Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lymph node dissection

Nodal Outcomes of Uniportal versus Multiportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Clinical Stage I Lung Cancer

Background

Accurate intraoperative assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes is a critical aspect of lung cancer surgery. The efficacy and potential for upstaging implicit in these dissections must therefore be revisited in the current era of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in which 544 patients with stage I (T1abc–T2a, N0, M0) primary lung cancer were analyzed. To assess risk factors for nodal upstaging and to limit any imbalance imposed by surgical choices, we constructed an inverse probability of treatment-weighted (IPTW) logistic regression model (in addition to non-weighted logistic models). We also evaluated risk factors for early locoregional recurrence using IPTW logistic regression analysis.

Results

In the comparison of uniportal and multiportal VATS, the resected lymph node count (14.03±8.02 vs. 14.41±7.41, respectively; p=0.48) and rate of nodal upstaging (6.5% vs. 8.7%, respectively; p=0.51) appeared similar. Predictors of nodal upstaging included tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–2.70), carcinoembryonic antigen level (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04–1.18), and histologically confirmed pleural invasion (OR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.89–8.34). The risk factors for locoregional recurrence within 1 year were found to be number of resected N2 nodes, age, and nodal upstaging.

Conclusion

Uniportal and multiportal VATS appear similar with regard to accuracy and thoroughness, showing no significant difference in the extent of nodal dissection.

Comparison of the perioperative efficacy between single-port and two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery anatomical lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

With the development of novel surgical techniques and instruments over the recent years, more and more surgeons consider single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as a feasible option. However, whether single-port thoracoscopic surgery has more potential advantages than two-port thoracoscopic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer remains unknown. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the perioperative efficacy between single-port and two-port VATS anatomical lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Eleven studies were identified from the databases of The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of science, and China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc). Prospective studies and retrospective studies that evaluated the perioperative efficacy of single-port VATS compared with two-port VATS were analyzed. We used 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to calculate the odds ratio (OR), and the weight mean difference (WMD).

Results

A total of 11 studies (3 prospective studies and 8 retrospective studies), including 1,592 patients, were included. We found that the duration of the operation in single-port VATS anatomical lung resection for NSCLC was shorter (P=0.02). Also, the bleeding volume amount was lower (P=0.01), the length of postoperative drainage was shorter (P<0.00001), the amount of postoperative hospital stay was lower (P<0.0001), and the visual analogue score 24 and 72 h after operation time was lower (P<0.0001, P<0.00001). However, the number of lymph nodes retrieved (P=0.92) and the rates of complications (P=0.15) had no statistical differences between the two groups.

Conclusions

These studies show that single-port VATS anatomical lung resection has certain advantages in the treatment of NSCLC compared with two-port VATS. It may be an alternative option for surgeons.

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.

Application of single-port video-assisted thoracoscope in treating thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma using McKeown approach

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of single-port video-assisted thoracoscope (SPVATS) in treating thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) using McKeown approach.

Materials and Methods:

Totally 10 McKeown approach-based SPVATS surgeries (8 males and 2 females, aged 42–68 years) were carried out from January 2015 to December 2015 to treat TESCC, including one case in upper thoracic segment, 5 cases in median thoracic segment and 4 cases in inferior thoracic segment. All the cases were pathologically diagnosed as SCC pre-operatively. SPVATS was performed to free thoracic oesophagus and dissect the lymph nodes, and laparoscopy was performed to free stomach and to perform oesophagus-left gastric collum anastomosis.

Results:

All the patients were successfully completed SPVATS, with average thoracic surgery time as 150 min, intra-operative blood loss as 30–260 ml (average 90 ml), and post-operative hospital stay as 9–16 days (average 12 days).

Conclusions:

SPVATS was technically feasible and safe in treating TESCC using McKeown approach, with less trauma and rapid post-operative recovery, and hence, it could be used as a new surgical option for McKeown approach-based TESCC treatment.

Non-grasping en bloc mediastinal lymph node dissection through uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer surgery

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been demonstrated to be feasible, safe, and effective for lung cancer surgery compared with traditional multi-portal VATS. However, complete mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLND) through uniportal VATS is still a difficult work due to more limited access, and most thoracic surgeons use strategies of grasping, accompanied with which are complicated instrumentation and mutual interference among them. To simplify the instrumentation and make MLND more comfortable, we developed the method of "non-grasping en bloc MLND" and applied it during uniportal VATS lung cancer surgery. Two main instruments (suction and energy devices) were developed with diversified use. And only the two instruments were used during MLND following the strategy of "non-grasping". This technique incorporates with several advantages, such as: simplified instrumentation, decreased risk of damages to lymph nodes, and en bloc dissection. Considering the limited access, this technique fits well with the uniportal procedure and truly interprets the concept of "less is more" during uniportal VATS MLND.

