Overview of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): past and present

Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Minor Procedures

INTRODUCTION

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (uVATS) is becoming popular for major lung resections, even for more complex procedures. The technique initially described for minor procedures seems more difficult to reproduce and has a longer learning curve. This review aims to describe the evolution from multiportal to uVATS and to explore its feasibility and reproducibility by identifying its drawbacks and limitations.

METHODS

Research from PubMed was obtained with the terms [uniportal] AND [surgery] OR [single-port] AND [thoracic surgery] OR [VATS]. Papers concerning pediatric cases and non-English papers were excluded. Individual case reports were also excluded.

DISCUSSION

uVATS seems to be widely adopted and performed for minor procedures. The applicability of uVATS for different indications is discussed, even though practically all thoracic surgical interventions can be performed through a single incision.

CONCLUSIONS

The transition from conventional three-port VATS to uVATS is described in this paper. An increasing number of thoracic surgeons worldwide have adopted this approach, even for major complex anatomical lung resections. Regarding the performance of minor thoracic interventions, we believe this technique is easily reproducible with a short learning curve because the instruments do not cross each other, and intraoperative movements remain intuitive. It is therefore a feasible, safe, and efficacious technique. For these reasons, we believe uVATS should be offered to all patients undergoing minor thoracoscopic procedures.

Comparison of three-dimensional and two-dimensional thoracoscopic segmentectomy in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Thoracoscopic segmentectomy is considered to be a safe and effective procedure for early lung cancer. A three-dimensional (3D) thoracoscope can provide high resolution and accurate images. We compared the outcomes from using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D video systems in thoracoscopic segmentectomy for lung cancer.

METHODS

The data of consecutive patients diagnosed with lung cancer that underwent 2D or 3D thoracoscopic segmentectomy in Changhua Christian Hospital from January 2014 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor characteristics and perioperative short-term outcomes (operative time, blood loss, incision numbers, length of stay and complication) were compared between 2D and 3D thoracoscopic segmentectomy.

RESULTS

Among the 192 patients, 68 patients underwent segmentectomy with a 2D thoracoscopic system and 124 patients had 3D thoracoscopic surgery. Patients undergoing 3D thoracoscopic segmentectomy had a shorter operative time (174.19 ± 64.63 min vs. 207.06 ± 72.99 min, p = 0.002), less blood loss (34.40 ± 43.58 ml vs. 50.81 ± 57.61 ml, p = 0.028), fewer incisions (1.50 ± 0.716 vs. 2.19 ± .058, p < 0.001) and a shorter length of stay (5.67 ± 3.44 days vs. 8.18 ± 11.862 days, p = 0.029). The postoperative complications were similar between the two groups. Surgical mortality was not found in any patient.

CONCLUSION

Our finding suggests that the incorporation of a 3D endoscopic system could facilitate thoracoscopic segmentectomy in lung cancer patients.

Toward Continuum Robot Tentacles for Lung Interventions: Exploring Folding Support Disks

Toward the future goal of creating a lung surgery system featuring multiple tentacle-like robots, we present a new folding concept for continuum robots that enables them to squeeze through openings smaller than the robot's nominal diameter (e.g., the narrow space between adjacent ribs). This is facilitated by making the disks along the robot's backbone foldable. We also demonstrate that such a robot can feature not only straight, but also curved tendon routing paths, thereby achieving a diverse family of conformations. We find that the foldable robot performs comparably, from a kinematic perspective, to an identical non-folding continuum robot at varying deployment lengths. This work paves the way for future applications with a continuum robot that can fold and fit through smaller openings, with the potential to reduce invasiveness during surgical tasks.

Role of subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in pulmonary metastasectomy

Optimal management for patients with pulmonary metastasis is still debated. True survival benefit from widely practiced pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is yet to be proved from high-quality randomized controlled trials. The ideal surgical approach for PM is also not generally agreed. VATS offers enhanced recovery and superior functional outcomes but at the expense of less detection of lung nodules and higher possibility of narrow/positive resection margins. The subxiphoid uniportal VATS (uVATS) approach is an evolving new approach with potential advantages including simultaneous access to both lung fields, less pain and faster rehabilitation. These advantages make it a favorable approach for PM, particularly in the setting of bilateral metastases. However, its use is still limited to case reports of a small number of patients. There is room for improvements in subxiphoid uVATS due to reported technical challenges and limitations. Herein, we aim to publicize a comprehensive review of literature on applications of subxiphoid uVATS in PM.

