Comparison of thoracoscopic drainage with open thoracotomy for treatment of paediatric parapneumonic empyema

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Thoracoscopic Surgery and Conventional Open Surgery for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Neonates: A Meta-analysis

Background

Thoracoscopic surgery is an increasingly popular surgical technique for the repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernias. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy, safety of thoracoscopic surgery and the conventional open surgical approach for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates.

Materials and Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Google, and Web of Science was performed to identify studies comparing thoracoscopic surgery and open surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. A total of 6 studies with 3348 patients were found. Parameters such as operation time, hospital stay, recurrence rate, postoperative mortality, and postoperative complications were pooled and compared by meta-analysis.

Results

Of the 3348 children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia included in the 6 studies, 615 underwent thoracoscopic surgery and 2733 underwent open surgery. All studies were nonrandomized controlled trials. The operation times were shorter for thoracoscopic surgery than for open surgery in three studies, but there was no significant difference (standard mean difference = 1.25, confidence interval [CI] = [-0.48-2.98], P = 0.16). In the thoracoscopic surgery group, the rate of postoperative deaths was significantly lower (95% CI = 1.24-2.75), but the occurrence of recurrences was more frequent (95% CI = 0.08-0.23). The hospital stay varied significantly across studies. There was a statistically significant difference (standard mean difference = -1.47, CI = [-2.24--0.70], P < 0.001) in the overall effect between the groups. The complication rate was significantly lower with thoracoscopic surgery compared to open surgery (odds ratio = 0.26, CI = [0.10-0.66], P = 0.004) for the overall effect between the groups. The thoracoscopic procedure, however, was planned for milder and stable cases.

Conclusion

Thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates is associated with a shorter length of hospital stay, fewer complications, and less postoperative mortality than traditional open repair. However, the rate of recurrence was found to be higher in those who underwent thoracoscopic surgery.

Videothoracoscopic surgery in children

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is now being used with increasing frequency for a wide variety of indications in pediatric patients. Although there is no high level of evidence for the advantages of VATS in the pediatric patient group, the proven benefits of this method in the adult patient group have encouraged thoracic surgeons to perform VATS in this patient population. In this study, the procedures performed in pediatric patients under 18 years of age and their results were reviewed with the help of articles obtained as a result of searches using relevant keywords in the English literature (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane). The frequency, indications, and results of the procedures performed differed according to age groups.

Thoracotomy versus Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy in Pediatric Empyema

BACKGROUND

To compare the outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in comparison to open thoracic surgery in pediatric patients suffering from empyema.

METHODS

A prospective study was carried out in 80 patients referred to the Department of Pediatric Surgery between 2015 and 2018. The patients were randomly divided into thoracotomy and VATS groups (groups I and II, respectively). Forty patients were in the thoracotomy group (16 males [40%], 24 females [60%]; average age, 5.77±4.08 years) and 40 patients were in the VATS group (18 males [45%], 22 females [55%]; average age, 6.27±3.67 years). There were no significant differences in age (p=0.61) or sex (p=0.26). Routine preliminary workups for all patients were ordered, and the patients were followed up for 90 days at regular intervals.

RESULTS

The average length of hospital stay (16.28±7.83 days vs. 15.83±9.44 days, p=0.04) and the duration of treatment needed for pain relief (10 days vs. 5 days, p=0.004) were longer in the thoracotomy group than in the VATS group. Thoracotomy patients had surgical wound infections in 27.3% of cases, whereas no cases of infection were reported in the VATS group (p=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that VATS was not only less invasive than thoracotomy, but also showed promising results, such as an earlier discharge from the hospital and fewer postoperative complications.

Videothoracoscopic surgery before and after chest tube drainage for children with complicated parapneumonic effusion

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of videothoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion and to determine whether there is a difference in the videothoracoscopic surgery outcome before or after the chest tube drainage.

METHODS

The medical records of 79 children (mean age 35 months) undergoing videothoracoscopic surgery from January 2000 to December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The same treatment algorithm was used in the management of all patients. Patients were divided into two groups: in group 1, videothoracoscopic surgery was performed as the initial procedure; in group 2, videothoracoscopic surgery was performed after previous chest tube drainage.

