Early postoperative inflammatory response by procedure types: stapler-based segmentectomy versus lobectomy

The impact of hydromorphone combined with ropivacaine in serratus anterior plane block on postoperative pain in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomy: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the effects of hydromorphone as an adjuvant to ropivacaine serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on postoperative analgesia and inflammatory responses in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 120 lung cancer patients, aged 20-75 years, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of I or II and a body mass index of 18-28 kg/m², were randomly assigned to three groups: ropivacaine combined with hydromorphone SAPB (HR group), ropivacaine SAPB (R group), and control (C group). Ultrasound-guided deep SAPB was used to inject medications. The main observed indicators were postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, serum inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, TNF-α), intraoperative medication dosage, postoperative complication rates, and analgesic effects.

RESULTS

Postoperative VAS pain scores were significantly reduced in the HR and R groups compared to the C group, especially at 6 h postoperatively. The median VAS score in the HR group was 2.00 (inter-quartile ratio (IQR): 2.00, 2.00), which was significantly lower than that of the C group's score of 3.00 (IQR: 3.00, 3.00; P < 0.001). The CRP levels at 24 and 48 h postoperatively in the HR group were 23.80 mg/L and 21.65 mg/L, respectively, significantly lower than the C group's levels of 56.65 mg/L and 82.75 mg/L, P < 0.001. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly lower in the HR group than in the C group. Intraoperative propofol and remifentanil dosages in the HR group were reduced to 5.22 mg/kg/h and 7.59 µg/kg/h, respectively, lower than the C group's dosages of 5.93 mg/kg/h and 5.74 µg/kg/h, P < 0.001. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the HR group was 12.5%, which was lower than that in Group C (35.7%, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Ropivacaine adjuvant with hydromorphone in SAPB reducing postoperative pain and inflammatory in patients undergoing VATS, which contributed to rapid recovery. However, future studies should explore the long-term benefits and concenntration of hydromorphone of SAPB before it taken into clinical use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Register on August 19, 2021, NCT number ChiCTR2100053893.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy using indocyanine green attenuates postoperative inflammatory response for hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Improving the intraoperative and postoperative performance of laparoscopic hepatectomy was quite a challenge for liver surgeons.

AIM

To determine the benefits of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy during and after surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the clinicopathological data of 107 patients who successfully underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy at Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University from June 2022 to June 2023. Whether using the ICG fluorescence imaging technique, we divided them into the ICG and non-ICG groups. To eliminate statistical bias, a 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was conducted. The comparison of perioperative outcomes, including inflammation-related markers and progression-free survival, was analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

Intraoperatively, the ICG group exhibited lower blood loss, a shorter surgical time, lower hepatic inflow occlusion (HIO) frequency, and a shorter total HIO time. Postoperatively, the participation of ICG resulted in a shorter duration of hospitalization (6.5 vs 7.6 days, P = 0.03) and postoperative inflammatory response attenuation (lower neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on the first day after surgery and platelet-lymphocyte ratio on the third day, P < 0.05). Although the differences were not significant, the levels of all inflammation-related markers were lower in the ICG group. The rates of postoperative complications and the survival analyses, including progression-free and overall survivals showed no significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The involvement of ICG fluorescence imaging may lead to improved perioperative outcomes, especially postoperative inflammatory response attenuation, and ultimately improve HCC patients' recovery after surgery.

Clinical Efficacy of Different Thoracoscopic Surgeries for Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical efficacy of different thoracoscopic procedures in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and their correlation with matrix metalloproteinase-7 mRNA (MMPs-7 mRNA) and soluble major histocompatibility complex class I molecule A (sMICA), as well as their effect on T-cell subsets.

Methods

A total of 100 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received different thoracoscopic surgeries were divided into the Control group (three-port thoracoscopic surgery) and the study group (single-port thoracoscopic surgery). The two groups were evaluated to compare the perioperative indicators, MMPs-7 mRNA, sMICA expression levels, T-cell subsets, postoperative pain, complication rates, and prognostic outcomes at 1-year follow-up.

Results

The operation time, blood loss, drainage tube placement time, incision length, and hospital stay in the study group were less than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph node dissections between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 3 days, the expression levels of MMPs-7 mRNA and sMICA in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); CD4 +, CD8 +, and CD4 +/CD8 + in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). On days 1, 3, and 5, the visual analog score (VAS) of the study group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in the complication rate between the two follow-up groups (P > 0.05), in which all patients completed the follow-up. After 1 year of follow-up, there was no significant difference in the tumor-free survival rate and overall survival rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with three-port thoracoscopic surgery, single-port thoracoscopic surgery can improve perioperative expression, shorten hospital stay, reduce serum tumor micrometastasis levels, improve immune metastasis mechanisms and reduce pain, which is of great significance to patients with non-small cell lung cancer. It is an effective, convenient, and safe surgical option that deserves wide clinical reference.

Prognosis of segmentectomy in the treatment of stage IA non-small cell lung cancer

With improvements in detection technology, increasing numbers of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are being diagnosed at an early stage. In order to treat the illness with minimal invasion and preserve lung function to the greatest possible extent, there has been an increasing tendency towards treating early-stage NSCLC by segmentectomy. However, questions remain regarding whether patients may benefit from this procedure considering the surgical and oncological outcomes. Whether adequate margin distance and lymph node dissection may be achieved is one of the most important issues associated with this procedure. The present study reviews the prognosis of segmentectomy in the treatment of stage IA NSCLC.

Efficacy of thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy for small pulmonary nodules

BACKGROUND

Small pulmonary nodules are tissue shadows and thoracoscopic segmentectomy in China is still at the exploratory stage with limited application.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy for small pulmonary nodules.

METHODS

Medical records of 86 patients with small pulmonary nodules treated at our hospital between August 2016 and October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed; 40 cases who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy were set as a reference group, and 46 cases who underwent thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy were set as an observation group. Preoperative and postoperative parameters were measured in both groups, including the percentage of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁%), the percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%), and the FEV₁/FVC ratio (FEV₁/FVC). Patients with positive pathological diagnosis received tests for neuron-specific enolase, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), CA19-9, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen. Intraoperative bleeding volume, drainage volume, the number of dissected lymph nodes, drainage time, hospital stay, treatment cost, postoperative complications, and postoperative pain condition were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the results of four serum tumor marker (CA125, CA19-9, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, and neuron-specific enolase), the number of dissected lymph nodes, treatment cost, or preoperative pulmonary ventilation index between the two groups. Intraoperative bleeding volume, drainage volume, drainage time, hospital stay, and visual analogue scale score were significantly lower in the observation group (P < 0.05). The results of FEV₁%, FVC%, and FEV₁/FVC were significantly higher in the observation group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy and lobectomy for small pulmonary nodules shows no significant difference in terms of lesion removal, but anatomical segmentectomy is less invasive with fewer postoperative complications and less influence on lung function.