Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection for lung cancer

Utility of 4 K three-dimensional endoscopic system in performing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy: initial results of the first year after installation

OBJECTIVES

With the evolution of technology in the field of thoracoscopy, three-dimensional (3D) endoscopic systems with 4 K resolution have recently come into use. This study aimed to determine perioperative outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy performed a year after the 4 K three-dimensional (3D) endoscopic system installation and compare them with those of the high-definition (HD) 3D endoscopic system.

METHODS

We included patients who underwent complete VATS (cVATS) lobectomy for primary lung cancer using an HD3D endoscopic system (HD3D group, June 2015-September 2021, n = 251) or 4K3D endoscopic system (4K3D group, October 2021-September 2022, n = 47). The perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The operation time was significantly shorter in the 4K3D group (mean, 189.5 min) than in the HD3D group (208.5 min; p = 0.021), and the 4K3D group did not require conversion to thoracotomy or transfusion. The 4K3D group had less blood loss volume (4K3D group: mean, 24.0 mL vs. HD3D group: 43.3 mL; p = 0.105) and shorter chest drainage duration (4K3D group: mean, 2.3 days vs. HD3D group: 3.1 days; p = 0.115) and hospitalization period (4K3D group: mean, 7.9 days vs. HD3D group:10.0 days; p = 0.226) than the HD3D group, with no significant difference. No difference was observed in the incidence of ≥ Grade IIIa complications (p = 0.634).

CONCLUSION

The 4K3D endoscopic system significantly shortened the duration of cVATS lobectomy. It is useful for lung resection and may replace other endoscopy systems.

Perioperative outcomes of thoracoscopic lung resection requiring a long operative time

OBJECTIVES

Difficult thoracoscopic surgery sometimes requires a long operative time. It is unclear whether patients benefit from such thoracoscopic surgeries. We investigated whether thoracoscopic surgery for difficult cases contributed to improvements in perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed cases of anatomical lung resection with thoracoscopic surgery, including conversion to thoracotomy, between January 2006 and December 2016 and compared patient demographics and perioperative outcomes of the long (≥360 min) and the normal operative time groups (<360 min).

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-six patients were in the long operative time group and 655 patients were in the normal operative time group. The long operative time group had more male patients, more progressive clinical stages, bilobectomy or pneumonectomy, conversion to thoracotomy and more blood loss than the normal operative time group. The long operative time group had higher rates of postoperative complications and longer hospital stay (30% vs 16%, P < 0.001 and 9 ± 9 days vs 7 ± 8 days, P < 0.001; respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that in the first half of the operative period, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bilobectomy or pneumonectomy were independent predictive factors for postoperative complications. The long operative time as a factor was close to statistical significance (odds ratio 1.689, P = 0.079) unlike the elective conversion to thoracotomy (odds ratio 0.784, P = 0.667) and emergency conversion to thoracotomy (odds ratio 0.938, P = 0.924).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, when difficult cases are encountered, conversion to thoracotomy should be considered by surgeons if continuation of thoracoscopic surgery increases the operative time.

Systematic lymph node dissection is necessary for T1a non-small cell lung cancer

AIM

With the development of computed tomography, the number of surgical interventions for small-sized lung cancer has increased. It still remains controversial whether a systematic lymph node dissection is necessary in such cases.

METHODS

From 2004 to 2010, a total of 138 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of 2 cm or less in diameter were operated on in our institution. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test in surgical approaches, lymph node involvement, histology and survival rates.

RESULTS

Lymph node metastasis was found in 24 of 138 (17%) patients. The 5-year survival rate for patients without lymph node metastasis was 83%, whereas it was 75 and 48% for those with pN1 and pN2 disease (P=0.001). Patients receiving lobectomy had a significantly better survival rate than patients receiving limited resection (P=0.02). The 5-year survival rates for patients with stage I, stage II and stage III were 90, 78 and 43%, respectively (P<0.001). Lymph node metastasis was found in 1 of 11 (9%) patients with tumors sized less than 1 cm, 7 of 39 (18%) patients with tumors sized from 1.1 to 1.5 cm, and 16 of 64 (25%) patients with a tumor larger than 1.5 cm (statistically not significant).