RESULTS

Videothoracoscopic surgery was effective in 73 children (92.4%); the other six (7.6%) needed another procedure. Sixty patients (75.9%) were submitted directly to videothoracoscopic surgery (group 1) and 19 (24%) primarily underwent chest tube drainage (group 2). Primary videothoracoscopic surgery was associated with a decrease of hospital stay (p=0.05), time to resolution (p=0.024), and time with a chest tube (p<0.001). However, there was no difference between the groups regarding the time until fever resolution, time with a chest tube, and the hospital stay after videothoracoscopic surgery. No differences were observed between groups regarding the need for further surgery and the presence of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Videothoracoscopic surgery is a highly effective procedure for treating children with complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion. When videothoracoscopic surgery is indicated in the presence of loculations (stage II or fibrinopurulent), no difference were observed in time of clinical improvement and hospital stay among the patients with or without chest tube drainage before videothoracoscopic surgery.

Comparison of closed-chest drainage with rib resection closed drainage for treatment of chronic tuberculous empyema

Background

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of closed-chest drainage with rib resection closed drainage of chronic tuberculous empyema.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed 86 patients with tuberculous empyema in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from August 2010 to November 2015. Among these included patients, 22 patients received closed-chest drainage, and 64 patients received rib resection closed drainage.

Results

The results showed that after intercostal chest closed drain treatment, 2 (9.09%) patients were recovery, 13 (59.09%) patients had significantly curative effect, 6 (27.27%) patients had partly curative effect, and 1 (4.55%) patient had negative effect. After treatment of rib resection closed drainage, 9 (14.06%) patients were successfully recovery, 31 (48.44%) patients had significantly curative effect, 19 (29.69%) patients had partly curative effect, and 5 (7.81%) patients had negative effect. There was no significant difference in the curative effect (P>0.05), while the average catheterization time of rib resection closed drainage (130.05±13.12 days) was significant longer than that (126.14±36.84 days) in course of intercostal chest closed drain (P<0.05).

Conclusions

This study had demonstrated that closed-chest drainage was an effective procedure for treating empyema in young patients. It was less invasive than rib resection closed drainage and was associated with less severe pain. We advocated closed-chest drainage for the majority of young patients with empyema, except for those with other diseases.

Treatment of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion and pleural parapneumonic empyema

BACKGROUND

We performed this observational prospective study to evaluate the results of the application of a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion (CPPE) and pleural parapneumonic empyema (PPE).

MATERIAL/METHODS

From 2001 to 2007, 210 patients with CPPE and PPE were confirmed through thoracocentesis and treated with pleural drainage tubes (PD), fibrinolytic treatment or surgical intervention (videothoracoscopy and posterolateral thoracotomy). Patients were divided into 3 groups: I (PD); II (PD and fibrinolytic treatment); IIIa (surgery after PD and fibrinolysis), and IIIb (direct surgery). The statistical study was done by variance analysis (ANOVA), χ2 and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

The presence of alcohol or drug consumption, smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were strongly associated with a great necessity for surgical treatment. The IIIa group was associated with increased drainage time, length of stay and complications. No mortality was observed. The selective use of PD and intrapleural fibrinolysis makes surgery unnecessary in more than 75% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The selective use of PD and fibrinolysis avoids surgery in more than 75% of cases. However, patients who require surgery have more complications, longer hospital stay, and more days on PD and they are more likely to require admittance to the Intensive Care Unit.

Thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in infancy

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgical techniques, specifically the thoracoscopic approach, have been applied to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with varying outcomes from selected centers. The aim of our study was to examine the rate of successful completion and compare outcomes between open and thoracoscopic approaches in CDH repair.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of infants with CDH repair (From February 2004 to January 2008). Patients were divided into thoracoscopic and open groups, based on operative approach. We analyzed demographic, clinical, and hospitalization characteristics to compare the completion rate and outcomes in these two groups.

RESULTS

Analysis of 31 infants with CDH (14 thorascocopic and 17 open) demonstrated no differences in sex (P = 0.132), age (P = 0.807), birthweight (P = 0.256), weight at operation (P = 0.647), pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.067), preoperative intensive care unit (ICU) days (P = 0.673), ventilator days (P = 0.944), or use of a patch (P = 0.999) between the groups. Seventy-nine percent of thoracoscopic operative approaches were completed successfully. There was a significant difference between the open and thoracoscopic groups with respect to estimated gestational age (39 versus 36.5 weeks; P = 0.006) and operating room time (70 versus 145 minutes; P = 0.004). The total (P = 0.662), ICU (P = 0.889), and postoperative (P = 0.619) length of stay and days on ventilator (P = 0.705), as well as days until initial enteral feeds (P = 0.092), were not significantly different between groups. There were no deaths and no evidence of recurrence, with a mean follow-up of 346 days.