From biportal to uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection: A single-institute experience

Our study sought to review our experience from biportal to uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) major lung resection. Lessons we learned from the evolution regarding technical aspects were also discussed.We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent VATS lobectomy or segmentectomies in Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, during January 2012 and December 2014. Patient clinical profiles, surgical indications and procedures, postoperative course, and oncological parameters were analyzed and compared between the biportal and uniportal groups.A total of 121 patients were enrolled in this study with median follow-up of 19.5 ± 11.6 months for all patients and 22.5 ± 11.5 months for primary lung cancer patients. Operation time (146.1 ± 31.9-158.7 ± 40.5 minutes; P = 0.077), chest drainage time (3.8 ± 3.3-4.4 ± 2.4 days; P = 0.309), conversion to thoracotomy rate (2.2%-2.6%; P = 0.889), and complication rate (15.6%-19.7%; P = 0.564) were equal between the groups, whereas blood loss (96.7 ± 193.2-263.6 ± 367; P = 0.006) was lower in the uniportal group. For lung cancer cases, there were no statistical differences in the histology, cancer staging, mediastinal lymph node dissection stations, numbers of dissected N1, N2, and overall lymph nodes between uniportal and biportal groups.Our preliminary data showed that uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection is as feasible, equally safe, and of comparative oncological clearance efficacy to biportal VATS.

[Development, Application Details, and Prospects of Uni-VATS on Lung Cancer Radical Operation under the Concept of "Precise Medical Treatment"]

单孔电视胸腔镜手术（uni-portal uideo-assisted thoracic surgery, Uni-VATS）的推广，是近年微创胸外科最重大的进展之一。随着腔镜下成像设备、切割缝合器械及电分离器械的改进，单孔VATS的应用范围已从最初的肺组织活检术逐渐扩大到解剖性肺叶/段切除、全肺切除、支气管/血管袖式吻合。多中心大量报道已证实：单孔VATS行肺叶切除安全、可行，清扫纵隔淋巴结的组数及总数均不低于传统多孔VATS，在疼痛、创伤及术后恢复方面也有积极的结果。虽然暂未得到多中心、大样本的临床数据如5年生存率，但有序地逐步开展单孔VATS仍是微创胸外科未来发展的重要方向。本文将围绕单孔VATS的原理及具体操作细节，结合肺癌根治术的基本操作理念进行讨论及综述，以期为单孔VATS的有序、规范化开展提出思考和探索。

Uniportal thoracoscopic surgery: from medical thoracoscopy to non-intubated uniportal video-assisted major pulmonary resections

The development of thoracoscopy has more than one hundred years of history since Jacobaeus described the first procedure in 1910. He used the thoracoscope to lyse adhesions in tuberculosis patients. This technique was adopted throughout Europe in the early decades of the 20(th) century for minor and diagnostic procedures. It is only in the last two decades that interest in minimally invasive thoracic surgery was reintroduced by two key technological improvements: the development of better thoracoscopic cameras and the availability of endoscopic linear mechanical staplers. From these advances the first video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) major pulmonary resection was performed in 1992. In the following years, the progress of VATS was slow until studies showing clear benefits of VATS over open surgery started to be published. From that point on, the technique spread throughout the world and variations of the technique started to emerge. The information available on internet, live surgery events and experimental courses has contributed to the rapid learning of minimally invasive surgery during the last decade. While initially slow to catch on, the traditional multi-port approach has evolved into a uniportal approach that mimics open surgical vantage points while utilizing a non-rib-spreading single small incision. The early period of uniportal VATS development was focused on minor procedures until 2010 with the adoption of the technique for major pulmonary resections. Currently, experts in the technique are able to use uniportal VATS to encompass the most complex procedures such as bronchial sleeve, vascular reconstructions or carinal resections. In contrast, non-intubated and awake thoracic surgery techniques, described since the early history of thoracic surgery, peaked in the decades before the invention of the double lumen endotracheal tube and have failed to gain widespread acceptance following their re-emergence over a decade ago thanks to the improvements in VATS techniques.

