Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic resection (iVATS): Translation to clinical practice-real-world experience

Nontraumatic intraoperative pulmonary nodule localization with laser guide stamping in a hybrid operating room

Lung nodule localization using conventional image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery involves lung puncture, which increases the risk of needle-related complications. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a single-stage non-invasive laser-guided stamping localization technique followed by resection under general anesthesia in a hybrid operating room. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgery for small pulmonary nodules using laser-guided dye-stamping localization methods in a hybrid operating room between June 2023 and October 2023. During the study period, 18 patients with 20 lesions underwent single-stage intraoperative image-guided stamping video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the hybrid operating room. The median size of the nodules was 7.4 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 5.7-9.8 mm), and median distance from the pleural surface was 9.8 mm (IQR 7.7-14.6 mm). The median localization time was 26 min (IQR 23-34 min), whereas median operation time was 69 min (IQR 62-87 min). The total median operating room time was 146 min (IQR 136-157 min). Twelve patients underwent less than two cone-beam computed tomography scans, while 6 underwent more than two scans. The total median dose area product, including cone-beam computed tomography scans, was 5731.4 uGym2. No localization-related complications were observed, and the postoperative length of stay was 1 day (IQR 1-2 days). The single-stage image-guided pleural stamping technique for localizing small pulmonary nodules in a hybrid operating room is feasible and safe. Future research with larger cohorts is required to further explore the benefits of this workflow.

Presurgical computed tomography-guided localization of lung ground glass nodules: comparing hook-wire and indocyanine green

BACKGROUND

Presurgical computed tomography (CT)-guided localization is frequently employed to reduce the thoracotomy conversion rate, while increasing the rate of successful sublobar resection of ground glass nodules (GGNs) via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). In this study, we compared the clinical efficacies of presurgical CT-guided hook-wire and indocyanine green (IG)-based localization of GGNs.

METHODS

Between January 2018 and December 2021, we recruited 86 patients who underwent CT-guided hook-wire or IG-based GGN localization before VATS resection in our hospital, and compared the clinical efficiency and safety of both techniques.

RESULTS

A total of 38 patients with 39 GGNs were included in the hook-wire group, whereas 48 patients with 50 GGNs were included in the IG group. There were no significant disparities in the baseline data between the two groups of patients. According to our investigation, the technical success rates of CT-based hook-wire- and IG-based localization procedures were 97.4% and 100%, respectively (P = 1.000). Moreover, the significantly longer localization duration (15.3 ± 6.3 min vs. 11.2 ± 5.3 min, P = 0.002) and higher visual analog scale (4.5 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.5, P = 0.001) were observed in the hook-wire patients, than in the IG patients. Occurrence of pneumothorax was significantly higher in hook-wire patients (27.3% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.048). Lung hemorrhage seemed higher in hook-wire patients (28.9% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.057) but did not reach statistical significance. Lastly, the technical success rates of VATS sublobar resection were 97.4% and 100% in hook-wire and IG patients, respectively (P = 1.000).

CONCLUSIONS

Both hook-wire- and IG-based localization methods can effectively identified GGNs before VATS resection. Furthermore, IG-based localization resulted in fewer complications, lower pain scores, and a shorter duration of localization.

What's new in thoracic oncology

Many changes have occurred in the field of thoracic surgery over the last several years. In this review, we will discuss new diagnostic techniques for lung cancer, innovations in surgery, and major updates on latest treatment options including immunotherapy. All these have significantly started to change our approach toward the management of lung cancer and have great potential to improve the lives of our patients afflicted with this disease.

Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (iVATS): a single center experience and review

Lung cancer screening techniques using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans have improved over the last decade. This means that there is an increased rate of detection of small, often non-palpable, nodules and ground-glass opacities. Obtaining a definitive diagnosis of these nodules using techniques such as percutaneous image-guided biopsy or intraoperative localization is challenging, and these nodules have traditionally undergone routine surveillance. Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (iVATS), which is performed in a hybrid operating room, has made it more feasible to biopsy and resect these nodules. The first thoracic surgery hybrid operative room was introduced at our institution at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Herein, we describe our experience implementing this technique including the methods we used to train key personnel such as radiologists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists to ensure that this technique successfully translated to a clinical setting. We review the benefits of iVATS, which includes decreased rate of fiducial dislodgement, real-time imaging which facilitates successful fiducial placement, and smaller sized resection of lung parenchyma. We will also describe the comparisons between traditional diagnostic methods and iVATS, patient selection criteria and important technical details. Some centers describe alternative techniques for several of the technical aspects, including patient positioning, which we also mention. Lastly, we describe adverse events after iVATS, which are comparable to those seen after a standard VATS.