Comparison of the efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and thoracic paravertebral block combined with intercostal nerve block for pain management in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Background

The objective of this study was to compare analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block(ESPB) and thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB) combined with intercostal nerve block(ICNB) after video assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS).

Methods

Patients were enrolled into three groups according to analgesia technique as ICNB, TPVB + ICNB or ESPB + ICNB: respectively Group C(n = 58), Group T (n = 56) and Group E (n = 59). Patients were followed up by a trained data investigator at 2, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 h after surgery, and the visual analog scale(VAS) at rest and coughing were recorded. The moderate and severe pain mean VAS ≥ 4 when coughing. The postoperative opioids consumption, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), supplementary analgesic requirements within 48 h, length of stay in PACU, ambulation time, postoperative days in hospital and potential side effects, such as hematoma, hypotension, bradycardia, hypersomnia, uroschesis, pruritus and apnea were recorded.

Results

The incidence of moderate-to-severe pain was no significant difference between 3 groups in 24 h and 48 h (P = 0.720). There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in the resting pain intensity at 2, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery(P > 0.05). In 2-way analysis of variance, the VAS when coughing in Group T were lower than that in Group C (mean difference = 0.15, 95%CI, 0.02 to 0.29; p = 0.028). While no difference was found when comparing Group E with Group C or Group T(P > 0.05). There was no difference between the three groups in the sufentanil consumption( within 24 h p = 0.472, within 48 h p = 0.158) and supplementary analgesic requirements(p = 0.910). The incidence of PONV and the length of stay in PACU, ambulation time and postoperative days in hospital were comparable in the 3 groups(P > 0.05). Two patients from Group T developed hematoma at the site of puncture.

Conclusions

The present randomized trial showed that the analgesic effect of TPVB + ICNB was superior to that of INCB after VATS, the analgesic effect of ESPB was equivalent to that of TPVB and ICNB.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100049578. Registered 04 Aug 2020 Retrospectively registered.

Prediction of preoperative intrathoracic adhesions for ipsilateral reoperations: sliding lung sign

Introduction

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for ipsilateral reoperations is controversial, because after the first surgical intervention, pleural adhesions occur frequently in the thoracic cavity and/or chest wall. This study assessed the usefulness of preoperative ultrasonography to reduce the incidence of lung injury at the time of the initial port insertion during secondary ipsilateral VATS.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective, single-center study. Nine patients who underwent thoracic surgery at Vanvitelli Hospitalfrom September 2019 to February 2022, were scheduled for a second VATS surgeryon ipsilateral lung, because of inconclusive intraoperative histologic examination. All nine patients underwent preoperative ultrasonography to assess the possible presence of pleural adhesions. We evaluated the lung sliding, since the presence of pleural adhesions does not permit to appreciate it.

Statistical analysis

Hard severe adhesions were observed in all nine patients without sliding lung sign (specificity 100%). In this series, the sensitivity, PPV, and NPV of the sliding lung sign were 93%, 100% and 94% respectively.

Results

The presence of the lung respiratory changes can be evaluated as the “sliding lung sign” by chest ultrasonography; we believe that the sliding lung sign might also predict intrathoracic adhesion.

Conclusions

Preoperative detection of pleural adhesions using transthoracic ultrasonography was useful for ipsilateral secondary pulmonary resection patients undergoing VATS. Using preoperative ultrasonography can improve the safety and feasibility of placing the initial port in VATS.

Single-port thoracoscopic anatomic resection for chronic inflammatory lung disease

Background

It is challenging to proceed thoracoscopic anatomic resection when encountering severe pleural adhesion or calcified peribronchial lymphadenopathy. Compared with multiple-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (MP-VATS), how to overcome these challenges in single-port (SP-) VATS is still an intractable problem. In the present study, we reported the surgical results of chronic inflammatory lung disease and shared some useful SP-VATS techniques.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the surgical results of chronic inflammatory lung disease, primarily bronchiectasis, and mycobacterial infection, at our institution between 2010 and 2018. The patients who underwent SP-VATS anatomic resection were compared with those who underwent MP-VATS procedures. We analyzed the baseline characteristics, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes, and illustrated four special techniques depending on the situation: flexible hook electrocautery, hilum-first technique, application of Satinsky vascular clamp, and staged closure of bronchial stump method.