CONCLUSION

The survival of patients with small-sized lung cancer is closely related to the nodal involvement, stage of disease and surgical approaches. Our study supports that systematic lymph node dissection should be performed in patients with T1a NSCLC.

[Perioperative pain therapy]

Scientific studies have proven without doubt that an optimized perioperative pain therapy will improve patient comfort, reduce postoperative complications, enhance postoperative recovery and shorten the length of postoperative hospital stay. It is necessary to incorporate the acute pain therapy into a perioperative multimodal and interdisciplinary therapeutic concept. Local or regional anesthesia will provide the best analgesic effect after surgery and should be considered in all patients. Optimal treatment of patients with peripheral nerve blocks, spinal or epidural analgesia should be treated by a specialized acute pain service. However, only 15-20% of all surgical cases will be taken care of by such a pain service. Therefore, most surgical patients will only receive adequate analgesia if surgeons are familiar with the principles of postoperative pain therapy. Regular assessment of pain perception is the cornerstone of optimized pain therapy. Furthermore, pain assessment will allow the administration and to some extent dosage of analgesic therapy to be delegated to nursing personnel.

A clinicopathological study of resected non-small cell lung cancers 2 cm or less in diameter: a prognostic assessment

The detection and diagnosis of small-sized (2 cm or less) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has increased with the development of computed tomography (CT). Over 80% of 5-year survival rate has been reported in surgically treated peripheral lung cancer. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement pleural invasion and intrapulmonary metastasis even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The appropriate surgical procedure for such kinds of lung cancer is lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. To evaluate the prognostic factors and establish the optimal surgical strategy, we analyzed the clinicopathologic features and survival benefit in different tumor size of peripheral small-sized NSCLC. Among the resected lung cancer cases between January 1999 and July 2001, 185 patients were retrospectively analyzed in surgical methods, lymph node involvement, CT scan findings and survival rates. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Lymph node involvement was recognized in 26(14.05%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of lymph node involvement between tumors 1.6-2.0 cm (17.82%) in diameter than in those 1.0-1.5 cm (11.94%). There was no lymph node metastasis in tumors less than 1.0 cm in diameter. The 5-year survival rates with or without lymph node involvement were 89.98 and 46.15%, respectively, showing significant difference (P=0.000). The overall 5-year survival rate was 83.78%. The 5-year survival rate in tumors 1.6-2.0 cm, 1.0-1.5 cm and less than 1.0 cm in diameter was 80.20, 85.07 and 100%, respectively, and showing significant difference (P=0.035). The 5-year survival rate of 19 patients showing ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT scan was 94.74% without any metastasis and recurrence after operation. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The results of the present study suggested that systematic lymph node dissection is necessary even for cases with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. However, if the tumor is within 1.0 cm in diameter with obvious GGO showing on chest CT scan, these are good candidates for partial resection without mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Anesthesia for endoscopy in small animals

This article discusses considerations for general anesthesia for various endoscopic procedures in small animals. Specific drug and monitoring recommendations are made. Special physiologic concerns of individual procedures affecting the anesthetized patient are discussed.

VATS lobectomy is better than open thoracotomy: what is the evidence for short-term outcomes?

VATS lobectomy is an acceptable alternative to open lobectomy for treating early-stage NSCLC. Although no large randomized control trial has compared these procedures, recent large series and case-control studies provide strong evidence that patients undergoing VATS lobectomy have less pain, fewer perioperative complications, shorter chest-tube duration, and decreased length of stay. Increasing evidence supports improved quality of life up to 1 year, less inflammation, and greater safety profile in high-risk patients. More data are needed to better show an improvement in the economic efficacy, ability to more effectively administer adjuvant therapies, and benefit of robotic assistance in VATS lobectomy.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy: Report of CALGB 39802—A Prospective, Multi-Institution Feasibility Study

Purpose

To evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for small lung cancers.

