Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Thymectomy

Radical Removal of Low-Differentiation Thymic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Clinical Case

The presented case report demonstrates the successful operative treatment of a patient with thymic carcinoma located in the anterior mediastinum, infiltrating the vena cava, and affecting the upper lobe of the left lung. Our multidisciplinary approach, incorporating various operative techniques, proved effective in treating this type of pathology. The Clinic for Thoracic Surgery at UMHAT Kaspela, Plovdiv admitted a 72-year-old female patient due to complaints related to her cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The patient presented with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, cough with expectoration, and the presence of blood in her sputum. Additionally, the patient exhibited an increased temperature and experienced shortness of breath at rest. Extensive imaging and diagnostic studies were performed, including computed axial tomography of the chest with contrast material, echocardiography, functional breathing tests, and laboratory tests. The clinical board unanimously agreed that operative treatment was necessary, and the techniques used included robot-assisted surgery and median sternotomy. A low-differentiated carcinoma was identified during the surgical intervention and confirmed through patho-anatomical examination (frozen section) and permanent histological preparation. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the immunophenotype of the tumor corresponds to thymic neuroplastic squamous cell carcinoma (poorly differentiated). The patient had a smooth postoperative period and was discharged in a satisfactory general condition.

Myasthenia Gravis: A Systematic Review

Myasthenia gravis (MG), a rare disease, is the most common neuromuscular junction problem. It's the quintessential autoimmune disease with ocular, bulbar, respiratory, axial, and limb muscles exhibiting a typical fatigable weakening due to the development of antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Infections, stress, surgeries, thymus gland anomalies, and pharmaceutical side effects can also cause it. Ocular symptoms are initially experienced by most of the sufferers. The majority of the sufferers will go through at least one episode of symptom exacerbation during their illness. The immune system in MG interferes with nerve-muscle communication, causing muscles to become weak and tired quickly. The actual cause is not yet known, but a problem in the thymus gland may be the cause. In a person suffering from this disease, the size of the thymus becomes larger than normal, which is also called thymic hyperplasia. It is more common for women to have early-onset MG (EOMG) than for males to have late-onset MG (LOMG). Merely clinical evidence, encompassing the patients' medical history and physical indications of fluctuating muscle weakness in a specific region, is utilized to diagnose MG. Complementary diagnostic procedures and lab techniques aid in confirming the synaptic dysfunction and characterizing its kind and degree. Early diagnosis and the availability of effective treatments have reduced the burden of severe impairment and high mortality previously associated with MG. Current immunomodulation-based therapies come with side effects brought on by persistent immune suppression. Improved knowledge of this relatively uncommon but curable condition is required among primary carers. The objective of this review is to provide information about MG and to help people recognize its symptoms and start treatment without panic so that the progression of this disease can be stopped and complications can be avoided.

Clinical efficacy of robot-assisted subxiphoid versus lateral thoracic approach in the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative efficacy and safety of da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) for treating anterior mediastinal tumors through the subxiphoid and lateral thoracic approaches under the anesthesia of nontracheal intubation (i.e., laryngeal mask airway).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 116 patients with anterior mediastinal tumors treated by RATS under laryngeal mask anesthesia completed by the same operator in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, from October 2016 to October 2022. There were a total of 52 patients including 24 males and 28 females, with an average age of 45.40±4.94 years, in the subxiphoid approach (subxiphoid group). On the other hand, there were a total of 64 patients including 34 males and 30 females, with a mean age of 46.86±5.46 years in the lateral thoracic approach (lateral thoracic group). Furthermore, we have detailedly compared and analyzed the operating time, intraoperative bleeding, and total postoperative drainage in the two groups.

RESULTS

All patients in both groups successfully completed resection of the anterior mediastinal tumor without occurring perioperative death. Compared with the lateral thoracic group, the subxiphoid group has more advantages in terms of total postoperative drainage (P=0.035), postoperative drainage time (P=0.015), postoperative hospital stay (P=0.030), and visual analog scale (VAS) pain on postoperative days 2 (P=0.006) and 3 (P=0.002). However, the lateral thoracic group has more advantages in the aspect of docking time (P=0.020). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of operative time (P=0.517), total operative time (P=0.187), postoperative day 1 VAS pain score (P=0.084), and postoperative complications (P=0.715).

CONCLUSION

The subxiphoid approach of RATS under laryngeal mask anesthesia is safe and feasible for resecting anterior mediastinal tumors. Compared with the lateral thoracic approach, the subxiphoid approach has advantages in terms of rapid postoperative recovery and postoperative patient pain, and patient acceptance is also higher and thus is worth promoting in hospitals where it is available.

The role of minimally invasive surgery in the management of giant mediastinal tumors: a narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Beyond diagnosis, minimally invasive surgery has traditionally not been considered suitable for large tumors, those invading vital structures or high-risk patients. However, with the improvement of multimodality treatments able to reduce tumor size preoperatively, patient evaluation and selection, perioperative care (including both surgical and anesthesiological techniques) and postoperative management, the indications of minimally invasive surgery, even in giant mediastinal tumors, have increased and will continue to broaden in future years. This review aims to summarize the existing literature regarding the role of minimally invasive surgery in the management of giant mediastinal tumors. We have focused in the role minimally invasive surgery has in diagnosis and treatment of these tumors and we have tried to provide an updated perspective to identify future applications and work-directions.

METHODS

Data regarding minimally invasive surgery in giant mediastinal tumors are limited, including a proper definition of them. We performed a PubMed search of English and Spanish written studies until August 2021.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS

There is limited data related to minimally invasive surgery in giant mediastinal tumors and much of the literature review we have performed has yielded isolated case reports, case series with a low number of cases or editorials. Although the role of minimally invasive surgery is well consolidated as a diagnostic approach, adequate patient selection, hospital volume and experience, multidisciplinary discussion of candidates, patient safety and adequate oncological resection remain the most important aspects to be taken into account when considering a minimally invasive approach for a giant mediastinal tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

With careful and multidisciplinary perioperative planning, minimally invasive surgery has shown to be safe and to provide at least similar outcomes when compared to open approaches in well selected cases. Although data is still limited, improved surgical techniques and available technology will pave the way to increased indications of minimally invasive surgery in giant mediastinal tumors.

Approaches and outcomes of Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) for lung cancer: a narrative review

Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) is considered one of the main issues of present thoracic surgery. RATS is a minimally invasive surgical technique allowing enhanced view, accurate and complex movements, and high ergonomics for the surgeon. Despite these advantages, its application in lung procedures has been limited, mainly by its costs. Since now many different approaches have been proposed and the experience in RATS for lungs ranges from wedge resection to pneumonectomy and is mainly related to lung cancer. The present narrative review explores main approaches and outcomes of RATS lobectomy for lung cancer. A non-systematic review of literature was conducted using the PubMed search engine. An overview of lung robotic surgery is given, and main approaches of robotic lobectomy for lung cancer are exposed. Initial experiences of biportal and uniportal RATS are also described. So far, retrospective analysis reported satisfactory robotic operative outcomes, and comparison with VATS might suggest a more accurate lymphadenectomy. Some Authors might even suggest better perioperative outcomes too. From an oncological standpoint, no definitive prospective study has yet been published but several retrospective analyses report oncological outcomes comparable to those of VATS and open surgery. Literature suggests that RATS for lung procedures is safe and effective and should be considered as a valid additional surgical option.