Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries Research Articles

Effect of Intra-Operative Erector Spinae Plane Block on Post-Operative Consumption of Opioids after Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries (VATS)

Abstract Background Pain is an everyday challenge during all surgeries and it is a chief postoperative complication, so pain management is a corner stone in anesthetic practice. Although VATS is less painful than an open thoracotomy, patients may still feel severe pain and restricted mobility during the first few postoperative hours. Ultrasound guided nerve block is considered a recent technique for pain management. It provides better visualization of the nerves and reduces the risk for complications e.g. unintended injury to adjacent structures. Objective to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided ESPB done at lumbar transverse process level in patients undergoing VATS for postoperative analgesia. Patients and Methods The study was conducted in Ain Shams university Hospitals after approval of the ethics committee and written patients’ consent. It included a total of 30 adult patients aged 21-50 years, Scheduled for lumbar spine surgeries. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups, 15 each, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A (n = 15): Received fentanyl 1-2 mcg/kg during induction of anesthesia and maintained by additional boluses of fentanyl.5 mcg/kg, also received ketrolac 30mg and perfelgan 1gm before extubation in addition 40 ml bupivacaine 0.25% (20ml on each side) as a single level bilateral injection for ESPB. Group B (n = 15) (the controlled group): Received only fentanyl 1- 2 mcg/kg during induction of anesthesia and maintained by additional boluses of fentanyl.5 mcg/kg, also received ketrolac 30mg and perfelgan 1gm before extubation. Results The main finding in this study was that ultrasound guided ESPB at level of thoracic process provides a good analgesic effect in patients undergoing VATS also reduced the total amount of postoperative morphine consumption in comparison to controlled group, Prolonged the time to first request of analgesia (duration of analgesia), Provided early mobilization, Increase patient satisfaction in 1st 24 hour and Decrease incidence of nausea and vomiting due to decrease opioids intake. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block reduced postoperative morphine consumption, alleviated postoperative pain scores and improved patients’ satisfaction in the first 24 hours after VATS, without associated any adverse effects or complications like nausea and vomiting, nerve injury, respiratory depression and hematoma formation. The ESPB slightly decreased the rate of PONV. This might be because the use of ESP might have decreased the use of intraoperative opioids.

A Systematic Review of Short-Term Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Cancer after Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy.

Minimally invasive surgeries for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATSs) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (RATSs) have become standard of care for patients needing surgical resection in early stages. The role for neoadjuvant systemic therapy has increased with patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, there has been some equipoise over the intraoperative and overall outcomes for these patients. Here, we review the current data regarding outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive thoracic surgical resection after systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or both. A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies presenting data on patients with NSCLC that underwent neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by minimally invasive surgery was performed assessing complications, conversion rates, and lymph node yield. Our search strategy and review of references resulted in 239 publications to screen with 88 full texts assessed and 21 studies included in our final review. VATS had a statistically significant higher lymph node yield in five studies. The reported conversion rates ranged from 0 to 54%. Dense adhesions, bleeding, and difficult anatomy were the most common reported reasons for conversion to open surgeries. The most common complications between both groups were prolonged air leak, arrythmia, and pneumonia. VATS was found to have significantly fewer complications in three papers. The current literature supports VATS as safe and feasible for patients with NSCLC after neoadjuvant systemic treatment. Surgeons should remain prepared to convert to open surgeries in those patients with dense adhesions and bleeding risk.

Feasibility of ventilator-assisted tubeless anesthesia for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

General anesthesia providing one-lung ventilation (OLV) with double-lumen endotracheal intubation has been considered inevitable for thoracic surgery. However, with the recent trend of less invasive surgical technique and enhanced recovery after surgery, tubeless anesthesia has been performed in various thoracic surgeries. The aim of this study was to establish a feasible and safe strategy of ventilator-assisted tubeless anesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS) based on single-institution experiences. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent tubeless VATS from November 2019 to December 2021. Perioperative anesthetic and surgical variables as well as complications were reported. Seventeen patients with a median age of 29 and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to II underwent video-assisted pulmonary wedge resection under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) using propofol and remifentanil. Mechanical ventilation was applied in synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with pressure support mode through facemask if respiratory support was required. During the operation, none of the patients showed hypoxemia or involuntary movement interfering operation. No patients were converted to general anesthesia or open thoracotomy unintentionally. All patients were discharged on median 2 days postoperatively without complications. Ventilator-assisted tubeless VATS is a feasible and safe option in low-risk patients undergoing video-assisted pulmonary wedge resection.