Patients and Methods

The Cancer and Leukemia Group B 39802 trial was a prospective, multi-institutional study designed to elucidate the technical feasibility of VATS in early non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a standard definition for VATS lobectomy (one 4- to 8-cm access and two 0.5-cm port incisions) that mandated videoscopic guidance and a traditional hilar dissection without rib spreading. Between 1998 and 2001, 128 patients with peripheral lung nodules ≤ 3 cm in size with suspected NSCLC were prospectively registered for VATS lobectomy.

Results

One hundred twenty-seven patients (66 males and 61 females; median age, 66 years; range, 37 to 86 years), with a performance status of 0 (74%) or 1 (26%), underwent surgery. Patients with lymph nodes more than 1 cm by computed tomography scan underwent mediastinal lymph node sampling to rule out N2 disease. One hundred eleven patients (87%) had stage I lung cancer, and 96 (86.5%) of these 111 patients underwent successful VATS lobectomies. The median procedure length was 130 minutes (range, 47 to 428 minutes), and median chest tube duration was 3 days (range, 1 to 14 days). Fifty-eight (60%) of 97 patients underwent diagnostic biopsy at lobectomy. Within 30 days, three (2.7%) of 111 patient deaths occurred, none of which were directly related to VATS technique; seven (7.4%) of 95 patients had grade 3 or greater complications, with only one case of bleeding.

Conclusion

A standardized approach to VATS lobectomy as specifically defined with avoidance of rib spreading is feasible.

Quality of life evolution after lung cancer surgery: A prospective study in 100 patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) evolution after thoracic surgery for lung cancer with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL Questionnaire-C30 and the lung cancer specific module LC13.

METHODS

A prospective QoL registration started in 2002 for all patients undergoing major pulmonary surgery for malignant disease. Between January 2002 and November 2004, 100 patients were included. Questionnaires were administered pre-operatively and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively (MPO) with response rates of 100%, 71%, 77%, 83% and 76%, respectively.

PROCEDURES

lobectomy 61%, pneumonectomy 17%, and wedge resection 22%. Approaches: anterolateral thoracotomy 79%, posterolateral thoracotomy 13% and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) 8%.

RESULTS

Lobectomy and wedge resection are comparable in QoL evolution. Both resections are characterized by a 1 month temporary decrease in QoL functioning scores and an increase in pain symptoms. Lobectomy patients report an increase in dyspnea in the first month post-operatively, not seen after wedge resection. With exception of thoracic pain after lobectomy, QoL scores approximated baseline values 3MPO indicating good recovery. After pneumonectomy, there is no return to baseline in physical functioning, role functioning, pain, shoulder function and dyspnea in a 12 months follow-up period. Other QoL scores were comparable with baseline values. Pneumonectomy was significantly associated with a less favorable QoL score evolution when compared with lobectomy. Comparing antero- and posterolateral thoracotomy, significant differences in pain and dyspnea were seen in favor of the anterolateral technique. Comparing thoracotomy to VATS, significant differences were seen in physical functioning, QoL and thoracic pain in favor of VATS.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study documented QoL evolution profiles comparing pre-operative status with deficits and changes at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after pulmonary surgery. Lung cancer surgery is well tolerated by the majority of patients. Lobectomy patients have a more favorable physical functioning and less thoracic pain, compared to pneumonectomy. Antero- and posterolateral thoracotomy are comparable for QoL evolution. After posterolateral thoracotomy more post-operative pain and dyspnea was seen. Post-operative physical functioning, pain and QoL are in favor of VATS.