Results

We classified 170 consecutive patients undergoing thoracoscopic anatomic resection into SP and MP groups, which had significant between-group differences in operation time and overall complication rate (P = 0.037 and 0.018, respectively). Compared to the MP-VATS group, the operation time of SP-VATS was shorter, and the conversion rate of SP-VATS was relatively lower (3.1% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.135). The most common complication was prolonged air leakage (SP-VATS, 10.8%; MP-VATS, 2.9%, P = 0.045).

Conclusions

For chronic inflammatory lung disease, certain surgical techniques render SP-VATS anatomic resection feasible and safe with a lower conversion rate.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic left pneumonectomy: Retrospective analysis of eighteen consecutive patients from a single center

Background

Uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is being more widely used in lung cancer, yet reports on its application in pneumonectomies are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic left pneumonectomy for lung cancer.

Methods

A series of 18 lung cancer patients who had received uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic left pneumonectomies were included in the study. Their clinical, pathological, and surgical features, as well as postoperative recovery, were analyzed.

Results

The majority of the patients were male and smokers and their average age was 62.0 ± 8.9 years. All had primary lung cancer, while three (16.7%) had received neoadjuvant therapy. A total of 16 (88.9%) patients had stage II–III disease, with an average tumor size of 3.6 ± 1.5 cm. The average surgery time was 137.4 ± 47.0 minutes, with a 16.7% (3/18) conversion rate. The mean blood loss was 37.5 ± 59.4 mL and no patients needed blood transfusion during, or after, surgery. There was no perioperative death and the overall complication rate was 22.2% (4/18). Two (11.1%) patients needed to stay in the intensive care unit after surgery, and the average length of hospital stay after surgery was 6.3 ± 1.1 days (range 4–7 days).

Conclusions

Uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic left pneumonectomy is a safe and feasible procedure for selected lung cancer patients. The use of uniportal VATS in right pneumonectomies and the effect of uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy on the survival of patients merits further study.

Patients receiving uniportal VATS pneumonectomies had standard surgical results and recovery. Uniportal VATS pneumonectomy is safe for properly selected lung cancer patients.

Key points

Significant findings of the study: • Patients receiving uniportal VATS left pneumonectomies had standard surgical results and recovery.

What this study adds: • Uniportal VATS left pneumonectomy is safe for properly selected lung cancer patients.

Video-assisted thoracoscopy for lung cancer: who is the future of thoracic surgery?

As the computer processing technique and display technology evolved dramatically, the surgical approach to early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has made a rapid progress within the past few years. Currently, the gold standard for NSCLC is lobectomy. After the introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), lung resection can now be conducted mini-invasively, enabling better prognosis for patients and better operation condition for surgeons. At the very beginning, the conventional two-dimensional (2D) system enabled operators to have a closer, magnified and illuminated view inside the body cavity than open thoracotomy. With the introduction of the glasses-assisted three-dimensional (3D) and glasses-free 3D display system, multiple viewing angles were further enhanced, thus a more stable, easier to master and less invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) appeared. However, given that the standard VATS is associated with limited maneuverability and stereoscopy, it restricts the availability in more advanced cases. Hopefully, most of the limitations of standard VATS can be overcome with the robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS). The RATS system consists of a remote console and a robotic unit with 3 or 4 arms that can duplicate surgeons’ movements. Also, it provides a magnified, 3D and high definition (HD) operation field to surgeons, allowing them to perform more complicated procedures. Apart from these, some new technologies are also invented in combination with the existing surgery system to solve difficult problems. It is hoped that the higher costs of innovative surgical technique can be offset by the better patient outcomes and improved benefits in cost-effectiveness.

