Intraoperative mechanical and chemical pleurodesis with 50 % glucose solution for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with pulmonary emphysema

Mechanical or chemical and mechanical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax: what is the most effective approach in preventing recurrence? A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Surgical management of spontaneous pneumothorax typically involves wedge resection and mechanical pleurodesis. It is unclear whether combining mechanical and chemical pleurodesis can further reduce the recurrence rate. We have performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing the combined approach with mechanical pleurodesis alone.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of the existing literature was performed using PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for all types of studies that compared combined pleurodesis to a single approach. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and Strengthening The Reporting of OBservational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) to assess the quality of the studies. Relative risk of pneumothorax recurrence was calculated, and the differences between the studies were examined. The primary outcome was the recurrence of pneumothorax.

RESULTS

Of 2301 eligible studies, 5 studies were included. Five hundred sixty-one patients who received combined pleurodesis were compared to 286 patients who received mechanical pleurodesis only. Patients treated with combined intervention had a 63% lower risk of developing a recurrent pneumothorax compared to single intervention [relative risk 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.76; P = 0.006]. There were no statistically significant differences in the length of stay (standardized mean difference -0.17, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.05, P = 0.138), the duration of postoperative air leak (standardized mean difference 0.17, 95% CI -1.14 to 1.47, P = 0.804) or the duration of postoperative chest tube drainage (standardized mean difference -0.07, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.12, P = 0.471).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrated that combined intervention with mechanical and chemical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax may be more effective in preventing recurrence than mechanical pleurodesis alone. These findings will provide some guidance to surgeons in the decision-making process.

Treatment of Chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection with hypertonic glucose Pleurodesis

BACKGROUND

To retrospectively assess the efficacy of hypertonic glucose pleurodesis for treatment of chylothorax after pulmonary resection.

METHODS

Out of a total of 8252 patients who underwent pulmonary resection (at least lobectomy) at department of thoracic surgery, between June 2008 and December 2015, 58 patients (0.7%) developed postoperative chylothorax. All patients received conservative treatment, including thoracic closed drainage, oral fasting, and total parenteral nutrition.

RESULTS

Conservative treatment was successful in 50 (86.2%) patients, while eight patients [mean age: 58.0 years (range, 45-75)] were treated with hypertonic glucose pleurodesis. All eight patients had undergone operation for lung cancer (four squamous cell carcinomas and four adenocarcinomas). The bronchial stump was covered by pleural flap in three patients. After pleurodesis, three patients developed fever but without empyema; thoracentesis was performed in two patients. The mean time interval between pleurodesis and operation was 4.3 days (range,3-5) days. The average length of stay was 23.1 days (range, 18-31). No recurrent pleural effusion was observed over a mean follow-up duration of 28 months.

CONCLUSION

Hypertonic glucose pleurodesis performed via the chest drainage tube is a viable treatment option for chylothorax after lung resection, prior to resorting to a thoracoscopic or thoracotomic ductus thoracicus ligation of the thoracic duct leak. It is a simple, safe and efficient modality associated with rapid recovery and less pain.

Pneumothorax triggered by EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in three microwave ablation candidates: A review of the literature

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely used in patients with EGFR‐mutant lung cancer. Meanwhile, thermal ablation such as microwave ablation has been an option for selected patients. Herein, we describe three cases of pneumothorax that occurred in microwave ablation (MWA) candidates treated with EGFR‐TKIs. The three patients developed pneumothorax in different periods: case 1 developed pneumothorax two months after MWA and subsequent gefitnib therapy; case 2 took osimertinib for two years and developed pneumothorax before MWA; case 3 took gefitinb for 13 months and experienced bronchopleural fistula after MWA. Although a causal relationship is uncertain, the risk of pneumothorax for these MWA candidates should be considered.

Key points

Microwave ablation candidates treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors are more likely to suffer pneumothorax.

The risk of delayed pneumothorax or even bronchopleural fistula in patients pretreated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be taken into consideration when selecting patients and performing microwave ablations.

Pleural Coating by 50% Glucose Solution Reduces Postoperative Recurrence of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

BACKGROUND

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is the standard procedure for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. However, postoperative recurrence is relatively common even if an absorbable covering sheet is used for reinforcement of the visceral pleura. Injection of a high concentration glucose solution to the thoracic cavity was recently reported to be effective in stopping postoperative air leakage or as a prophylactic procedure to prevent postoperative recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. Therefore, we used 50 mL of a 50% glucose solution for pleural coating (GPC) on an absorbable sheet intraoperatively to prevent postoperative recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. This is a retrospective study, and patient backgrounds are heterogeneous. We evaluated the feasibility of GPC using propensity scores to adjust for heterogeneity in their backgrounds.

