ObjectiveThe pleural injury caused by harvesting internal mammary artery (LIMA) can significantly increase the possibility of early pleural effusion after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). We compared the differences in pleural effusion, pain severity, and early lung function in different treatments to find the optimal strategy.MethodsA total of 300 patients receiving OPCABG using LIMA with left pleural lesion were selected (176 males and 124 females, mean age of 63.1±8.7 years). After bypass surgery, patients with pleural rupture were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n=100) received a pericardial drainage tube and a left chest tube inserted from the midline (subxyphoid); group B (n=100) had a pericardial drainage tube and a tube placed in the sixth intercostal space at the midaxillary line; group C (n=100) with the broken pleura sutured, had a pericardial drainage tube and a mediastinal drainage tube inserted. All patients underwent pulmonary function testing and arterial blood gas analysis on postoperative days (PODs) 5. The three methods were analyzed and evaluated.ResultsTotal drainage: group B (852±285 ml)>group C (811±272 ml)>group A (703±226 ml); there was no significant difference between the group B and group C, but they were statistically different from the group A (P<0 05="" patients="" with="" pleural="" effusion="" after="" removal="" of="" drainage="" tubes:="" group="" a="" 13="" patients="">group B (7 patients)>group C (3 patients), and there was significant difference among the three groups (P<0 05="" pain="" sensation="" the="" day="" after="" extubation:="" group="" b="" 2="" 4="" 0="" 8="" 3="" 8="" 0="" 9="">group A (1.9±0.7, 3.3±0.8)>group C (1.1±0.6, 2.5±0.8), there was significant difference among the three groups (P<0 05="" pain="" sensationon="" on="" postoperative="" days="" 5:="" group="" b="" 0="" 3="" 0="" 2="" 0="" 6="" 0="" 5="">group A (0.3±0.3, 0.5±0.4)>group C (0.2±0.2, 0.5±0.3), and there was no significant difference among the three groups. Vital capacity on postoperative days 5: there was no significant difference between the group B and group C, and both groups were greater than group A (P<0.05). There was no difference in FEV1 and PCO2 among the three groups. Group C was better than group A in PO2 on postoperative day 5 (P<0.05).ConclusionSuturing the broken pleura during the operation can not only reduce the degree of postoperative pain but also have less pleural effusion and better pulmonary function. It can be used as the preferred method.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the timing of chest tube removal after resection of lung or esophageal cancer.MethodsA prospective randomized controlled study was performed. From June 2014 to February 2016, 150 patients suspected with the cancer of lung or esophagus undergoing neoplasm resection and lymph node dissection in our single medical unit were classified into 3 groups according to the random number generated by SPSS17.0 with 50 patients in the each group. The drainage volume for chest tube removal was ≤100 mL/d in the group Ⅰ, 101–200 mL/d in the group Ⅱ, and 201–300 mL/d in the group Ⅲ. Chest radiography was performed 48 hours following chest tube removal. ResultsThe 127 patients (108 males and 19 females, with an average age of 59.0±8.7 years) eligible for analysis consisted of 45 patients in the group Ⅰ, 41 in the group Ⅱ, and 41 in the group Ⅲ respectively after the 23 patients were excluded from this study who were diagnosed as benign lesions through intraoperative frozen pathology (n=20) and postoperative complications (empyema in 2 patients and chylothorax in 1 patient). Age, sex, types of neoplasm, and comorbidities except procedures via video-assisted thoracic surgery (and laparoscopy) showed no significant difference among the three groups (P>0.05). No mortality was observed in this study. There were postoperative complications in 6 patients and its distribution had no statistical differences among the three groups (P>0.05). The mean postoperative duration of chest tube was 181.0±68.2 h, 111.0±63.1 h, 76.0±37.2 h, the mean drainage volume was 1 413.0±500.9 mL, 1 005.0±686.4 mL, 776.0±505.8 mL, and the mean hospital stay time following chest tube removal was 19.0±9.7 d, 14.0±8.0 d, 9.0±4.8 d in the group Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively; there was a significant difference among the three groups (P=0.000). The 13 patients required reintervention after chest tube removal due to pleural effusion accumulation and there was no difference among the three groups (P>0.05). Chest pain relieved essentially after chest tube removal in all patients.ConclusionA drainage volume of ≤300 mL/d as a threshold for chest tube removal after resection of lung or esophageal cancer can shorten postoperative hospital stay and accelerate early recovery of the patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of early chest tube removal following single-direction uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (S-UVATS) anatomical lobectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of consecutive VATS lobectomy by different surgeons in Xuzhou Central Hospital between May 2019 and February 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, the data of 1 084 patients were selected for analysis, including 538 males and 546 females, with a mean age of 61.0±10.1 years. These patients were divided into a S-UVATS group with 558 patients and a conventional group (C-UVATS) with 526 patients according to the surgical procedures. The perioperative parameters such as operation time, blood loss were recorded. In addition, we assessed the amount of residual pleural effusion and the probability of secondary thoracentesis when taking 300 mL/d and 450 mL/d as the threshold of chest tube removal. ResultsTumor-negative surgical margin was achieved without mortality in this cohort. As compared with the C-UVATS group, patients in the S- UVATS group demonstrated significantly shorter operation time (P<0.001), less blood loss (P=0.002), lower rate of conversion to multiple-port VATS or thoracotomy (P=0.003), but more stations and numbers of dissected lymph nodes as well as less suture staplers (P<0.001). Moreover, patients in the S-UVATS demonstrated shorter chest tube duration, less total volume of thoracic drainage and shorter postoperative hospital stay, with statistical differences (P<0.001). After excluding patients of chylothorax and prolonged air leaks>7 d, subgroup analysis was performed. First, assuming that 300 mL/d was the threshold for chest tube removal, as compared with the C-UVATS group, patients in the S-UVATS group would report less residual pleural effusion and less necessitating second thoracentesis with residual pleural effusion>500 mL (P<0.05). Second, assuming that 450 mL/d was the threshold for chest tube removal, as compared with the C-UVATS group, the S-UVATS group would also report less residual pleural effusion and less necessitating second thoracentesis with residual pleural effusion>500 mL (P<0.05). Further multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that S-UVATS was significantly negatively related to drainage volume>1 000 mL (P<0.05); whereas combined lobectomy, longer operation time, more blood loss and air leakage were independent risk factors correlated with drainage volume>1 000 mL following UVATS lobectomy (P<0.05). ConclusionThe short-term efficacy of S-UVATS lobectomy is significantly better than that of the conventional group, indicating shorter operation time and less chest drainage. However, early chest tube removal with a high threshold of thoracic drainage volume probably increases the risk of secondary thoracentesis due to residual pleural effusion.