Uniportal subxiphoid bilateral removal of self-introduced thoracic foreign bodies

This is a report of a 31-year-old male refugee, who was admitted to Intensive Therapy Unit after being found in severe chest pain after escaping extreme torture from his home country. He was found to have four nails in his thorax. These were removed using a subxiphoid video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) technique. This technique allowed excellent visualization of the right, left and anterior mediastinal part of the chest and therefore preventing damage or injury to surrounding structures. This was particularly useful in a complex case such as this. By avoiding an intercoastal incision and intercostal manipulation, our patient had limited pain post-procedure facilitating an earlier aggressive mobilization program with potential benefit in terms of improved lung expansion, reduction of atelectasis and lung infections. With the right training, the technical challenges of using the technique should be overcome and thus the benefits of subxiphoid VATS will be offered to a larger portion of thoracic surgical patients.

Hemothorax: A Review of the Literature

Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the pleural cavity usually from traumatic injury. Chest X-ray has historically been the imaging modality of choice upon arrival to the hospital. The sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care ultrasound, specifically through the Extended Focal Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) protocol has been significant enough to warrant inclusion in most Level 1 trauma centers as an adjunct to radiographs.^1,2 If the size or severity of a hemothorax warrants intervention, tube thoracostomy has been and still remains the treatment of choice. Most cases of hemothorax will resolve with tube thoracostomy. If residual blood remains within the pleural cavity after tube thoracostomy, it is then considered to be a retained hemothorax, with significant risks for developing late complications such as empyema and fibrothorax. Once late complications occur, morbidity and mortality increase dramatically and the only definitive treatment is surgery. In order to avoid surgery, research has been focused on removing a retained hemothorax before it progresses pathologically. The most promising therapy consists of fibrinolytics which are infused into the pleural space, disrupting the hemothorax, allowing for further drainage. While significant progress has been made, additional trials are needed to further define the dosing and pharmacokinetics of fibrinolytics in this setting. If medical therapy and early procedures fail to resolve the retained hemothorax, surgery is usually indicated. Surgery historically consisted solely of thoracotomy, but has been largely replaced in non-emergent situations by video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), a minimally invasive technique that shows considerable improvement in the patients' recovery and pain post-operatively. Should all prior attempts to resolve the hemothorax fail, then open thoracotomy may be indicated.

The Feasibility and Advantages of Subxiphoid Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in Pulmonary Lobectomy

BACKGROUND

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has emerged as a promising and exciting approach for minimally invasive thoracic surgeries. However, nearly all reported uniportal VATS lobectomies are performed via an intercostal route, and chest wall trauma remains an issue. Here, we report the use of a novel uniportal VATS technique involving a subxiphoid route for pulmonary lobectomies.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed perioperative data for patients who underwent subxiphoid uniportal and traditional three-port VATS lobectomies from January 2016 to January 2017 at our hospital.

RESULTS

During the study period, 37 patients successively underwent subxiphoid uniportal VATS lobectomies, including three synchronous bilateral pulmonectomies; 68 patients underwent traditional three-port VATS. There were no surgical or 30-day postoperative mortalities, and no significant between-group differences were found in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, number of explored nodal stations, blood loss, drainage time, postoperative complications, or length of hospital stay. Operative time was longer in the subxiphoid uniportal VATS group than in the traditional three-port VATS group (P < 0.001). Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores after surgery were significantly lower in the subxiphoid uniportal VATS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Subxiphoid uniportal VATS lobectomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure associated with reduced surgical trauma and postoperative pain as well as improved cosmetic results compared with traditional VATS. Moreover, this procedure is better suited for patients receiving synchronous bilateral pulmonectomy. Further long-term follow-up analyses involving more patients are ongoing.

TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03051438.

Modified McKeown procedure with uniportal thoracoscope for upper or middle esophageal cancer: initial experience and preliminary results

Background

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resections are of increasing interest in many thoracic surgery departments. With each experience in VATS lobectomy, we have incrementally improved the less invasive techniques in esophagectomy. Here, we report the preliminary results and feasibility of a modified McKeown procedure with uniportal thoracoscopy for upper or middle esophageal cancer in our institution.

Methods

Between March 2015 and May 2016, modified uniportal McKeown procedure with uniportal thoracoscopy for upper or middle esophageal cancer was attempted in 44 patients in our institution.