Management of postthoracotomy pain: acute and chronic

Given the discomfort of thoracic surgical incisions, thoracic surgeons must understand and use contemporary multimodality pain treatments. Acute postthoracotomy pain not only causes psychologic distress to the patient but also has detrimental effects on pulmonary function and postoperative mobility, leading to increased morbidity. By choosing the most appropriate and least traumatic surgical incision, adhering to meticulous surgical techniques, and avoiding intercostal nerve injury or rib fractures, surgeons can minimize postoperative pain. Aggressive perioperative and postoperative pain management is best accomplished with use of an epidural anesthetic and covering breakthrough pain with an IV-PCA. Alternatively, an infusion system for continuous administration of local anesthetics directly in the subpleural plane, posterior to the intercostal incision, also provides excellent pain control. Again, use of an IV-PCA as adjuvant therapy is recommended. With careful planning, severe pain and its negative impact on thoracic surgical patients can be prevented.

A Novel Endoscopic Technique in Treating Single Nerve Entrapment Syndromes with Special Attention to Ulnar Nerve Transposition and Tarsal Tunnel Release: Clinical Application

OBJECTIVE:

To describe a simple retractor integrated endoscopic technique for treating idiopathic solitary compression neuropathies with special attention to the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve and tarsal tunnel release, and to present the clinical results.

METHODS:

Eleven patients with ulnar sulcus syndrome, eight with tarsal tunnel syndrome, and one with meralgia paraesthetica (seven females and 13 males; age range, 12–64 yr) were treated with endoscopic anterior ulnar nerve transposition and in situ decompression of the tibial (eight patients) and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves (one patient), respectively. The selection criteria were: classical nerve compression symptoms, failed conservative treatment, abnormal electrophysiology, and a nonviolated anatomic region. The degree of nerve compression (after Dellon) was rated as moderate in five out of 20 patients and as severe in 15 out of 20 patients. Electrophysiological studies were conducted independently by physicians specializing in these techniques. Postoperative recovery was evaluated according to the nine-point Bishop rating system.

RESULTS:

Of the 11 patients with anterior ulnar nerve transposition, seven scored excellent, three scored good, and one scored fair (mean follow-up, 15.5 mo; range, 6–27 mo). Five patients with tarsal tunnel release scored excellent and three scored good (mean follow-up, 10.1 mo; range, 3–24 mo). The patient with meralgia paraesthetica showed an excellent score at 28 months after surgery. There were no technical or postoperative complications. None of the operations had to be converted to open surgery.

CONCLUSION:

We describe a new endoscopic technique for transposing the ulnar nerve and decompressing the tibial nerve. This technique could be extrapolated to release other single nerve entrapments. The simplicity of the technique, and our preliminary clinical results, may encourage other groups to adapt this method.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery--the past, present status and the future

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has developed very rapidly in these two decades, and has replaced conventional open thoracotomy as a standard procedure for some simple thoracic operations as well as an option or a complementary procedure for some other more complex operations. In this paper we will review its development history, the present status and the future perspectives.

Thoracoscopic Lung Lobectomy for Treatment of Lung Tumors in Dogs

OBJECTIVE

To report use of thoracoscopic lung lobectomy (TLL) for treatment of lung tumors (LT) in dogs.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

ANIMALS

Nine dogs.

METHODS

Dogs that had TLL for tumor removal were included. Using general anesthesia and 1-lung ventilation, TLL was performed using a 30-60 mm endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis stapler. If the visual field was obscured, lobe resection was completed via thoracotomy.

RESULTS

Metastatic and primary LT were resected by thoracoscopic lobectomy in 9 dogs (6 male, 3 female; mean (+/-SD) weight, 29+/-7 kg; mean age, 10.7+/-1.9 years). Six dogs had a solitary mass and 3 dogs had 2 masses within a single lobe. The left caudal lobe was removed in 3 dogs. In 5 dogs, TLL was used alone whereas conversion to thoracotomy was required in 4 dogs because of poor visibility. There were 7 metastatic LT and 2 primary LT. Mean duration of thoracoscopic surgery was 108.8+/-30.3 minutes compared with 150.75+/-55.4 minutes in dogs requiring conversion to thoracotomy. Mean hospitalization was 3.1+/-1.3 days.

