Objective To explore the learning curve and evaluate the safety of uniportal complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. Methods We reviewed retrospectively the clinical data of 133 patients, who underwent uniportal VATS between March 2015 and October 2016 in Sichuan Provincial Cancer Hospital. There were 79 males and 54 females at age of 52.21±10.77 years. Results All the 127 patients completed uniportal VATS, 4.51% (6/133) converted to open surgery. There were 78 patients with lobectomy, 6 patients with segmentectomy, 37 patients with wedge resection, 6 patients with pleural, mediastinal lymph node biopsy or mediastinal tumor resection. In the lobectomy group, mean surgical time was 148.75±34.12 min, mean blood loss was 118.87±59.96 ml, mean number of lymph nodes was 11.25±6.15, the mean duration of chest-tube placement was 2.17±1.35 days, and mean length of stay was 7.58±2.59 days. Conclusion Based on skillful performance of the conventional thoracoscopic lobectomy, the learning curve for single port thoracoscopic lobectomy comprises at least 20 patients. The uniportal VATS lobectomy is a safe and operable method of minimally invasive technique, and it is worthy to be applied in thoracic surgery.
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 compare the effect of uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy, and to explore the advantages and applications of uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy in enhanced recovery after surgery. Methods Totally 169 patients with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in Department of Thoracic Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January to December 2016 were enrolled. There were 99 males and 70 females with age of 60.83±7.24 years. Patients were divided into two groups: a uniportal group (78 patients) and a multiportal group (91 patients) . Patients’ clinical and pathological materials were collected. Postoperative pain, complications and hospital stay, etc of the two groups were compared. Results All patients were successfully discharged without serious postoperative complication or death. Patients in the multiportal group had smaller surgical incisions than that in the uniportal group (3.12±0.73 cm vs. 6.38±1.50 cm, P=0.016). Pain scores at postoperative 24 and 48 hours of the uniportal group were less than those of multiportal group (4.18±1.67 vs. 6.54±1.83, 3.05±1.47 vs. 4.68±1.64, P<0.05). Operation data, postoperative complications and hospital stay were similar in both groups. Conclusion Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy makes smaller incisions and can further reduce postoperative pain and dosage of morphine. The operation is safe and worthy of wide application in enhanced recoveryafter surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of uniportal and three-port subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (XVATS) extended thymectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 60 consecutive patients of XVATS thymectomy in Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2017 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 29 males and 31 females, with an average age of 53.1 (27.0-76.0) years. The patients were divided into an uniportal XVATS group (30 patients) and a three-port XVATS group (30 patients). The clinical effectiveness was compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, tumor size, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative time of thoracic tube indwelling and thoracic drainage, or postoperative hospitalization time between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no perioperative mortality, conversion to thoracotomy, thrombosis or mediastinal infection. The operation time of the uniportal XVATS group was significantly longer than that of the three-port group (87.5±19.0 min vs. 75.8±15.7 min, P=0.012). Besides, patients in the uniportal group had significantly lower pain score during 3-14 postoperative days than that of the three-port group (P=0.001).ConclusionUniportal XVATS extended thymectomy is feasible with less pain as compared with the patients using three-port XVATS, but it needs longer operation time at initial stage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SUVATS) and intercostal uniportal VATS (IUVATS) in lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsA total of 428 patients with NSCLC who underwent lobectomy via SUVATS or IUVATS from July 1st to 31st, 2019 in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital were enrolled. Patient characteristics, perioperative outcomes and postoperative pain scores at different time points were collected. The patients were divided into a SUVATS group (80 patients, 42 males and 38 females with an average age of 58.8±9.6 years) and an IUVATS group (348 patients, 161 males and 187 females, with an average age of 61.2±10.0 years). The clinical effectiveness of the two groups was compared.ResultsThere was no significant difference in sex (P=0.314), age (P=0.052), preoperative pulmonary function (P=0.701), combined chronic comorbidities (chronic cardiovascular disease, P=0.775; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, P=0.678) and postoperative pathology (P=0.132) between the two groups. Compared with the IUVATS group, patients in the SUVATS group had longer operation time (155.6±34.4 min vs. 141.3±27.0 min, P<0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (165.2±160.6 mL vs. 223.7±272.4 mL, P<0.001), shorter time of chest tube use (4.3±2.0 d vs. 4.9±1.9 d, P=0.011) and less postoperative pain score at different time points (postoperative 8 h, P<0.001; postoperative day 1, P=0.019; postoperative day 2, P=0.015; the day before discharge, P<0.001).ConclusionSUVATS is a safe and effective technique for lobectomy in NSCLC patients with less postoperative pain and can promote postoperative recovery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomic basal segmentectomy.MethodsThe clinical data of 15 patients who underwent uniportal VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy between June 2020 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 4 males and 11 females with a median age of 53 (32-70) years. The incisions were placed in the fifth intercostal space across the mid-axillary line. All basal segmentectomies were performed through the interlobar fissure or inferior pulmonary ligament approach following the strategies of single-direction and stem-branch.ResultsAll patients underwent basal segmentectomy successfully with no conversion to multi-portal procedure or thoracotomy. The median operation time was 120 (90-160) min, median intraoperative blood loss was 20 (10-50) mL, median drainage time was 3 (2-5) d, and median postoperative hospital stay was 4 (4-10) d. The maximum diameter of the lesion in the resected basal segment was 1.2 (0.7-1.9) cm. The median resected lymph nodes were 7 (5-12). There was no evidence of nodal metastases. One patient suffered postoperative atelectasis and subsequent pneumonia. No perioperative death occurred.ConclusionUniportal VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy is feasible and safe. It can be performed in a simple manner following the strategy of single-direction.