Comparison of active versus passive robotic-endoscope-holder-assisted unisurgeon uniportal thoracoscopic surgery in terms of surgical efficacy and patient safety.

Few studies have compared robotic-arm-assisted unisurgeon uniportal surgeries with conventional human-assisted uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATSs) in terms of surgical efficacy and patient safety. In the present study, we compared the aforementioned surgeries. We explored two robotic endoscope holders-a passive robotic platform (ENDOFIXexo, EA group) and a pedal-controlled active robotic platform (MTG-100, MA group)-for unisurgeon uniportal surgeries and compared the surgical outcomes with those of human-assisted uniportal surgeries (HA group) in 228 patients with a lung lesion (size, <5 cm). The primary parameters for this comparison were surgical efficacy, patient safety, and short-term patient outcomes. No significant differences were observed among the EA, MA, and HA groups. The success rate of robotic-arm-assisted unisurgeon uniportal wedge resection was 100%, regardless of the group. No major differences were noted in preparation time between the EA and MA groups. Segmentectomy was more favorable in the EA group than in the MA group. The rates of surgical conversion were 5% and 60% in the EA and MA groups, respectively. The EA and MA groups did not differ considerably from the HA group in terms of postoperative complications. Unisurgeon uniportal wedge resection may be effectively performed using a robotic endoscope holder, without the need for any human assistants with an expert hand. However, the rate of surgical conversion increases with the complexity of uniportal anatomic resections. The passive platform appears to be more suitable for unisurgeon uniportal surgery than the active pedal-controlled platform given the equipment in contemporary operating rooms.

Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block in Paediatric VATS: A Case Series.

Decortication and stripping of infected pleura by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or thoracotomy is the treatment of choice in cases of empyema. The stripping is associated with intense post-operative pain. Erector spinae block is an excellent and safe alternative to thoracic epidural block. The experience in paediatric erector spinae plane block is very limited. We present our experience of continuous erector spinae block and one single-shot erector spinae plane block in paediatric video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries. We had 5 patients aged 2-8 years with right-sided empyema, who were taken up for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery decortication, and 2 patients aged 1-4 years with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery CDH repair. After induction and intubation, using high-frequency straight ultrasound probe, an erector spinae plane catheter was inserted and the local anaesthetic agent was administered. The patients were monitored for signs of effective analgesia. Post-extubation continuous erector spinae plane block was continued for 48 hours using bupivacaine and fentanyl. All patients had excellent postoperative analgesia for more than 48 hours. There were no side effects like motor block, nausea, vomiting, or respiratory depression. Continuous erector spinae plane block provides excellent analgesia in paediatric patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, causing minimal side effects. Further, a prospective randomized control trial is suggested to establish the efficacy of this block in paediatric video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries.

Incidence and risk factors of ipsilateral shoulder pain in patients after thoracic surgeries.

Ipsilateral shoulder pain (ISP) post-thoracotomy impairs the recovery in early postoperative period, the aetiology of which is unclear. We studied to find out the incidence and risk factors associated with ISP. We did a prospective observational study, wherein 296 patients scheduled for thoracic surgeries were enroled. Pain in the shoulder during activity was assessed using American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons standardised assessment method. All potential predictors were analysed in a multivariable penalised logistic regression model, using ISP as the outcome variable. Of the 296 patients, 118 (39.8%) patients developed ISP. Of the 296 patients, 170 patients underwent thoracotomy and 110 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries. The incidence of ISP was higher in thoracotomy patients (45.29%) compared to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (32.7%). Majority of patients (43.2%) were aged more than 65 years, which was statistically significant as per univariate analysis (P = .007). The incidence of ISP was the highest at 41.89% among those who had lung cancer (n = 74), with disease involving right upper lobe and left upper lobe, 29% and 25.8%, respectively. The pain severity was moderate in 27.1% of patients during shoulder movements. Among the patients who had ISP, 77.1% expressed it as dull aching, whereas 21.2% described it as stabbing in nature. The incidence of ISP in those who underwent thoracic surgery was high and dull aching in nature, of mild to moderate intensity, commonly located on the posterior aspect of the shoulder. It was more common in those who underwent thoracotomy and more than 65 years of age.