Single-stage augmented fluoroscopic bronchoscopy localization and thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules in a hybrid operating room

OBJECTIVES

Hybrid operating rooms (HOR) have been increasingly used for image-guided lung surgery, and most surgical teams have used percutaneous localization for small pulmonary nodules. We evaluated the feasibility and safety of augmented fluoroscopic bronchoscopy localization under endotracheal tube intubation general anaesthesia followed by thoracoscopic surgery as a single-stage procedure in ab HOR.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients who underwent single-stage augmented fluoroscopic bronchoscopy localization under general anaesthesia followed by thoracoscopic surgery in an HOR between August 2020 and March 2022.

RESULTS

Single-stage localization and resection were performed for 85 nodules in 74 patients. The median nodule size was 8 mm [interquartile range (IQR), 6-9 mm], and the median distance from the pleural space was 10.9 mm (IQR, 8-20 mm). All nodules were identifiable on cone-beam computed tomography images and marked transbronchially with indigo carmine dye (median markers per lesion: 3); microcoils were placed for deep margins in 16 patients. The median localization time was 30 min (IQR 23-42 min), and the median fluoroscopy duration was 3.3 min (IQR 2.2-5.3 min). The median radiation exposure (expressed as the dose area product) was 4303.6 μGym2 (IQR 2879.5-6268.7 μGym2). All nodules were successfully marked and resected, and the median global operating room time was 178.5 min (IQR 153.5-204 min). There were no localization-related complications, and the median length of postoperative stay was 1 day (IQR, 1-2 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Single-stage augmented fluoroscopic bronchoscopy localization under general anaesthesia followed by thoracoscopic surgery was feasible and safe.

Role of subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in pulmonary metastasectomy

Optimal management for patients with pulmonary metastasis is still debated. True survival benefit from widely practiced pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is yet to be proved from high-quality randomized controlled trials. The ideal surgical approach for PM is also not generally agreed. VATS offers enhanced recovery and superior functional outcomes but at the expense of less detection of lung nodules and higher possibility of narrow/positive resection margins. The subxiphoid uniportal VATS (uVATS) approach is an evolving new approach with potential advantages including simultaneous access to both lung fields, less pain and faster rehabilitation. These advantages make it a favorable approach for PM, particularly in the setting of bilateral metastases. However, its use is still limited to case reports of a small number of patients. There is room for improvements in subxiphoid uVATS due to reported technical challenges and limitations. Herein, we aim to publicize a comprehensive review of literature on applications of subxiphoid uVATS in PM.

Comparison of extended segmentectomy with traditional segmentectomy for stage I lung cancer

BACKGROUND

For stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lobectomy and segmentectomy are still controversial operations. Extended segmentectomy was proposed to make larger safe margins than segmentectomy. Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (iVATS) is useful to accomplish extended segmentectomy. We aimed to compare the effects of iVATS extended segmentectomy to the effects of traditional segmentectomy for stage I NSCLC.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective analysis in a single institute. Patients with stage I NSCLC who received segmentectomy between January 2017 and September 2020 were included. Patients were distributed to iVATS extended segmentectomy (group A), and traditional segmentectomy (group B). The impacts of the different surgical methods on resection margin were assessed.

RESULTS

There were 116 patients enrolled in this study. Sixty-two patients distributed in group A, and the other 54 patients in group B. The resection margin to a staple line was 17.94 mm in group A versus 14.15 mm in group B, p = 0.037. The margin/tumor diameter ratio was 2.08 in group A versus 1.39 in group B, p = 0.003. The enough margin rate was 75.81% and 57.41%, respectively, for group A and group B. The subgroup analysis of iVATS extended segmentectomy showed that T1a lesions had larger margin distances than did T1b lesions (19.85 mm vs. 14.83 mm, p = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

The iVATS extended segmentectomy can provide more resection margin than traditional segmentectomy. Segmentectomy is more suitable to perform when the nodule's diameter is less than 10 mm.

Augmented reality navigation-guided pulmonary nodule localization in a canine model

Background

The current intraoperative pulmonary nodule localization techniques require specific medical equipment or skillful operators, which limits their widespread application. Here, we present an innovative nodule localization technique in a canine lung model using augmented reality (AR) navigation.

Methods

Peripheral pulmonary lesions were artificially created in canine model. A preoperative chest computed tomography scan was performed for each animal. The acquired computed tomography images were analyzed, and an established intraoperative localization plan was uploaded into HoloLens (a head-mounted AR device). Under general anesthesia, lung localization markers were implanted in each canine, guided by the established procedure plan displayed by HoloLens. All artificial lesions and markers were removed by video-assisted wedge resection or lobectomy in a single operation.