Results

Of the patients treated with uniportal thoracoscopy and laparoscopy, no patients were converted to open procedures, and all had a complete resection. The mean operative time was 408±34 min (range, 394-495 min). The mean thoracic operation was 163±16 min (range, 135-199 min). The mean blood loss was 245±102 mL (range, 100-450 mL). The mean number of lymph nodes resected was 24 (range, 14-36). The mean ventilator usage of the patients after surgery was 0.3±0.6 days, and the mean intensive care stay was 1.6 days (range, 1 to 7 days). The mean hospital stay was 11.8 days (range, 7 to 22 days). Major complications developed in 2 patients, both of whom had to undergo tracheotomy due to respiratory failure. No patients died of complications postoperatively, and none had clinically significant anastomotic leaks.

Conclusions

Modified McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with uniportal thoracoscopy seems to be a feasible option for patients with upper or middle esophageal cancer. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to further investigate this approach.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery could reduce postoperative thorax drainage for lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has undergone significant development in recent years, yet its usefulness and value in the treatment of lung cancer remains controversial. We investigated the effect of uniportal VATS surgery for reducing postoperative thorax drainage in lung cancer patients.

METHODS

The data of primary lung cancer patients who underwent VATS anatomical lung resection at the China National Cancer Center by a single surgeon were retrospectively collected. After propensity score matched analysis, 492 patients (246 uniportal VATS, 246 multiportal VATS) were included in the study. The clinicopathologic and surgery-related features, including drainage volume, were compared. Student's t and chi-square tests were used; all tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Patients in the two groups had similar demographic and clinicopathological features. Patients who underwent uniportal VATS surgery had significantly lower postoperative thorax drainage (830.0 ± 666.0 mL vs. 1014.5 ± 616.9 mL, P = 0.002) and a comparatively lower rate of unplanned return to the operating room (0 vs. 0.8%; P = 0.156) than multiportal VATS patients. The surgical duration, blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Uniportal VATS could reduce postoperative thorax drainage and the risk of unplanned return to the operating room for lung cancer patients. This study included the largest sample by a single surgeon and our results suggest the potential value of uniportal VATS for the faster recovery of lung cancer patients.

Training in robotic thoracic surgery-the European way

The increasing demand for robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) in Europe requires a structured and standardized training module. Until now, Intuitive Surgical Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) has delivered the only available robotic surgery platform. Although the training program that is organized by Intuitive is divided in an initial and an advanced course, the success of the training depends on many external factors. Until now the training focused on experienced thoracic surgeons. The aim of this article is to offer a stepwise training module, which can be adopted by experienced open (thoracotomy) surgeons or video-assisted thoracic (VATS) surgeons but is primarily meant for thoracic surgery fellows and residents, as it is our sincere opinion that we should focus on training for this type of surgery as early in their careers as possible. In order to maintain surgical technique and minimize the chance of complications, on-going training and certification of the surgeons and the team is deemed necessary.

Efficacy of uniportal video assisted thoracoscopic surgery in management of primary spontaneous hemopneumothorax

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Primary spontaneous hemopneumothorax is an emergency and should be treated immediatley to prevent any dramatic complication.

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Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery now is the gold standard in treatment of hemopneumothorax.

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Applying the new concept of uniportal technique has a better outcome with fast patient recovery.

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Ability to use thoracostomy tube opening for uniporatal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

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Utilization of uniportal technique even in semi-stable patient is safe and well tolerated.

Introduction

Primary spontaneous hemopneumothorax (PSHP) is an accumulation of blood and air in the pleural space without trauma or obvious etiology. It is a rare surgical emergency and may lead to hypovolemic shock if not treated. Early and fast recognition will improve patient outcomes.

Presentation of the case

We present a case of PSHP in a young male utilizing the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) through the same incisional site of the thoracostomy tube. The patient made an uneventful recovery.

Discussion

VATS has become the first line and the gold standard surgical management of most thoracic surgeries. In case of PSHP, some thoracic surgeons still skeptical about the minimal invasive approach in such emergency. Applying the concept of uniportal technique, which can be used for diagnostic as well as major therapeutic purposes. There is vast literature that support the notion that it reduces postoperative pain and paresthesia and lead to fast patient recovery.

Conclusion

As demonstrated in our case, uniportal VATS is safe and effective in the management of PSHP.