Short-term outcomes of bronchoplastic lobectomies performed from video-assisted thoracoscopic and thoracotomic approaches

The OBJECTIVE of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of bronchoplastic lobectomies performed from video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) and thoracotomic approaches and to identify factors affecting the course of the early postoperative period.METHODS AND MATERIALS. Out of 398 patients underwent surgical resection in the Center for Intensive Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery of the SPbSBHI «City multidisciplinary hospital № 2» from 2014 to 2021 for malignant lung neoplasms, 27 patients with bronchoplastic lobectomy were included in the retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups depending on surgical approach: group I (n=17) included patients operated via thoracotomic approach; group II (n=10) included patients who underwent VATS surgeries. The groups were similar in gender, age, smoking history, Body Mass Index, concomitant pathology, functional status and stage of the disease. Surgical intervention included ipsilateral systematic lymph dissection and bronchoplastic lobectomy.RESULTS. There were no significant differences in time of operation, blood loss, duration of drainage of the pleural cavity, incidence of postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, number of dissected lymph nodes between the groups. Factor analysis of the influence of pre- and intraoperative factors on the development of postoperative complications showed that the risk of a complicated course of the postoperative period significantly decreased at normal values of FEV1 and FVC (OR=0.942, p&lt;0.05; OR=0.932, p&gt;&lt;0.05) and increased in the presence of adhesions (obliteration of the pleural cavity more than 50%), requiring total pneumolysis, and the absence of interlobar fissures (OR=5.5, p&gt;&lt;0.05; OR=6.5, p&gt;&lt;0.05). In multivariate analysis, strong adhesions in the pleural cavity turned out to be an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for the development of postoperative complications (OR=8.567, p&gt;&lt;0.05). CONCLUSION. The use of VATS approach does not increase the incidence of complications after bronchoplastic lobectomies. In patients with FEV1&gt;84.9 %)CONCLUSION. The use of VATS approach does not increase the incidence of complications after bronchoplastic lobectomies. In patients with FEV1&gt;84.9 % and FVC&gt;101.2 %, the risk of complications after bronchoplastic lobectomies is confirmed lower. Adhesions in pleural cavity requiring total pneumolysis is an independent unfavorable factor in the development of postoperative complications.

A New Method to Identify Air Leaks After Pulmonary Resection Using Indocyanine Green Aerosol

BackgroundThis study investigated whether air leak sites resulting from pulmonary resection could be identified by the administration of aerosolized indocyanine green into the airway. MethodsSixty-one patients who underwent lung resection surgery (54 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries and 7 thoracotomies) during 2019 to 2021 were enrolled. An additional sealing test including indocyanine green administration and observation with a near-infrared camera was performed after the conventional sealing test. The results of the indocyanine sealing test were compared with those of the conventional sealing test and evaluated. The observation period set for evaluating adverse events was 1 month. ResultsThe conventional sealing test detected 38 air leak points, of which 20 were caused by stapler-related pleural defects. The indocyanine green sealing test identified 55 indocyanine green fluorescent sites. Among these, 37 sites were matched with air leak points identified in the conventional sealing test, and 18 new sites were identified in the indocyanine green test. Reexamination of newly identified indocyanine green fluorescent sites with the conventional sealing test showed 13 air leak sites additionally. The detection rate of the conventional sealing test was 75% and that of the indocyanine green sealing test was 98% (P = .001). No complications attributable to the aerosolized indocyanine green were encountered. ConclusionsThe indocyanine green sealing test could identify air leak points overlooked by the conventional method. This procedure may be suitable in video-assisted surgery to improve surgical field visibility, and it allows prolonged observation of the lung in a collapsed state.