CONCLUSION

Provided the visual field is not obscured, TLL can be performed effectively in dogs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dogs with metastatic or primary LTs should be considered for TLL, particularly for small masses positioned away from the hilus in the left caudal lung lobe.

Troubleshooting Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy

PURPOSE

Surgeons converting their open lobectomy skills to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) techniques have sought traditional technical courses, publications, and physician mentoring. While these are useful in teaching basic principles, it is more difficult to promulgate the numerous advanced techniques or technical "tricks" that deal with anatomical variations or pathologic changes in the lung tissue.

DESCRIPTION

Engineers have simplified the process of rolling out complex technology by using troubleshooting guides. Accordingly, helpful video-assisted lobectomy maneuvers have been categorized according to the specific problems occasionally encountered at different points in the operation.

EVALUATION

These maneuvers were compiled and reviewed by a panel of thoracic surgeons experienced in video-assisted lobectomies and have been active in teaching and mentoring of thoracic surgeons, residents and fellows. The techniques described have been used successfully by the authors to overcome exposure and instrumentation limitations, to achieve the outcomes reported in their series, and to guide trainees.

CONCLUSIONS

Troubleshooting guides offer an organized means for surgeons to improve the parts of the video-assisted lobectomy procedure that they find tedious or challenging.

Primary and Secondary Lung Malignancies Treated with Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation: Evaluation with Follow-Up Helical CT

OBJECTIVE

We sought to describe the appearance of primary and secondary lung malignancies treated with radiofrequency ablation on follow-up helical CT and to identify the important CT findings for evaluating therapeutic efficacy and response on follow-up CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among the 21 patients in our study population, 17 had lung cancer and four had metastatic nodules. All patients underwent follow-up helical CT immediately after undergoing percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, 1 month later, and then every 3 months. Two reviewers interpreted the CT findings and reached a consensus opinion. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the posttreatment contrast-enhanced CT findings-those with a complete ablation and those with a partial ablation. The serial changes in the enhancement pattern, size, peripheral ground-glass opacities, and other findings in the treated area in the two groups were assessed on follow-up CT.

RESULTS

In the complete ablation group (n = 9 patients), the ablated lesions were completely without contrast enhancement on follow-up CT, and the mean percentage of decrease in the size of the ablated lesions at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months was 5.7%, 11.4%, 14.3%, 40%, and 40%, respectively, compared with the lesion size on the follow-up CT scans obtained immediately after treatment. In the partial ablation group (n = 12 patients), the ablated lesions had various degrees of enhancement, and the mean percentage of ablated lesion size gradually increased after the 6-month follow-up CT examination. Enveloped ground-glass opacity surrounding tumor was seen in five (23.8%) of 21 lesions on the immediate follow-up CT scans.

CONCLUSION

Of the CT findings of lung malignancy after radiofrequency ablation therapy, the enhancement pattern and the size of the change in the ablated lesion are the most important factors for determining whether a complete ablation has been achieved.

Shoulder function after thoracic surgery

Thoracic procedures are considered to be among the most painful surgical incisions and are associated with considerable postoperative pain and shoulder dysfunction, severely affecting mobility and activities of daily living. Improper patient positioning, muscle division, perioperative nerve injury, rib spreading, and consequent postoperative pain influence the patient's postoperative shoulder function and quality of life. To reduce access trauma and postoperative morbidity, various alternative modalities have been proposed to replace the standard PLT, including muscle-sparing techniques and VATS. Initial evaluations suggest that these alternatives are associated with significantly better postoperative shoulder function. Proper comparative studies using standardized questionnaires, objective evaluations, or quality-of-life assessments are scarce, however. Proper postoperative care, including early mobilization and effective physiotherapy, is a cornerstone in successful patient rehabilitation and rapid return to normal daily activities. Whether upper extremity exercises can contribute to improvement in postoperative shoulder function and the ability to perform activities of daily living needs to be studied further.