Single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery for early lung cancer: initial experience in Japan

BACKGROUND

Single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (SPVATS) emerged several years ago as a new, minimally invasive surgery for diseases in the field of respiratory surgery, and is increasingly becoming a subject of interest for some thoracic surgeons in Europe and Asia. However, the adoption rate of this procedure in the United States and Japan remains low. We herein reviewed our experience of SPVATS for early lung cancer in our center, and evaluated the safety and minimal invasiveness of this technique.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients who had undergone SPVATS for pathological stage I lung cancer in Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital between September 2012 and October 2015. In SPVATS, an approximately 4-cm incision was made at the 4(th) or 5(th) intercostal space between the anterior and posterior axillary lines. A rib spreader was not used at the incision site, and surgical manipulation was performed very carefully in order to avoid contact between surgical instruments and the intercostal nerves. The same surgeon performed surgery on all patients, and analyzed laboratory data before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients underwent anatomical lung resection for postoperative pathological stage I lung cancer. The mean wound length was 4.2 cm. Eighty-four patients underwent lobectomy and segmentectomy, respectively. The mean preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) was 1.85%±0.36%. Our patients consisted of 49 men (58.3%) and 35 women (41.7%), with 64, 18, 1, and 1 having adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer, respectively. The mean operative time was 175±21 min, operative blood loss 92±18 mL, and duration of drain placement 1.9±0.6 days. The duration of the postoperative hospital stay was 7.1±1.7 days, numeric rating scale (NRS) 1 week after surgery 2.8±0.6, and occurrence rate of allodynia 1 month after surgery 10.7%. No patient developed serious complications, and no deaths occurred within 30 days of surgery. Two patients (2.4%) were converted to open thoracotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

SPVATS is a safe and feasible technique, and is promising for next-generation thoracoscopic surgery. It may also reduce postoperative wound pain and contribute to improvements in the activities of daily living of patients.

Global development and current evidence of uniportal thoracoscopic surgery

In the era of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), uniportal and single incision thoracoscopic surgeries are gaining popularity. The spectrum of uniportal VATS indications is now almost equal to that of conventional VATS. For example, successful uniportal sleeve lobectomy, rib segmental resection, and management of intraoperative bleeding have all been reported. According to published data in the English-language literature, more than 9,545 uniportal VATS have been performed to date, including 1,293 lobectomies, 1,024 procedures for pneumothorax, and 6,845 sympathectomies. Of the 192 articles discussing this topic, 35 were conducted in Spain, and there were an increasing number of publications from China, Korea, and other Asian countries. There were 41 technical and review articles, all of which provided an excellent foundation of surgical concept and skill learning. The benefits of uniportal VATS include better surgical geometry and cosmetics. Regarding postoperative outcomes, thirteen out of the 15 articles reviewed showed that uniportal VATS has similar or superior outcomes to conventional VATS. Most studies demonstrated that uniportal VATS produced less postoperative pain and paresthesia. In conclusion, uniportal VATS can produce excellent operative outcome, which is becoming a mature surgical approach in thoracic disease, supported by fast-accumulating and abundant experience.

Techniques and difficulties dealing with hilar and interlobar benign lymphadenopathy in uniportal VATS

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of lung cancer has evolved to a minimally invasive approach and currently is recognized as an acceptable treatment for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As the volume and complexity of cases has increased technical difficulties had arisen. Hilar and sublobar lymph nodes can represent a challenge for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgeons in order to complete a safe dissection of vascular and bronchial structures without complications or conversion. It is not unusual the patients with smoking history or benign infections in the past present with enlarged calcified nodes that are fused to the hilum, fissure and specially the bronchus which can lead to an accident during the procedure if the surgeon has no experience handling this issue. As the amount of surgeons carrying out VATS lobectomies grows it is very important for them to know what to do in this specific case so the completion of the procedure can be achieved safely.

METHODS

The coordination between the surgeon and the assistant is very important in order to carry out the procedure without discomfort positions and good visualization, the use of energy devices in expert hands can help considerably during the dissection of lymph nodes in the hilum and fissure reducing the bleeding, which provides a clean operative field. It is a necessary maneuver during the dissection to find the correct adventitial plane between the lymph node and the structure before passing it.

RESULTS

The videos in this article show the different maneuvers a VATS surgeon can implement when facing enlarged fussed lymph nodes in the hilum, fissure or mediastinum. Improving exposure, opening the fissure, using energy and carrying out the dissection through the correct plane are keys to complete the procedure successfully.

CONCLUSIONS

With growing experience in uniportal VATS and advances in surgical technology, enlarged or fussed lymph nodes are no longer a contraindication to complete a VATS lobectomy, experience VATS surgeons have a repertory of options in order to perform a safe and effective dissection.