Results

Since June 2019, 12 peripheral pulmonary lesions were artificially created in 4 canine models. All lung localization markers were precisely implanted with a median registration and implantation time of 6 minutes (range, 2–15 minutes). The average distance between pulmonary lesions and markers was 1.9±1.7 mm, based on computed tomography examination after localization. No severe pneumothorax was observed after marker implantation. After an average implantation period of 16.5 days, no marker displacement was observed.

Conclusions

The AR navigation-guided pulmonary nodule localization technique was safe and effective in a canine model. The validity and feasibility of using this technology in patients will be examined further (NCT04211051).

Image-guided combined ablation and resection in thoracic surgery for the treatment of multiple pulmonary metastases: A preliminary case series

Objectives

To demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a novel hybrid technique combining percutaneous microwave ablation and wire-assisted wedge resection for patients with multiple pulmonary metastases using intraoperative imaging.

Methods

We describe our technique and present a retrospective case series of 4 patients undergoing iCART at our institution between August 2018 and January 2020. Procedures were performed in a hybrid operating suite using the ARTIS Pheno cone beam computerized tomography scanner (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, German). Patient information included past history of malignancy as well as lesion size, depth, location, and histology result. Surgical complications and length of stay were also recorded.

Results

Five procedures were performed on 4 patients during the study period. One patient underwent bilateral procedures 4 weeks apart. All patients underwent at least 1 ablation and 1 wedge resection during the combined procedure. Patient ages ranged from 40 to 66 years and the majority (75%) were men. All had a past history of cancer. Lesions were treated in every lobe. Size and depth ranged from 6 to 24 mm and 21 to 33 mm, respectively, for ablated nodules and 5 to 27 mm and 0 to 22 mm, respectively, for the wedge resected nodules. Three procedures were completed uniportal and operative time ranged from 51 to 210 minutes. All cases sustained <10 mL blood loss. There were 2 intraoperative pneumothorax, 1 prevented successful completion of the ablation. One patient required a prolonged period of postoperative physiotherapy and was discharged on day 6. The other patients were discharged on postoperative day 2 or 3. All 5 histology specimens confirmed metastatic disease.

Conclusions

Our hybrid approach provides a minimally invasive and comprehensive personalized therapy for patients with multiple pulmonary metastases under a single general anesthetic. It provides histology-based diagnosis whilst minimizing lung tissue loss and eliminating the need for transfer from radiology to operating theatre. Emergence of ablation as a treatment for stage 1 non–small cell lung cancer and the expansion of lung cancer screening may widen the application of iCART in the future.

Use of the hybrid room for thoracic surgery procedures: single-stage localization and removal of non-palpable nodules

With the widespread availability of lung cancer screening programs, the number of small lung nodules requiring histological characterization has dramatically increased. Because computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration may frequently yield false-negative results, excisional biopsy using thoracoscopy is frequently required. Although thoracoscopic procedure has been known to be ideal for nodule resection, the identification of very small, subsolid and deep pulmonary nodules may still be challenging. Precise lesion localization is a key prerequisite to avoid conversion to an unplanned thoracotomy. In the traditional workflow, the localization procedure is performed in the radiology suite, after which the patient is moved to an operating room. With the availability of hybrid operating rooms, a new approach encompassing simultaneous localization and removal of non-palpable lung nodules has become feasible. In this article, we review the procedural workflow of this new technique and discuss its indications and results.

Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic resection (iVATS): Translation to clinical practice-real-world experience

OBJECTIVE

We developed a novel approach for localization and resection of lung nodules, using image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (iVATS). We report our experience of translating iVATS into clinical care.

METHODS

Methodology and workflow for iVATS developed as part of the Phase I/II trial were used to train surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and radiology technologists. Radiation dose, time from induction to incision, placement of T-bar to incision and incision to closure, hospital stay, and complication rates were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty patients underwent iVATS for resection of 54 nodules in a clinical hybrid operating room (OR) by six surgeons. Fifty-two (97%) nodules were successfully resected. Forty-two (84%) patients underwent wedge resection, four (7%) lobectomies, and two (4%) segmentectomy all with lymph node dissection. Median time from induction to incision was 89 minutes (range: 13-256 minutes); T-bar placement was 14 minutes (10-29 minutes); and incision to closure, 107 minutes (41-302 minutes). Average and total procedure radiation dose were: median = 6 mSieverts (range: 2.9-35 mSieverts). No deaths were reported and median length of stay was 3 days (range: 1-12 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Translation of iVATS into clinical practice has been initiated using a safe step-wise process, combining intraoperative C-arm computed tomography scanning and thoracoscopic surgery in a hybrid OR.