CONCLUSIONS

In our early experience, the thoracoscopic approach for congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair was completed in 80% of our patient population with minimal exclusion criteria. Further study, with larger sample sizes, is needed to ascertain differences in outcomes, such as length of stay and initiation of enteral feeding.

Complications and treatment failures of video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement for pediatric empyema

PURPOSE

Video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement (VATD) is a well-established intervention to treat pediatric empyema. There is ongoing controversy at what stage in the treatment algorithm it should be utilized. To shed further light onto this debate, we reviewed our institutional experience looking for factors predicting treatment failure or complications of VATD.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data on patients that had undergone VATD for empyema from 1995 to 2008. We used independent sample t tests and Chi-square tests (SPSS) for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-two procedures in 151 patients [81 male (53.6%)] were identified. In 146 (96.7%) the etiology of the empyema was pulmonary, in 3 (1.98%) due to an infectious abdominal process and in 2 (1.3%) due to abdominal trauma. 118 patients (78.1%) were transferred from outside hospitals. 107 (70.1%) underwent VATD primarily, 44 (29.1%) following another procedure. The overall complication rate was 13.8%, most of which were minor. Treatment failures occurred in seven patients, resulting in three reoperations; two patients died. The average length of stay was 10.1 days, but was significantly longer if VATD followed another procedure or if a complication occurred. The risk for complications correlated with older age (6.2 vs. 8.8 years, p = 0.023) and lower hematocrit on admission (31.1 vs. 27.9%, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

VATD provided effective treatment for pediatric empyema. Complications were mostly minor, occurring more frequently in older patients and those with a lower admission hematocrit. Early VATD decreased the length of hospitalization.

Minimal access thoracic surgery in the pediatric population

Thoracoscopy was initially described for use in children to obtain pulmonary biopsy samples in the immunocompromised patient. With refinements in technique, development of better instrumentation, and advances in pediatric anesthesia, there are now many diagnostic and therapeutic indications for the use of thoracoscopy in children. One of the most common indications includes pleural debridement for empyema. Many centers consider this the optimal approach for biopsy of mediastinal lesions and excision of bronchogenic or duplication cysts. The technique is useful for pleural disorders, such as spontaneous pneumothorax and chylothorax. Thoracoscopy has been used to achieve exposure for spinal diskectomy in children with thoracic scoliosis, and newer techniques are being developed in performing anatomic lobectomies, repair of esophageal atesias, and closure of diaphragmatic hernias. The role of the robot in pediatric thoracoscopy is still in the early stages of definition.

Bedside Modified Clagett Procedure for Empyema after Pulmonary Resection

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility in treating empyema after pulmonary resection with a modified Clagett procedure performed at the bedside (BMCP). A retrospective review of a single surgeon's experience at a single institution was undertaken. All operative, postoperative, and outcome data were analyzed. Follow-up data were obtained from subsequent clinic charts. Five patients, including four males, were identified who underwent BMCP after pulmonary resection. The original operative procedures included two lobectomies, one pneumonectomy, one bilobectomy, and one bilateral metastastectomy. Patients were diagnosed with an empyema (positive thoracostomy tube culture, fever, and radiographic abnormality) at a mean time of 31 days from their initial procedure. Culture results disclosed Gram-positive empyemas in all patients. Three patients underwent BMCP as an outpatient, whereas the other two had BMCP during their hospitalizations. All patients are free from complications or recurrence at a mean follow up of 11.2 months. No patient required a further procedure after BMCP. The bedside modified Clagett procedure is both safe and effective. It is a valuable option in the management of postoperative empyema because it avoids additional operative procedures. This procedure is cost-effective when compared with operative management of perioperative empyema.

Current concepts in surgical management of pediatric lung and chest wall diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The management of pediatric lung and chest wall diseases has changed dramatically in the last decade because of the application of minimally invasive surgical techniques. This review will try to highlight some of the more significant recent contributions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most of the papers quoted will show that the application of minimally invasive surgery to the treatment of common problems such as empyema, pneumothorax, and lung biopsy has significantly altered our treatment algorithms, because of decreased morbidity and improved outcomes compared to standard surgical or medical treatment plans. This has also been true for pediatric chest wall deformities, which previously were treated in only the most severe cases and thought to be mostly cosmetic in nature. More recent reports now show statistically significant improvements in cardio-pulmonary physiology as well as quality of life.

SUMMARY

The application of less invasive surgical procedures for lung and chest wall diseases has warranted earlier intervention, with better outcomes, and less morbidity than previously used techniques. A clear understanding of these techniques and their benefits is important for the referring and treating physician as previously used treatment protocols may no longer provide the best patient care.