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of sublobar resection and lobectomy via uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) for lung metastases from colorectal cancer.MethodsRetrospective research was conducted on 42 colorectal cancer patients with lung metastases who underwent U-VATS sublobar resection and lobectomy at the Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between April 2016 and May 2019, including 24 males and 18 females with an average age of 58.0±9.9 years. Among them 17 patients received U-VATS sublobar resection and 25 patients received lobectomy. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pulmonary infection, drainage tube indwelling time, drainage volume on the first day after surgery, postoperative hospital stay were analyzed between the two groups, and the relationship between the prognosis and clinical characteristics of the two groups was compared.ResultsSublobar resection patients had less lung metastases (P=0.043) and shorter operation time (P=0.023) compared with the lobectomy patients. There was no significant difference between the lobectomy and sublobar resection groups in intraoperative blood loss (P=0.169), rate of postoperative infection (P=0.982), postoperative drainage duration (P=0.265), drainage volume on the first day after surgery (P=0.402) and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.612). The progression-free survival of the two groups was 25.19 months and 23.63 months (P=0.721), and their overall survival was 29.09 months and 30.64 months (P=0.554).ConclusionConsidering guantity and locations of lung metastases, U-VATS sublobar resection can achieve a similar prognosis to lobectomy for lung metastases from colorectal cancer. Further efficacy of this surgical strategy remains to be proved by longer follow-up.
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.
Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of thulium laser wedge resection of the lung under uniportal thoracoscopy with the other two traditional surgical methods (mechanical cutting stapler wedge resection and segmentectomy) in the treatment of small pulmonary nodules.MethodsClinical data of 125 patients with small pulmonary nodules receiving uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery from December 2017 to December 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 33 patients had thulium laser wedge resection (a thulium laser group), including 10 males and 23 females, with an average age of 59.21±11.31 years; 48 patients had mechanical stapling pulmonary wedge resection (a mechanical stapling pulmonary wedge resection group), including 17 males and 31 females, with an average age of 57.27±11.30 years; and 44 patients had pulmonary segmentectomy (a pulmonary segmentectomy group), including 21 males and 23 females, with an average age of 63.00±9.68 years. The surgical margin air leakage, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, drainage days, average daily drainage volume, fever, pain and hospitalization expenses were compared among the three groups. ResultsThe body mass index, gender, smoking history, benign and malignant pathological results, average maximum diameter of lesions and lesion location distribution were not statistically different among the three groups (P>0.05). The average age and the proportion of pleural adhesions in the thulium laser group were not statistically different from those of the other two groups (P>0.05). In the distribution of the number of lesions, the proportion of multiple lesions in the mechanical stapling pulmonary wedge resection group was higher than that of the other two groups, and there was no statistical difference between the other two groups. The intraoperative blood loss in the thulium laser group was less than that of the other two groups (P≤0.05). There was no statistical difference in the classification of surgical margin air leakage or the operation time among the three groups (P>0.05). The proportion of postoperative fever and hospitalization expenses in the thulium laser group were lower or less than those of the other two groups (P<0.05). The length of hospitalization stay and postoperative chest tube placement in the thulium laser group was significantly shorter than that of the pulmonary segmentectomy group (P<0.05), which was not statistically different from the mechanical stapling pulmonary wedge resection group (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in the average daily drainage volume or the proportion of pain among the three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The thulium laser wedge resection under uniportal thoracoscopy is a safe, effective and economical method for the treatment of small pulmonary nodules.
With the development of precision diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, anatomical segmentectomy has become an important surgical procedure for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. After the widespread popularization of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the treatment of lung cancer has entered the era of minimally invasive surgery. Since it was first reported in 2012, uniportal video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy has gained increasing clinical application. Uniportal VATS is less invasive than thoracotomy and traditional VATS. At present, the main research hotspots around uniportal video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy include specific indications, short-term and long-term efficacy, and learning curve. This article will introduce the characteristics, indications and surgical techniques of this procedure, then summarize and discuss the latest research progress of uniportal video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy based on the latest evidence-based evidence.