Appropriate amounts proportions of lidocaine gel, indigo carmine and lipiodol mixture for preoperative marking in video-assisted thoracic surgery

Localization Technique Using Mixture of Indigo Carmine and Lipiodol of Pulmonary Nodule via Bronchoscopic Navigation

Background and Objectives: As the number of minimally invasive surgeries, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, increases, small, deeply located lung nodules are difficult to visualize or palpate; therefore, localization is important. We studied the use of a mixture of indigo—carmine and lipiodol, coupled with a transbronchial approach—to achieve accurate localization and minimize patient discomfort and complications. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients were enrolled from May 2019 to April 2022, and surgery was performed after the bronchoscopy procedure. Wedge resection or segmentectomy was performed, depending on the location and size of the lesion. Results: In 58/60 (96.7%) patients, the localization of the nodules was successful after localization, and 2/60 required c-arm assistance. None of the patients complained of discomfort during the procedure; in all cases, margins were found to be free from carcinoma, as determined by the final pathology results. Conclusions: We recommend this localization technique using mixture of indigo carmine and lipiodol, in concert with the transbronchial approach, because the procedure time is short, patient’s discomfort is low, and success rate is high.

Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block Combined with Lidocaine at Different Concentrations for Preemptive Analgesia on Postoperative Pain Relief and Adverse Reactions of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Objective

To explore the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) combined with lidocaine at different concentrations for preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain relief and adverse reactions of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

Ninety patients undergoing LC in our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were selected as the subjects and were randomly divided into group A (30 cases), group B (30 cases), and group C (30 cases), all patients received SGB, and 10 mL of lidocaine at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% was, respectively, administered to patients in groups A, B, and C, so as to compare the analgesic effect, adverse reactions, and clinical indicators among the three groups.

Results

At T₁ and T₂, group C obtained obviously lower NRS scores than groups A and B (P < 0.001); compared with groups A and B, group A had obviously higher onset time (P < 0.001) and significantly lower duration (P < 0.001); no obvious differences in the hemodynamic indexes among the groups were observed (P > 0.05); group C obtained obviously higher BCS score than groups A and B; and the total incidence rate of adverse reactions was obviously higher in group C than in groups A and B (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Performing SGB combined with 0.5% lidocaine to patients undergoing LC achieves the optimal analgesic effect; such anesthesia plan can effectively stabilize patients' hemodynamics, present higher safety, and promote the regulation of the body internal environment. Further research will be conducive to establishing a better anesthesia plan for such patients.

Comparison of radiopaque dye materials for localization of pulmonary nodules before video-assisted thoracic surgery

Background

Although a mixture of pigments and radiopaque materials was reported to be useful material for lung nodule localization, the optimal combination has not been well investigated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of various combinations of pigments and radiopaque materials for localization of pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

Methods

We compared stability, viscosity, and visibility of 6 radiopaque dye materials of (I) mixture of indigo carmine and lipiodol; (II) mixture of indigo carmine, lipiodol, and lidocaine gel; (III) mixture of indocyanine green in water solution (w-ICG) and lipiodol; (IV) mixture of w-ICG, lipiodol, and lidocaine gel; (V) ICG in contrast medium solution (cm-ICG); and (VI) mixture of cm-ICG and lidocaine gel. Stability was evaluated by observing changes in the mixtures in the test tube with time visually and radiographically. Viscosities were measured by rotational viscometer. Materials were injected into an expanded pig-lung phantom, and area on CT and visibility on thoracoscopy camera were evaluated.

Results

Separation could be seen 15 min after preparation in (I) and (III), and 1 h after preparation in (II), both visually and radiographically. In (IV), separation could be seen on the photographs but not on the X-ray images from 3 h after preparation. (V) and (VI) showed no changes within the 2-day observation period. The viscosities of the materials were (I) 0.2±0.1, (II) 2.9±0.1, (III) 0.2±0.1, (IV) 2.6±0.1, (V) 0.2±0.1, and (VI) 1.2±0.1 dPa·s. The area on CT showed very strong negative correlation with viscosity (r=−0.97). The injection point of each material was easily detected on thoracoscopy camera.

Conclusions

Radiopaque dye materials appear useful for localizing pulmonary nodules before VATS; their diffusion in the lung parenchyma can be suppressed by using materials of high viscosity.