Quality of life after lung cancer resection

Lung cancer continues to be the most common cancer in the world, with the highest cancer mortality rate by far. Although resection remains the treatment of choice in early-stage NSCLC, the prognosis remains grim even after surgical treatment. In a patient population with such a high mortality rate, evaluation and preservation of QOL after treatment is imperative. Early-stage lung cancer patients already have significantly lower QOL when compared with the normal population before surgical treatment, with significant impairment in physical and emotional functioning. Lung cancer resection causes further deterioration of QOL, especially in the first 3 to 6 months after surgery. While some studies suggest that QOL returns to baseline levels at 6 to 9 months postoperatively, others report that QOL is still significantly impaired at 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Although prospective studies analyzing long-term postoperative QOL are not available, retrospective data suggest that long-term survivors after lung cancer surgery enjoy good QOL despite impaired physical functioning. QOL studies on VATS lung cancer resection are extremely limited. More prospective, longitudinal studies with larger study populations and longer follow-up periods are needed to portray the course of QOL in lung cancer patients more accurately and to improve postoperative care. Furthermore, comparative studies between VATS and the standard thoracic incisions (including QOL assessments) must be performed to guide clinical decision making regarding selection of optimal access modality for performing lung cancer resection.

The Impact of Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

The use of minimally invasive techniques (MIT) in patient care is well documented in ancient history; however, it was not until the 1990s that advancements in technology enabled surgeons to realize the true potential of this approach. The minimally invasive approach has revolutionized surgical care, significantly reducing postoperative pain, recovery time, and hospital stays with marked improvements in cosmetic outcome and overall cost-effectiveness. It is now used around the world and in all major fields of surgery, compelling changes in training programs in order to assure quality control and patient safety. The bond between surgeons practicing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and the high-tech industry is of utmost importance to future developments. Surgical robotic systems represent the most technologically advanced product of this collaboration, and their potential application in MIS shows much promise. As technology advances, additional developments in MIT are likely.

Endoscopic Exploration of the Brachial Plexus: Technique and Topographic Anatomy—A Study in Fresh Human Cadavers

OBJECTIVE

The indications for and timing of brachial plexus exploration in closed injuries are controversial. The time-consuming surgery proves its worth in some cases, whereas spontaneous regeneration might have been possible in others. The differentiation is difficult, because no investigational method reveals the exact morphological correlates of the nerve lesions. Minimally invasive, direct observation of the structures is a possible solution. Here we describe our surgical technique and the anatomic features of the normal brachial plexus appreciated with the endoscope.

METHODS

Twenty-one brachial plexus in 11 fresh cadavers were investigated. Endoscopic exploration was performed at the supraclavicular and infraclavicular levels. The method involves insertion of an optic shaft-integrated retractor through a stab wound; retraction of landmark muscles produces a working space, into which other instruments are introduced for dissection. After completion of endoscopic surgery, open dissection was performed to verify the endoscopically identified structures and to assess iatrogenic injuries.

RESULTS

The omohyoid muscle is a reliable landmark in the supraclavicular region, beneath which the suprascapular nerve can be observed. Following the suprascapular nerve proximally leads to the plexus trunks. Infraclavicular exploration first reveals the axillary artery. The plexus and its nerves are traced around this artery. The anatomic features were constant in all cases, with variations in fat accumulation depending on the corporeal constitution. We detected iatrogenic injuries to the medial circumflex humeral vessels in two cases. No nerve injuries were observed.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic technique combined with intraoperative nerve stimulation studies might provide important information on the type of morphological damage in closed brachial plexus injuries and thus might become an important tool for determination of the surgical treatment strategy. Clinical work is under way.