METHODS

Between January 2010 and December 2017, 376 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with or without GPC, were evaluated. The GPC group consisted of 106 patients, and the non-GPC group consisted of 270. We analyzed the factors preventing postoperative recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax by univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis with or without propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis revealed age of 25 or older, smoking habit, no history of an ipsilateral operation, and GPC were significant factors preventing postoperative recurrence. GPC significantly prevented postoperative recurrence as shown by Cox regression analysis with propensity score matching (hazard ratio, 0.15; p = 0.014) and the inverse-probability of treatment weighted method (hazard ratio, 0.23; p = 0.0038).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative GPC significantly reduced the postoperative recurrence rate of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Novel approach to pleurodesis with 50 % glucose for air leakage after lung resection or pneumothorax

Purpose

Pleurodesis is performed in patients demonstrating air leakage after lung resection and in those with pneumothorax who must avoid surgery. However, there have so far been very few reports of pleurodesis with 50 % glucose. We herein examined the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel pleurodesis technique.

Methods

Thirty-five patients after lung resection and 11 pneumothorax patients without surgery were treated with pleurodesis using 50 % glucose. Approximately, 200 mL of 50 % glucose solution was injected into the pleural space and repeated until the air leakage stopped. Cases in which the air leakage did not stop after three injections were considered to be unsuccessful and subsequently treated with conventional pleurodesis using OK-432.

Results

Thirty-nine patients were successfully treated with 50 % glucose, although 7 patients required further treatment with OK-432. The unsuccessful group had some pulmonary comorbidities (P < 0.001), and the pleural effusion volume after pleurodesis was less than that in the successful group (P < 0.001). Although the air leakage did not stop in unsuccessful patients, the amount of air leakage markedly decreased. A temporary elevation of the blood sugar level was observed in 20 patients, but no other side effects had appeared.

Conclusions

Pleurodesis with 50 % glucose is an easy, safe, and effective treatment modality. It is therefore considered to be a useful alternative method for pleurodesis.

VATS bullectomy and apical pleurectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax in a young patient with Swyer-James-Mc Leod syndrome: case report presentation and literature review focusing on surgically treated cases

BACKGROUND

Swyer-James-McLeod Syndrome (SJMS) is an uncommon, emphysematous disease characterized by radiologic hyperlucency of pulmonary parenchyma due to loss of the pulmonary vascular structure and to alveolar overdistension.

CASE REPORT

We herein describe a 15-year-old Caucasian patient with well-established SJMS since childhood who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. Video-assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy with apical pleurectomy was performed. Since SJMS is considered an on-going inflammatory process, the patient one year after surgery exhibits excellent quality of life with no pneumothorax recurrence.

Endoscopic needle-knife therapy for ileal pouch sinus: a novel approach for the surgical adverse event (with video)

BACKGROUND

Pouch sinus is an adverse event in patients undergoing ileal pouch surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of needle-knife therapy in managing pouch sinus and to assess factors associated with the healing of pouch sinus.

DESIGN

An historical cohort study from a prospectively collected database.

SETTING

A high-volume specialized pouch center.

PATIENTS

From tertiary-care pouch center.

INTERVENTIONS

Endoscopic needle-knife therapy.

RESULTS

This cohort consisted of 65 patients. Men accounted for 76.9% (n = 50). The median interval from colectomy to the diagnosis of pouch sinus was 4.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.0-7.5). Pouch sinus was located at the anastomosis in 59 patients (90.8%), at the mid pouch suture line in 4 patients (6.2%), and at the tip of "J" in 2 patients (3.1%). The mean depth of the pouch sinus was 4.4 ± 1.8 cm. Twenty patients (30.8%) had complex pouch sinuses. After a median of 2.0 needle-knife therapies (IQR: 1.5-3.5) during a follow-up period of 1.1 years (IQR: 0.4-2.8), 28 patients (43.1%) with pouch sinus experienced a complete response, 27 (41.5%) had a partial response, and 10 (15.4%) had persistent sinus. Fifty-three patients (81.5%) maintained a functional pouch at the last follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that a longer duration from colectomy to diagnosis of pouch sinus (odds ratio: 0.85; 95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.99; P = .033) and complex sinuses (odds ratio: 0.17; 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.70; P = .014) were inversely associated with the healing of pouch sinuses, whereas the increased sessions of needle-knife therapy (odds ratio: 1.36; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.81; P = .041) improved the healing of the pouch sinuses.

LIMITATIONS

Single-center study with a relatively small number of patients.

CONCLUSION

In experienced hands, endoscopic needle-knife therapy is an efficacious and safe procedure for pouch sinuses. A longer duration from colectomy to diagnosis of pouch sinus and complex pouch sinuses appeared to be associated with a higher risk for nonhealing of the sinus, suggesting that early diagnosis and intervention have an impact on outcomes.