Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemoptysis

Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood from the tracheobronchial tree. It is commonly caused by bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. The expectorated blood usually originates from the bronchial arteries. When hemoptysis is suspected, it must be confirmed and classified according to severity, and the origin and cause of the bleeding determined. Lateral and AP chest X-ray is the first study, although a normal chest X-ray does not rule out the possibility of malignancy or other underlying pathology. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) must be performed in all patients with frank hemoptysis, hemoptoic sputum, suspicion of bronchiectasis or risk factors for lung cancer, and in those with signs of pathology on chest X-ray. MDCT angiography has replaced arteriography in identifying the arteries that are the source of bleeding. MDCT angiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that can pinpoint the presence, origin, number and course of the systemic thoracic (bronchial and non-bronchial) and pulmonary arterial sources of bleeding. Endovascular embolization is the safest and most effective method of managing bleeding in massive or recurrent hemoptysis. Embolization is indicated in all patients with life-threatening or recurrent hemoptysis in whom MDCT angiography shows artery disease. Flexible bronchoscopy plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of hemoptysis in patients with hemoptoic sputum or frank hemoptysis. The procedure can be performed rapidly at the bedside (intensive care unit); it can be used for immediate control of bleeding, and is also effective in locating the source of the hemorrhage. Flexible bronchoscopy is the first-line procedure of choice in hemodynamically unstable patients with life-threatening hemoptysis, in whom control of bleeding is of vital importance. In these cases, surgery is associated with an extremely high mortality rate, and is currently only indicated when bleeding is secondary to surgery and its source can be accurately and reliably located.

[Incisions and routes of surgical access]

The correct choice of the incision to the chest is essential for surgical success and a favorable postoperative course. The route of access to the thorax must be adapted both to the disease and to the thoracic surgeon's experience, striking a balance between aggressiveness and the safety of the technique. This article describes the characteristics of surgical incisions, including classical thoracotomy, sternotomy and its variants, thoracoscopy and minimally-invasive surgery. The distinct techniques used to explore mediastinal lymphatic areas, including video-assisted mediastinal lymphadenectomy and transcervical extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy, are also described.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy: results in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The application of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in major pulmonary resections is still far from routine in most hospitals, even though the safety and technical feasibility of the procedure have by now been amply demonstrated. This paper reports on the surgical technique used by the authors for VATS lobectomy, on their experience of the procedure and on the results obtained.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed of all patients undergoing VATS lobectomy at the our Thoracic Surgery Department ,between 1993 and 2009.The clinical records of all patients were reviewed, and the following variables were noted for purposes of analysis: patient age and sex; clinical diagnosis; staging; date of surgery; type of surgery; conversion to conventional surgery and grounds for conversion; duration of surgery; intraoperative, postoperative and long-term complications; postoperative stay, final diagnosis and staging; and death rates.

RESULTS

A total of 349 VATS lobectomies were performed over the study period (292 men, 57 women; mean age 59.7) The aetiology was non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in 313 patients and benign processes in 26;four patients had carcinoid tumours, and a further six required lobectomy due to metastases. The overall conversion rate was 9.4%. Mean duration of lobectomy was 148 minutes, and median duration 92 minutes. Mean postoperative was 3.9 days. The morbidity rate was 12.89 %, mostly involving minor complications. Perioperative mortality was 1.43%. There were no intraoperative deaths. The overall five-year survival rate for patients with NSCLC was 80.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

VATS lobectomy is a safe and technically-viable procedure that meets oncological criteria for lung-cancer surgery. Major pulmonary resection using VATS should be considered the procedure of choice for a number of benign processes and for early-stage bronchogenic carcinoma (T1-T2 N0 M0).

[Resection of pulmonary metastases in 148 patients: analysis of prognostic factors]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic factors for survival in a series of patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary metastases from primary tumors in distinct organs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 148 patients operated between May 2001 and May 2007. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate overall survival. Patients scheduled for tumorectomy were included provided their primary tumor was controlled and they had no extrathoracic recurrence and adequate cardiorespiratory function. The influence of the following prognostic factors was analyzed: number and diameter of the metastases, lymph node infiltration, complete resection, and, above all, histological type. A significance level of 95% was used.

RESULTS

A total of 90 men (60.81%) and 58 women (39.19%) were operated. The mean (SD) age was 56.5 (9.7) years. The actuarial survival at 6 years was 30.3% (n=45) and the median survival was 34 months. The factors that affected survival were the number of metastases (P< .05), diameter of the lesions (P< .05), lymph node infiltration (P< .05), complete resection (P< .05), and, above all, histological type (P< .05). Tumorectomy was the most commonly performed operation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that, in the absence of other therapeutic options and contraindications, we should operate on patients in whom the primary tumor is controlled and in whom complete resection can be performed. Even if factors associated with poor prognosis are present, the outcomes are always better than when surgery is not performed, particularly in view of the relatively low morbidity and mortality associated with this type of surgery.

[Resection of 8 mediastinal bronchogenic cysts by video-assisted thoracoscopy]

Mediastinal bronchogenic cysts are an uncommon entity and surgical experience of their removal by video-assisted thoracoscopy is limited. We present our patient outcomes and surgical technique in the treatment of bronchogenic cysts by video-assisted thoracoscopy. The study included 8 patients (4 females and 4 males between the ages of 4 and 52 years), 7 of whom presented clinical symptoms. The mean widest diameter of the cyst was 7.6 cm. In 5 patients the cyst was in the middle mediastinum and in 3, the posterior mediastinum. The intervention was performed using 3 or 4 entry points. Initial puncture of the cyst and removal of its contents greatly facilitated cyst manipulation and subsequent dissection of the cyst sac from the structures to which it was attached. In all 8 cases resection by video-assisted thoracoscopy was carried out with no intraoperative complications. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.3 days. During follow-up, which ranged from 4 months to 10 years, no patients presented late-onset or recurrent complications.