Dexmedetomidine versus magnesium sulfate as adjunct to general anesthesia in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopy

BackgroundThis study was designed to evaluate the effects of infusion of magnesium sulfate compared to dexmedetomidine on the postoperative analgesic consumption and pain control in patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS). The intraoperative hemodynamics, anesthesia requirements, and recovery profile were also evaluated.ResultsThe mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) recordings were significantly lower in group D than in groups C and M. The MAP recordings were significantly lower in group M than in group C with no significant difference as regards the HR recordings between both groups. Intraoperative sevoflurane and fentanyl requirements were significantly lower in groups D and M than in group C and in group D than in group M. The atracurium consumption was significantly lower in group M than in groups C and D. The time to reach modified Aldrete score ≥ 9 was significantly longer in groups D and M than in group C and in group D than in group M. Postoperative Ramsay sedation scores were significantly higher in groups D and M than in group C throughout the PACU stay and in group D than in group M in the 1st h postoperatively. The VAS score recordings were significantly lower in groups D and M than in group C and in group D than in group M except at 24-h postoperative recordings. The postoperative nalbuphine and ketorolac requirements were significantly lower in groups D and M than in group C and in group D than in group M.ConclusionsDuring VATS, patients who received dexmedetomidine had better hemodynamic stability, less intraoperative anesthetic consumption with better quality of postoperative analgesia, and less postoperative analgesic consumption but longer postoperative anesthesia recovery and higher postoperative sedation scores compared with magnesium sulfate.

A prospective comparative randomized controlled study of erector spinae plane block using local anesthetics versus general anesthesia for the perioperative control of pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic procedures

Background: Patients posted for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS) are nowadays managed intraoperatively by general anesthesia (GA) with the use of oral and parenteral analgesics in the post-operative period. Ongoing research points out that the erector spinae plane block (ESP Block) with local anesthetics is a safe technique for the perioperative management of pain in thoracoscopic procedures. Aims and Objectives: Our study aimed at comparing ultrasound guided ESP block using local anesthetics versus GA for perioperative pain management in patients who underwent thoracoscopic procedures. The objectives of this research were to assess the hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing the procedure, to calculate the total amount of analgesics required by patients in the next 24 h, to assess the overall patient satisfaction and complications in the post-operative period. Materials and Methods: In this prospective comparative randomized controlled trial, 40 patients aged 18–65 years planned to undergo VATS were enrolled and randomized to either group G or group E in equal numbers depending on the anesthetic technique employed. Group G patients received GA and Group E patients received ultrasound guided ESP block. Both the groups were compared for hemodynamic stability, pain in postoperative period using visual analog scale (VAS), time to first rescue analgesia requested since induction, total amount of rescue analgesia requested, overall patient satisfaction, and post-operative complications. Results: Better control of hemodynamic parameters, less post-operative pain, prolonged duration of analgesia (P &lt; 0.05), and requirement of lesser amount of rescue analgesics were observed in patients of Group E in comparison with patients of Group G. Side effects such as post-operative nausea and vomiting were more in patients of Group G in the first 24 h (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: ESP block with local anesthetics can be used as an effective sole anesthetic technique for VATS &lt;60 min providing a longer pain free post-operative period, lesser rescue analgesic requirement, better patient satisfaction, and lesser post-operative complications.

