Non-intubated, uniportal, video assisted thoracic surgery [VATS] lobectomy, as a new procedure in our department

Abstract

Due to the emerging experience in VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomies, in some centers the so called "non-intubated" VATS lobectomies (NITS - non-intubated thoracic surgery) gained increased authority, during which endotracheal intubation and muscle relaxation of the patient is not carried out, thus surgery is being performed with the patient breathing spontaneously. The recent study deals with our initial experience gained during uniportal NITS VATS lobectomies. Between 24.01.2017 and 10.03.2017, 16 patients (female: 8; male: 8) with lung cancer underwent NITS VATS uniportal lobectomy. Mean age was 59.6 years (42-73 years). Mean FEV1 was 87.7% (62-109). Mean BMI was 27.1 (18.8-32.8). Prior to surgery, the patients received benzodiazepine premedication, local anesthetic (Lidocaine) for incision and Bupivacaine for intercostal and vagus nerve blockage. Besides routine monitoring Bispectoral Index (BIS) guided target-controlled infusion (TCI) Propofol sedation was carried out, with the help of laryngeal mask anesthesia. Skin and soft tissue incision was performed at the fifth intercostal space, in the axillary line. This single incision sight was the only one needed for the introduction of the camera, together with the instruments needed for dissection and resection of the lobe and placement of the chest tube. Complete atelectasis can develop. The following lobes were removed: 7 right upper lobes, 2 mid-lobes, 1 right lower lobe, 1 right lower lobe + right upper lobe wedge resection, 5 left lower lobes. After the resections, extended mediastinal sampling or block dissection was performed. There was no perioperative mortality. Conversion to endotracheal intubation was needed in non of the cases. Mean operative time was 96,5 minutes (80-120 min.), mean drainage periode was 2.9 days (2-8 days). Prolonged air leak was 1/16 (6.25%). Postoperative fever occurred in 1 patient and subcutaneous emphysema in 1 case, and 1 pneumonia. Because of a recurrent pneumothorax, a re-drainage was necessary in 1 case. Pathology of the resected lobes were as follows: 1 endobronchial hamartochondroma causing complete atelectasis of the lobe, 1 chronic pneumonia, and 10 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 carcinosarcoma, and 1 typical carcinoid. Staging of the 14 malignant cases were as follows: 8 IA, 2 IB, 1 IIA, 2 IIB, and 1 IIIA. The average number of the removed mediastinal lymph nodes is 12 (7-20). Non-intubated (NITS) VATS lobectomy is considered a safe procedure, satisfying all aspects of oncological guidelines. The postoperative drainage period was shorter caused by the complete atelectasis during the surgery.