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Radiotracer-Assisted Localization of Difficult Pulmonary Nodules in Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Objective: To report our institutional experience with radiotracer-assisted localization of lung nodules (RALN) in combination with uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records and radiology images of 27 consecutive adult patients who underwent planned UVATS lung resections combined with RALN from January 2014 to May 2017. Based on preoperative imaging, 29 nondescript nodules were marked with technetium 99 m macroaggregated albumin under computed tomography guidance before resection. Perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: All 29 nodules were successfully marked and resected with negative margins by UVATS; 12 (41.5%) were pure ground-glass opacities. Three patients had prior ipsilateral lung resections. There were no conversions to multiport VATS or thoracotomy. The majority (86.5%) of the nodules were malignant. The median nodule size was 8 mm (range: 3-20 mm) and depth, 56 mm (range: 22-150 mm). The majority (21/27; 77.8%) of patients underwent wedge resections alone, while 6 patients had anatomical resections. Median times were as follows: radiotracer injection to surgery, 219 minutes (range: 139-487 minutes); operative time, 85.5 minutes (32-236 minutes); chest tube removal, 1 day (range: 1-2 days); and length of stay, 2 days (range: 1-4 days). Four patients (14.8%) had a pigtail catheter placed for pneumothorax after radiotracer injection. One patient was readmitted 1 week after discharge for a spontaneous pneumothorax. There were no other morbidities or any 90-day mortality. Conclusion: RALN can be combined with UVATS to effectively resect small, deep, or low-density lung lesions that are difficult to visualize or palpate by thoracoscopy.

Activatable fluorescence detection of epidermal growth factor receptor positive mediastinal lymph nodes in murine lung cancer model

It is important to detect mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with lung cancer to improve outcomes, and it is possible that activatable fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) can help visualize metastatic lymph nodes. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of applying this method to mediastinal lymph node metastases in an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Tumors were formed by injecting H226 (EGFR-positive) and H520 (EGFR-negative) cell lines directly in the lung parenchyma of five mice each. When computed tomography revealed tumors exceeding 8 mm at their longest or atelectasis that occupied more than half of lateral lung fields, a panitumumab (Pan)-ICG conjugate was injected in the tail vein (50 μg/100 μL). The mice were then sacrificed 48 hours after injection and their chests were opened for fluorescent imaging acquisition. Lymph node metastases with the five highest fluorescent signal intensities per mouse were chosen for statistical analysis of the average signal ratios against the liver. Regarding the quenching capacity, the Pan-ICG conjugate had almost no fluorescence in phosphate-buffered saline, but there was an approximate 61.8-fold increase in vitro after treatment with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Both the fluorescent microscopy and the flow cytometry showed specific binding between the conjugate and H226, but almost no specific binding with H520. The EGFR-positive mediastinal lymph node metastases showed significantly higher average fluorescence signal ratios than the EGFR-negative ones (n = 25 per group) 48 hours after conjugate administration (70.1% ± 4.5% vs. 13.3% ± 1.8%; p < 0.05). Thus, activatable fluorescence imaging using the Pan-ICG conjugate detected EGFR-positive mediastinal lymph node metastases with high specificity.

Bronchial suction does not facilitate lung collapse when using a double-lumen tube during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Bronchial suction through the lumen of a bronchial blocker has been reported to accelerate lung collapse. The aim of the current study was to examine whether bronchial suction could also facilitate lung collapse when using a double-lumen tube (DLT).

Methods

Eighty patients scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer using a DLT for one-lung ventilation (OLV) were randomised into an arm that received bronchial suction and an arm that underwent spontaneous collapse (n=40 per arm). For bronchial suction, a pressure of -30 cmH₂O was applied to the lumen of the non-ventilated lung during the first minute of OLV. The primary endpoint was the degree of lung collapse at 10 min after the start of OLV, assessed on a 10-point visual analogue scale (0: fully inflated; 10: complete collapse). Secondary outcomes included lung collapse at 1 and 5 min after the start of OLV, as well as occurrence of intraoperative hypoxemia.

Results

Median (interquartile range) lung collapse scores at 10 min were statistically greater in the bronchial suction arm than in the spontaneous collapse arm [9.0 (9.0-9.0) vs. 8.5 (8.0-9.0); P=0.004]. Lung collapse was also statistically greater in the bronchial suction arm at 5 min [8.0 (7.0-8.0) vs. 7.0 (6.25-7.0) min; P=0.002] and 1 min [4.0 (4.0-5.0) vs. 2.0 (2.0-2.0) min; P<0.001]. None of the patients experienced intraoperative hypoxemia and operative complications.