Adopting robotic thoracic surgery impacts hospital overall lung resection case volume

Purpose.We sought to evaluate the role of robotic-assisted lung surgery on hospital volume using difference in difference (DID). We propose hospital adoption of robotic thoracic technology increases total volume of specific procedures as compared to non-robotic hospitals.Methods.The 2010–2015 Florida Agency for Health Care Administration dataset was queried for open, video-assisted thoracoscopic, and robotic-assisted thoracic surgeries. Incident Rate Ratios (IRR) from DID analysis determined the significance of robotic technology. For each technique, length of stay and elements of charges were compared to determine statistical significance.Results.A total of 28,484 lung resection procedures performed at 162 hospitals, 65 of which had robotic capabilities were included. Robotic hospitals experienced an 85% increase in total lung surgical volume (IRR 1.85, p-value <0.001). This increase in volume was consistent for each lung resection procedure separately.Conclusion.Hospital adoption of robotic technology significantly increases the overall lung surgical volume for select lung resection procedures.

Non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy for sleeve lobectomy in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case report

: Patients with compromised lung function undergoing uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS) are at high risk for postoperative pulmonary complications. Ventilation technique for these patients should attempt to minimize the potential lung injury as well as to obtain a satisfactory surgical field and provide adequate intraoperative oxygenation. Non-intubated thoracic surgery has been reported to be associated with less ventilatory impairment compared to general anesthesia with double lumen tube intubation. However, this technique in complex surgeries such as sleeve lobectomy is not standardized yet. We described a 71-year-old male with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and primary carcinoma obstructing the right upper lobe. Uniportal VATS right upper sleeve lobectomy was performed under non-intubated anesthesia. A cross-field bronchial suction catheter was inserted through the open end of the right main bronchus to provide left lung oxygen delivery during the anastomosis maneuvers. Satisfactory operative conditions as well as adequate oxygenation was achieved using this technique. No signs of pulmonary complications or any other discomfort was observed during the patient’s hospital stay. Thus, we suggest that non-intubated anesthesia could be a safe or even better option in the case of a patient with reduced lung function for complex uniportal VATS surgeries like sleeve lobectomy.

Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was the assessment of the analgesic and hemodynamic implications of dexmedetomidine used as an additive to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane (SAP) block for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS ) under general anesthesia.ResultsThe hemodynamic stability was maintained perioperatively with no significant difference of MBP and HR recordings between the two study groups (P > 0.05). The time to 1st postoperative analgesic demand was significantly longer in group BD than in group B (P < 0.05). The postoperative total nalbuphine and rescue ketorolac requirements were significantly lower in group BD than in group B (P < 0.05). The VAS scores were significantly lower in group BD at 8th and 12th h postoperatively than in group B, with no significant difference at 0–6 h and 18–24 h postoperatively (P > 0.05). Ramsay sedation scores were significantly higher in the group BD than in group B in the initial 1st h after surgery (P < 0.05) with no significant difference at the subsequent postoperative recordings (P > 0.05).ConclusionUsing dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg) as an additive to bupivacaine for SAP block prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia and reduces the postoperative analgesic requirements in the 1st 24 h after VATS without any significant side effects.

Nalbuphine and dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to ropivacaine in ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background:Adjuvants to local anesthetics, such as nalbuphine and dexmedetomidine, can be used to improve the quality and duration of peripheral nerve block effects. Dexmedetomidine has been successfully used as an adjuvant of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with ropivacaine in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy surgeries (VATLS). This study aimed to compare the effects of nalbuphine and dexmedetomidine used as adjuvants to ropivacaine for ESPB in VATLS.Methods:A total of 102 patients undergoing VATLS with ESPB were enrolled and randomized into 3 groups, each of which received a different adjuvant to ropivacaine. The visual analogue scale score, onset and duration of sensory block, use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), rate of rescue analgesia, duration of postoperative hospitalization, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and chronic pain were measured and observed.Results:The visual analogue scale score, total PCA use, rate of rescue analgesia, and postoperative chronic pain in the ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine (RD), and ropivacaine with nalbuphine (RN) groups were lower than those in the ropivacaine (RC) group (P < .05). The duration of sensory block was longer and the first use of PCA occurred later in the RD and RN groups than they did in the RC group (P < .05).Conclusions:As an adjuvant to ropivacaine in ESPB, nalbuphine and dexmedetomidine are comparable in terms of the associated analgesia, sensory block duration, need for rescue analgesia, and incidence of chronic pain in patients after VATLS.

