Is a Chest Tube Necessary after Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Mediastinal Tumor Resection?

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.

A chest tube after robotic thymectomy is unnecessary

Objective

Chest tubes are frequently placed after thymectomy, without data to support this common practice. We report our experience in eliminating them after robotic thymectomy.

Methods

This is a retrospective database review of patients who underwent robotic thymectomy performed by a single surgeon in which intraoperative chest tube insertion was not planned. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes are presented.

Results

Between January 2018 and October 2022, 75 patients underwent robotic thymectomy performed by a single surgeon. Of those, 64 (85.3%) underwent a left-sided thoracic approach. The most common indication for resection was a suspicious anterior mediastinal mass. There were no conversions to an open operation. The median operative time was 72 minutes (range, 38-164 minutes), and the median estimated blood loss was 20 cc (range, 10-60 cc). Ten patients (13.3%) went home on the day of surgery, and all others (86.7%) were discharged on postoperative day 1. A chest tube was placed in 1 patient at time of closure because of a persistent air leak after extensive adhesiolysis from a prior thoracotomy; the tube was removed on the day of surgery after resolution of the air leak. No other patient required chest tube placement intraoperatively, immediately postoperatively, or within 60 days postoperation. Two patients underwent outpatient thoracentesis within 1 month postoperation for effusions. There were no 30- or 90-day mortality and no major morbidities.

Conclusions

A chest tube after robotic thymectomy is not necessary in almost all patients and can be safely omitted. The dogmatic routine practice of chest tube placement should be questioned.

Simultaneous Comparison of Subxiphoid and Intercostal Wound Pain in the Same Patients Following Thoracoscopic Surgery

There is a lack of data comparing postoperative pain after subxiphoid and intercostal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Pain is an individual’s subjective experience and, therefore, difficult to compare between different individuals subjected to either procedure. This study assessed reported pain at six postoperative time points in the same patients receiving both subxiphoid and intercostal incisions for thoracic disease. Data from 44 patients who received simultaneous combined intercostal and subxiphoid VATS were retrospectively analyzed from August 2019 to July 2021. All patients received the same length of subxiphoid and intercostal incisions with or without drain placements. A numerical pain rating scale was administered on postoperative days (POD)-1, POD-2, POD-Discharge, POD-30, POD-90, and POD-180. Bilateral uniportal VATS was performed in 11 patients, and unilateral multiportal VATS was performed in 33 patients. In the unilateral VATS group, there were no differences in pain reported for both incisions in the early postoperative period. However, in the bilateral VATS group, subxiphoid wounds resulted in significantly higher pain scores on POD-1, POD-2, and POD-Discharge (p = 0.0003, 0.001, and 0.03, respectively). Higher late (3 and 6 months) postoperative pain was associated with intercostal incisions in both groups, as previously reported, whereas higher early (day 1, 2, and discharge) postoperative pain was more associated with subxiphoid incisions than intercostal incisions in the bilateral VATS group.

Efficacy and safety of omitting chest drains after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy and safety of omitting chest drains compared to routine chest drain placement after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

METHODS

Five bibliographic databases, ClinicalTrials.gov and PROSPERO were comprehensively searched from inception to July 29, 2020 (no language restrictions). Postoperative outcomes were extracted and synthesized complying with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Risk of bias (RoB) including non-reporting bias, heterogeneity, and sensitivity were assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on study design.

RESULTS

Of 7,166 identified studies, 10 studies [four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six non-RCTs] with 1,079 patients were included. There were 561 patients in the no chest drain group (NCD) and 518 patients in the standard chest drain group (CD). In pairwise analysis the NCD group had significant shorter length of stay (LOS) [weighted mean difference (WMD) -1.53 days, P<0.001], less postoperative pain scores (WMD -1.09, P=0.002), but higher risk of drain insertion or thoracocentesis [risk radio (RR) 3.02, P=0.040]. There were no significant differences on the incidence of minor pneumothorax (RR 1.77, P=0.128), minor pleural effusion (RR 1.88, P=0.219), minor subcutaneous emphysema (RR 1.37, P=0.427) or pneumonia (RR 0.53, P=0.549). No mortality was observed in either group during the observation period (in-hospital or 30-day mortality).

CONCLUSIONS

Omitting chest drains in selected patients after VATS seems effective leading to enhanced recovery with shorter length of postoperative stay and less pain but with a higher risk of drain insertion or thoracocentesis. However, a major part of the evidence comes from observational studies with high RoB. Further RCTs are needed to improve the current evidence.

The Role of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in Pediatric Oncology: Single-Center Experience and Review of the Literature

