision of left ventricular approach guided by TEE, which greatly improved the prognosis of the patient. The surgery duration was 197 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 56 min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 69 min, and the patient was safely admitted to ICU after the surgery. Extubation was performed on the first day postoperatively, and the intra-aortic balloon pump support was retreated on the second day postoperatively. Postoperative echocardiography showed that no obvious residual shunt was observed after ventricular septal repairment and ventricular aneurysm resection. The patient was discharged on the 12th day after the surgery. Additionally, the mental condition was good and daily activities were not limited within 6 months postoperatively.
We reported a 59-year-old male with exertional angina pectoris, and the coronary angiography showed multiple vessel lesions. The initial strategy was coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The measurement of quantitative flow ration (QFR) before operation indicated that the posterior descending branch (PD) did not need to be treated. The left circumflex branch (LCX) was small, and the QFR of the left anterior descending branch (LAD) and the first diagonal branch (D1) was<0.8. Therefore, the LAD and D1 were re-vascularized. The operation strategy was changed to on-pump CABG through a small incision, and the final strategy was LIMA-D1-LAD (sequential), fractional flow reserve (FFR) of distal LAD and D1 after CABG were>0.8 by computed tomography FFR. SYNTAX scores after CABG were 20 and the functional SYNTAX scores after CABG were 3, indicating a good prognosis.
Thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement is a common minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedure. However, small annulus, severe calcification of the annulus, and severe thickening of the posterior valve leaflet or sub valvular structure are the difficulties of thoracoscopic mitral valve replacement. Improper treatment can easily lead to left ventricular rupture or prosthesis-patient mismatch. This paper reports a thoracoscopic mitral bioprosthesis replacement case using the chimney technique in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and summarizes its operating key points. The patient was a 68-year-old female, weighing 36 kg. The preoperative diagnosis was rheumatic mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation, the preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram showed the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 39 mm. The surgical effect was satisfactory. The patient was in good condition at the follow-up 2 months after the operation.
From December 2022 to January 2023, 4 lung transplant recipients (3 males and 1 female, aged 52-60 years, all received transplantation less than 1 year) were hospitalized in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University due to COVID-19 after surgery. The clinical manifestations were mostly characterized by elevated body temperature accompanied by shortness of breath, and indicators such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, and oxygenation index could reflect the severity of the condition. The therapy was timely adjusted to immunosuppressive drugs, upgraded oxygen therapy, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal therapy, prone ventilation, general treatment, and anticoagulant therapy, depending on the situation. Finally, 3 patients were cured and discharged from hospital, and 1 died.
Aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism are two rapidly progressive and life-threatening diseases. A 65-year-old male patient with descending aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism underwent pulmonary embolectomy and descending aortic stent-graft placement, with good postoperative results.