Anesthetic Challenges During Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries for Pediatric Empyema Thoracis: A Case Series

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a less invasive approach for thoracoscopic surgery providing better visualization through minimal access. In addition, it offers less postoperative pain, fewer operative complications, and shortened hospital stay. These advantages make VATS ideal for the pediatric age group. Various societies recommend the use of VATS for Stage 2 pulmonary empyema and also in some cases of early Stage 3 where the plane of cleavage exists between the pleura and the exudate. A well-executed one-lung ventilation (OLV) is necessary for a successful VATS; however, performance of OLV and postoperative pain management in children poses a challenging task for an anesthesiologist.

Kernel-based framework to estimate deformations of pneumothorax lung using relative position of anatomical landmarks

In video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries, successful procedures of nodule resection are highly dependent on the precise estimation of lung deformation between the inflated lung in the computed tomography (CT) images during preoperative planning and the deflated lung in the treatment views during surgery. Lungs in the pneumothorax state during surgery have a large volume change from normal lungs, making it difficult to build a mechanical model.The purpose of this study is to develop a deformation estimation method of 3D surface of a deflated lung from a few partial observations. To estimate deformations for a largely deformed lung, a kernel regression-based solution was introduced. The proposed method used a few landmarks to capture the partial deformation between the 3D surface mesh obtained from preoperative CT and the intraoperative anatomical positions. The deformation for each vertex of the entire mesh model was estimated per-vertex as a relative position from the landmarks. The landmarks were placed in the anatomical position of the lung’s outer contour. The method was applied on nine datasets of the left lungs of live beagle dogs. Contrast-enhanced CT images of the lungs were acquired.The proposed method achieved a local positional error of vertices of 2.74 mm, Hausdorff distance of 6.11 mm, and Dice similarity coefficient of 0.94. Moreover, the proposed method achieved the estimation lung deformations from a small number of training cases and a small observation area.This study contributes to data-driven modeling of pneumothorax deformation of the lung.

Comparison of non-intubated and intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries of major pulmonary resections for lung cancer\u2014a meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the safety feasibility and safety feasibility of non-intubated (NIVATS) and intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (IVATS) during major pulmonary resections.MethodsA meta-analysis of eight studies was conducted to compare the real effects of two lobectomy or segmentectomy approaches during major pulmonary resections.ResultsResults showed that the patients using NIVATS had a greatly shorter hospital stay and chest-tube placement time (weighted mean difference (WMD): − 1.04 days; 95% CI − 1.50 to − 0.58; P < 0.01) WMD − 0.71 days; 95% confidence interval (CI), − 1.08 to − 0.34; P < 0.01, respectively) while compared to those with IVATS. There were no significant differences in postoperative complication rate, surgical duration, and the number of dissected lymph nodes. However, through the analysis of highly selected patients with lung cancer in early stage, the rate of postoperative complication in the NIVATS group was lower than that in the IVATS group [odds ratio (OR) 0.44; 95% CI 0.21–0.92; P = 0.03, I2 = 0%].ConclusionsAlthough the comparable postoperative complication rate was observed for major thoracic surgery in two surgical procedures, the NIVATS method could significantly shorten the hospitalized stay and chest-tube placement time compared with IVATS. Therefore, for highly selected patients, NIVATS is regarded as a safe and technically feasible procedure for major thoracic surgery. The assessment of the safety and feasibility for patients undergoing NIVATS needs further multi-center prospective clinical trials.

Comparison of analgesic efficacy of the conventional approach and mid-transverse process to pleura approach of the paravertebral block in video-assisted thoracoscopy surgeries: A randomised controlled trial.