Conclusions

Bronchial suction resulted in statistically greater but not clinically meaningful lung collapse when using a DLT. However, greater degree of lung collapse at 1-min could be helpful in reducing accidental injuries.

A glance at the history of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery

In the history of thoracic surgery, the advent of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) had on effect equivalent to that provoked by a true revolution. VATS successfully allowed minor, major and complex procedures for various lung and mediastinal pathologies with small incision instead of the traditional accesses. These small incisions abolished ugly scars, generated less acute and chronic pain, reduced hospital stay and costs, allowed faster return to normal day life activities. Conventional VATS was initially performed through 3-4 ports and rapidly evolved to uniportal or single portal access [uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (uniVATS)]. First uniportal procedures were published in 2000. In 2010, uniportal technique for lobectomy was described. Focused experimental courses, live surgery events, the internet media favored the rapid diffusion of this technique over the world. Major and complex uniVATS lung resections involving segmentectomy, pneumonectomy, bronchoplasty and vascular reconstruction, redo VATS, en bloc chest wall resections have been accomplished with satisfactory outcomes. Interestingly, different uniportal approaches and techniques are emerging from a number of VATS centers particularly experienced in the mini-invasive thoracic surgery. As confidence grew, in 2014, the first uniVATS left upper lobectomy via the subxiphoid approach was reported. This novel technique is quite challenging but appropriate patient selection as well as availability of dedicated instruments allowed to perform procedures safely. The diffusion of uniVATS paralleled with the development of nonintubated awake anesthesia technique. In 2007 the first nonintubated lobectomy was described. In 2014 the first single port VATS lobectomy in a nonintubated patient with lung cancer of the right middle lobe was accomplished. The nonintubated uniVATS represents an intriguing technique, so that very experienced thoracoscopic surgeons may enroll to surgery elderly and high risk patients. Decreased postoperative pain and hospitalization, faster access to the radio-chemotherapy and diminished inflammatory response are important benefits of the modern approach to the thoracic pathologies. The history of uniVATS documented a constant and irresistible progress. This technique may further provide unthinkable surprises in next future.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in hemothorax

The management of hemothorax (spontaneous or, more often, due to thoracic trauma lesions), follows basic tenets well-respected by cardiothoracic surgeons. In most, a non-operative approach is adequate and safe, with a defined group of patients requiring only tube thoracostomy. Only a minority of patients need a surgical intervention due to retained hemothorax, persistent bleeding or incoming complications, as pleural empyema or entrapped lung. In the early 1990s, the rapid technological developments determined an increase of diagnostic and therapeutical indications for multiport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as the gold standard therapy for retained and persistent hemothorax, allowing an earlier diagnosis, total clots removal and better tubes placement with less morbidity, reduced post-operative pain and shorter hospital stay. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the timing for draining hemothorax, but best results are obtained when the drainage is performed within the first 5 days after the onset. The traditional multi-port approach has evolved in the last years into an uniportal approach that mimics open surgical vantage points utilizing a non-rib-spreading single small incision. Currently, in experienced hands, this technique is used for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions as hemothorax evacuation as like as the more complex procedures, such as lobectomies or bronchial sleeve and vascular reconstructions.

Modified procedure of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy with muscle sparing incision

BACKGROUND

To describe modified procedure for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS) lobectomy with a small, total muscle-sparing incision.

METHODS

Forty-eight UVATS leucotomy were attempted and successfully completed. A single incision of approximately 3 cm was made in an intercostal space along the anterior axillary line. Muscle-sparing technique was applied with this single-incision approach using muscle sparing technique.

RESULTS

Incision size was kept to a minimum, with a median of 3 cm. Mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in all patients with malignancy. Overall median operative time was 1.3 hours. Median hospitalization was 13.5 days (range, 6-21 days). Morbidity rate was low at 3%. There were no other postoperative complications, mortality, or re-admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified procedure of lobectomy with UVATS might be easy to operate with less surgical time and morbidity rate, muscle sparing technique might reduce post-operation pain.