Aim: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been widely used in the last decades. Nevertheless, the pros and cons of thoracoscopy vs. open surgery in pediatric oncology are still under debate. In literature, VATS has been applied for both diagnostic and ablative surgery to treat neurogenic tumors, thymic neoplasms, lung tumors and metastases, germ cell tumors, lymphoproliferative diseases, and other rare tumors. Recent reviews described excellent outcomes in pediatric oncology as well as in the treatment of adult lung cancer, with a significantly higher rate of mortality and complication in thoracotomy compared to VATS. We reviewed our experience on thoracoscopy in pediatric malignancy and compared it to the literature. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort-study of pediatric oncological patients who underwent VATS at our institution from 2007 to 2020, and a review of the recent literature on the topic. Results: A total of 43 procedures were performed on 38 oncological patients (18 males, 20 females). Median age was years 7.72 (0.35-18.6). Diagnosis: 10 neurogenic tumors, nine hematological diseases, five metastases, four lypoblastomas, three thymic pathologies, three germ cell tumors, two pleuropneumoblastomas, two myofibroblastic tumors, one myoepithelial carcinoma, one liposarcoma, and three suspected oncological mass. In three cases, a 3D model was elaborated to better plan the surgical approach. Diagnostic biopsies were 22 (51.1%), and ablative surgeries, 21 (48.9%). One neurogenic tumor was resected with the Da Vinci Robot. Median operative time was 120 min (30-420). A drain was left in place in 20 (46.5%) for a median of 4 days. Median length of hospitalization was 5 days (1-18). One case (2.3%) was converted (intraoperative bleeding). There were three post-operative complications (7.0%): one pneumonia, one pleural effusion, and one diaphragmatic paralysis (need for plication). Results were compared to recent literature, and morbidity and conversion rate were comparable to reviewed publications. Conclusion: VATS represents a valuable tool for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in pediatric oncology. Nonetheless, it is a challenging technique that should be performed by expert surgeons on oncological and mini-invasive surgery. Three-dimensional reconstruction can optimize the pre-operative planning and guarantee a safer and more targeted treatment. Finally, the advent of robotics-assisted surgery represents a new challenge that may further implement the advantages of VATS.

Comparison of different surgical approaches for anterior mediastinal tumor

Background

Different video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approaches may related to heterogeneous clinical outcomes in anterior mediastinal tumor surgery. Herein, we assessed the comparison between the subxiphoid and intercostal approach, and also compare the left versus the right incision in the intercostal approach for anterior mediastinal tumor patients.

Methods

Clinical data of patients receiving thoracoscopic anterior mediastinal tumor resection were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups according to the approaches: subxiphoid and the intercostal group. The intercostal group was further subdivided into two groups according to different sides: left and right incision group. Intraoperative and postoperative variables were compared between subgroups.

Results

A total of 238 patients were consecutively included in this analysis; 198 (83.2%) patients received intercostal procedure and 40 (16.8%) patients received subxiphoid approach. After 1:1 propensity score matching, all baseline characters were well balanced between intercostal and subxiphoid approach, left and right intercostal approach. The visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was lower in patients underwent subxiphoid approach than intercostal group at first post-operative evaluation in 12–24 h (4.36 vs. 2.23; P=0.03). According to left and right approach, postoperative drainage time (1.9 vs. 1.2 days, P=0.016), postoperative drainage volume (312.1 vs. 193.9 mL, P=0.041) and hospitalization time (5.3 vs. 4.1 days, P=0.043) were significantly increased in the left thoracic approach group compared with the right thoracic approach.

Conclusions

Subxiphoid approach is associated with less pain compared with intercostal approach. The right intercostal thoracic approach may offer better clinical effect of short-term postoperative recovery.

Factors influencing the length of stay after mediastinal tumor resection in the setting of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)-TUBELESS protocol

Background

Prolonged length of stay after surgery is considered to increase cost and hospital-acquired complications. Therefore, we aimed to identify the risk factors that were associated with an increased length of stay after mediastinal tumor resection in the setting of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)-TUBELESS protocol.

Methods

This prospective cohort study collected data on consecutive patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection for mediastinal tumor between December 2015 and November 2018 at a single center in China. All patients followed the ERAS-TUBELESS protocol. A length of stay after VATS tumor resection (LOS) greater than 3 days was considered an increased LOS. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify potential factors associated with increased LOS. Factors were divided into patient-related risk factors and procedure-related risk factors.

Results

A total of 204 patients were included, of which 85 (41.67%) patients had a LOS of more than 3 days. The median LOS for the entire cohort was 3 days. All the patient-related risk factors had no significantly associated with a prolonged LOS. Procedure-related risk factors that were significantly associated with a prolonged LOS were surgeon, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage tube, analgesic drugs, and complications. Anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation was correlated with early discharge (LOS ≤1 day).

Conclusions

In the setting of an ERAS-TUBELESS protocol, the main drivers of LOS were procedure-related factors. Anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation was associated with early discharge (LOS ≤1 day) and thus promoted thoracic day surgery.

Thoracoscopic surgery approach to mediastinal mature teratomas: a single-center experience

Background

Mediastinal mature teratomas are rare tumors with diverse surgical approaches. The aim of this study is to review our experience of thoracoscopic surgery management in patients with teratomas.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 28 consecutive patients with mediastinal mature teratomas who underwent thoracoscopic surgery at Viet Duc University Hospital from January 2008 to August2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups with 2 types of thoracoscopic surgery, closed thoracoscopic surgery (CTS) group and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group. The selection of sugical approach was based on sizes, locations and characteristics of tumors. Post-operative outcomes were assessed and compared between these 2 groups.

Results

There were 14 female and 14 male patients with a median age of 41.2 ± 13.8 years. A total of 22 teratomas were located on the right side of the chest cavity and 6 on the left side. We performed CTS in 21 patients (75%) and VATS in 7 patients (25%) for tumor resection. There were 3 cases (10.7%) required conversion to minithoracotomy (5 cm in incision length). Skin appendages accounted for the highest rate (96.4%) in pathology. There was no record of mortality or tumor recurrence detected by computerized tomography.

Conclusion

A thoracoscopic surgery for a mediastinal mature teratoma was a feasible choice. Challenging factors such as large tumors, intraoperative bleeding and strong tumor cell adhesion were considered handling by conversion to mini-thoracotomy that could ensure safety procedures and complete removal of tumors. Extraction of tumor contents might be performed for patients with large mature cystic teratomas to facilitate thoracoscopic surgery.