An alternative chest tube placement after uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery

Safety and feasibility of a novel chest tube placement in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The type and placement of chest tube for patients undergoing uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel technique in which a pigtail catheter was used alone as the chest tube and placed near the incision for chest drainage after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and extended lymphadenectomy.

METHODS

A total of 217 patients undergoing uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups. In group A, a 12-Fr pigtail catheter with several side ports was placed next to the uniportal wound. In group B, a conventional 20-Fr chest tube was placed through the uniportal wound itself. Postoperative complications related to chest tube placement and patients' subjective satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Postoperative pain management effect and other clinical outcomes such as duration of chest drainage and postoperative stay were also compared.

RESULTS

There were 112 patients in group A and 105 patients in group B. A significantly lower incidence of wound complications was found in group A postoperatively (p = 0.034). The pain score on coughing in group A was significantly lower than that in group B on postoperative day two (POD2) (p = 0.021). There was no significant difference of other clinical outcomes such as duration of chest drainage and postoperative stay as well as major complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Placing a 12-Fr pigtail catheter alone next to the uniportal wound for chest drainage might be effective and safe after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and extended lymphadenectomy.

Experience of a modified chest tube suture-fixation technique in uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the feasibility and advantages of a modified chest tube suture-fixation technique in uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for pulmonary resection.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 116 patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (U-VATS) for lung diseases in Zhengzhou People's Hospital between October 2019 and October 2021. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the applied suture-fixation methods, i.e., 72 patients in the active group and 44 patients in the control group. The two groups were subsequently compared in the terms of gender, age, operation method, indwelling time of chest tube, postoperative pain score, chest tube removal time, wound healing grade, length of hospital stay, incision healing grade, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, operation method, indwelling time of chest tube, postoperative pain score, and length of hospital stay (P = 0.167, 0.185, 0.085, 0.051, 0.927, and 0.362, respectively). However, the chest tube removal time, incision healing grade, and incision scar satisfaction in the active group were significantly better compared with those of the control group (P = < 0.001, 0.033, and < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In summary, the new suture-fixation approach can minimize the number of stitches, and time necessary for chest tube removal process, and avoid the pain experienced when removing the drainage tube. This method is more feasible, has better incision conditions, and provides a convenient tube removal, making it more suitable to patients.

Off-Label Use of T-Tube as Chest Drainage for Uniportal Surgery

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery implies the positioning of a single chest drain at the mid thorax level. Therefore, this tube cannot reach simultaneously the basal and apical regions of the pleural cavity. We propose the off-label use of a T-tube usually utilized in biliary duct surgery. Despite mid thorax insertion, this tube allows effective air and fluid drainage of the entire pleural space. We tested it in 10 patients undergoing uniportal surgery and report satisfactory results. No postoperative chest tube displacement, pleural effusion infection, or subatelectasies occurred. We conclude that the T-tube represents a good alternative in patients at high risk of postoperative effusion undergoing the uniportal approach.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for the treatment of lung cancer: a consensus report from Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (CSTCVS) and Chinese Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS)

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UniVATS) has been widely adopted in China, where several ultra-high volume thoracic surgical and training centers are located. The objective of this consensus from Chinese experts was to summarize the current application and give reference for the future development of UniVATS in the treatment of lung cancer. A panel of 41 experts from 21 Chinese hospitals was invited to join this project. The Delphi method was used in this consensus consisting of two rounds of voting. The questionnaire was based on the current clinical evidence. Forty (97.6%) experts completed the 2 rounds of questionnaires. The experts’ experience was relatively similar. We defined the UniVATS as monitor-dependent surgery, no use of rib-spreading and single incision less than 4 cm. Tumor with stage of T1–T3 and N0–N2 is considered amenable to UniVATS. Other consensus was reached on several points outlining the safety and feasibility, surgical skills, learning curve, short-term and long-term outcomes for lung cancer, and current application of subxiphoid and nonintubated UniVATS approach. This consensus statement represents a collective agreement among Chinese experts to suggest that UniVATS is an effective alternative to multi-portal approach, although high-level evidence is expected in the future. Some agreements can be referred in the training of young surgeons.