Background and Aims:The paravertebral block (PVB) is an effective alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia for post-operative analgesia in thoracic surgeries. Despite the use of ultrasound in PVB, the search for a safer approach continues. This study was conducted to compare the analgesic efficacy of conventional and mid-transverse process to the pleura (MTP) approach of the PVB.Methods:Forty patients aged between 18-60 years, posted for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, were enroled for this study. Patients were randomised into two groups using a random number table, and group allocation was done by the sealed opaque envelope method. One group received PVB by conventional approach (group CP). In contrast, patients in the other group (group MP) received PVB by the mid-transverse process to pleura (MTP) approach before induction of general anaesthesia under ultrasound guidance. The study's primary aim was to compare analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours. Secondary aims were comparing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, block performance time, dermatomal spread, haemodynamic parameters such as heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), patient satisfaction scores, and complications observed. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.Results:Demographic parameters, block performance time, and dermatomal distribution were comparable in both groups. We did not find any statistical difference in the analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours (P = 0.38), VAS at rest or on movement, complication rates, and patient satisfaction scores between the groups.Conclusion:The MTP approach of the PVB is as effective as the conventional thoracic paravertebral approach for post-operative analgesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries.

Feasibility of Spontaneous Ventilation in Secondary Contralateral Thoracic Surgery.

BackgroundA secondary contralateral thoracic surgery is a challenging procedure and is rarely indicated. We retrospectively compared the perioperative values to find out whether video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under spontaneous ventilation is feasible for this surgery.Material/MethodsPatients were retrospectively collected from January 1, 2015 to December 30, 2018 who underwent secondary contralateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries with mechanical ventilation (MV-VATS group) or spontaneous ventilation (SV-VATS group). A propensity score-matching analysis was used to counterbalance the discrepancies. The primary outcome measures were the values of respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics, and the secondary outcome measures were postoperative recovery and complications.ResultsIn the SV-VATS group, the operation and anesthesia times were shorter (P=0.008 and P=0.020, respectively). The peak respiratory pressure value was lower (P<0.001), and there was less use of analgesic drugs during the operation (P<0.001). The vital signs and oxygenation were stable during the operation and in post-anesthesia care unit. The extubation time of laryngeal mask airway, chest-tube duration, and postoperative hospital stay were shorter in the SV-VATS group (P=0.015, P=0.000, P=0.003, respectively), but the duration of intensive care unit stay, the postoperative clinical complications, and chest radiography results were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P>0.05). In the SV-VATS group, postoperative leukocyte count (P<0.001) and neutrophil ratio (P=0.001) were lower and the postoperative value of PaCO2 was slightly higher (P=0.026).ConclusionsVATS under spontaneous ventilation might be an alternative approach for patients who undergo a secondary contralateral thoracic surgery with intraoperative stable vital signs, and does not increase postoperative complications.

Robotic-Extended Rethymectomy for Refractory Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Series

To assess the safety and efficacy of robotic-extended rethymectomy in selected refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with suspected residual thymic tissue. Robotic-extended rethymectomy was performed in 6 MG patients with seropositive acetylcholine receptors (AChR) antibody who had undergone a previous thymectomy (1 cervicotomy, 2 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries, and 3 sternotomies). The median observation time before robotic rethymectomy was 108 (24-171) months. The main outcomes were perioperative morbidity, mortality, conversion to open surgery, and clinical outcomes according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Post-Intervention Status (MGFA-PIS). Before rethymectomy, all patients required immunosuppressants and 5 patients (83.3%) required intravenous immune globulin and/or plasma exchange to control the symptoms. The median specimen weight was 24.5 (14-144) g after rethymectomy, and residual thymic tissue was found in 5 patients (83.3%). No conversion to open surgery or perioperative morbidity and mortality was observed. With a median follow-up time of 46.5 (13-155) months, 3 patients (50%) achieved "improved" and 3 (50%) were "unchanged" according to the MGFA-PIS. Compared with preoperative use, the median daily dose of corticosteroids statistically decreased (25 [7.5-60] vs 0 [0-5] mg, P = 0.002) without significant change in azathioprine use (100 [0-200] vs 50 [0-150] mg, P = 0.360). AChR antibody positive MG patients with a treatment refractory long-term course after thymectomy might have remaining thymic tissue with the 2 commonly associated thymus pathologies, thymoma, and follicular hyperplasia. Robotic-extended rethymectomy might be considered as a safe and beneficial treatment option in these patients.