Thoracoscopy in Cameroon: Indications, Technics and Short Term Results

Introduction: Thoracoscopy is a video-assisted surgical approach that mirrors the techniques used in thoracotomy. Our aim is to map the current state of thoracoscopy practice in Cameroon’s hospitals. Methods: This was a descriptive study that collected both retrospective and prospective data over 57 months across four hospitals in Cameroon. It included 13 patients and focused on variables such as socio-demographic factors, clinical profiles, surgical procedures, and postoperative follow-up. Results: Thirteen patients, predominantly male (84.6%, n = 11), with a mean age of 37.5 ± 16 years, were enrolled. Alcohol use (61.5%) and smoking (38.5%) were the most common past histories. The major complaints were dyspnea (84.6%) and chest pain (58.3%). The primary surgical procedure was clot-free thoracoscopy in 30.8% of cases, mainly for persistent hemothorax (41.8%). Most surgeries were elective (76.9%) and performed under general anesthesia with selective intubation (61.5%). The most common approach was single-port thoracoscopy (U-VATS) (76.9%), with no reported difficulties;however, one intraoperative incident occurred and was successfully treated. Drainage was performed systematically in all patients, and one case required conversion to open surgery. Postoperative complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo grade I) and mainly consisted of pain, with a mortality rate of 15.4%. No significant association was found between risk factors and the occurrence of complications or postoperative mortality. Conclusion: Thoracoscopy, a novel approach in our context, primarily focuses on minor thoracic surgeries.

Low cervical incision combined with video-assisted thoracoscopy for resection of a goiter extending to the posterior mediastinum:A case report and literature review

Approximately 25%of goiters extend to the substernal area,and most of them can be removed through a cervical incision.Goiters that extend into the posterior mediastinum are very rare,and resection usually requires thoracotomy.In recent years,there have been several reports of resection of substernal goiters by minimally invasive surgery.Here,we present a 75-year-old female with a giant substernal goiter who successfully underwent resection of the goiter extending to the posterior mediastinum using low cervical incision combined with video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Diagnostic value and safety of medical thoracoscopy for pleural effusion of different causes

BACKGROUND Pleural effusions occur for various reasons,and their diagnosis remains challenging despite the availability of different diagnostic modalities.Medical thoracoscopy(MT)can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes,especially in patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion.AIM To assess the diagnostic efficacy and safety of MT in patients with pleural effusion of different causes.METHODS Between January 1,2012 and April 30,2021,patients with pleural effusion underwent MT in the Department of Respiratory Medicine,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University(Shaanxi,China).According to the discharge diagnosis,patients were divided into malignant pleural effusion(MPE),tuberculous pleural effusion(TBPE),and inflammatory pleural effusion(IPE)groups.General information,and tuberculosis-and effusion-related indices of the three groups were analyzed.The diagnostic yield,diagnostic accuracy,performance under thoracoscopy,and complications of patients were compared among the three groups.Then,the significant predictive factors for diagnosis between the MPE and TBPE groups were analyzed.RESULTS Of the 106 patients enrolled in this 10-year study,67 were male and 39 female,with mean age of 57.1±14.184 years.Among the 74 thoracoscopy-confirmed patients,41(38.7%)had MPE,21 had(19.8%)TBPE,and 32(30.2%)were undiagnosed.Overall diagnostic yield of MT was 69.8%(MPE:75.9%,TBPE:48.8%,and IPE:75.0%,with diagnostic accuracies of 100%,87.5%,and 75.0%,respectively).Under thoracoscopy,single or multiple pleural nodules were observed in 81.1%and pleural adhesions in 34.0%with pleural effusions.The most common complication was chest pain(41.5%),followed by chest tightness(11.3%)and fever(10.4%).Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed effusion appearance[odds ratio(OR):0.001,95%CI:0.000-0.204;P=0.010]and carcinoembryonic antigen(OR:0.243,95%CI:0.081-0.728;P=0.011)as significant for differentiating MPE and TBPE,with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.977(95%CI:0.953-1.000;P<0.001).CONCLUSION MT is an effective,safe,and minimally invasive procedure with high diagnostic yield for pleural effusion of different causes.

Pleural lump after paragonimiasis treated by thoracoscopy: A case report

BACKGROUND Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease that has multiple symptoms,with pulmonary types being common.According to our clinical practices,the pleural effusion of our patients is full of fibrous contents.Drainage,praziquantel,and triclabendazole are recommended for the treatment,but when fibrous contents are contained in pleural effusion,surgical interventions are necessary.However,no related reports have been noted.Herein,we present a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis treated by thoracoscopy.CASE SUMMARY A 12-year-old girl presented to our outpatient clinic complaining of shortness of breath after exercise for several days.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed positivity for antibodies against Paragonimus westermani,serological test showed eosinophilia,and moderate left pleural effusion and calcification were detected on computed tomography(CT).She was diagnosed with paragonimiasis,and praziquantel was prescribed.However,radiography showed an egg-sized nodule in the left pleural cavity during follow-up.She was then admitted to our hospital again.The serological results were normal except slight eosinophilia.CT scan displayed a cystic-like node in the lower left pleural cavity.The patient underwent a thoracoscopic mass resection.A mass with a size of 6 cm×4 cm×3 cm adhered to the pleura was resected.The pathological examination showed that the mass was composed of non-structured necrotic tissue,indicating a granuloma.The patient remainded asymptomatic and follow-up X-ray showed complete removal of the mass.CONCLUSION This case highlights that thoracoscopic intervention is necessary when fibrous contents are present on CT scan or chest roentgenogram to avoid later fibrous lump formation in patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis.

Thoracoscopy: Outstanding Interventional Modality in Diagnosis of Pleural Nosologies

Thoracoscopy is a well established invasive method for the diagnosis and management of pleural nosologies. The role and the impact that this procedure exerts in settings alongside the diagnostic yield in pleural malignancies are unquestionable. New insights and novel techniques promise an even greater future towards the usefulness of this technique in interventional pneumonology. This is a short review highlighting the principles and novel aspects in the evolutionary progress of pleuroscopy.

Laparoskopy and Thoracoscopy in Complex Inspection and Treatment Patients with Locally Extended Esophageal Cancer

The great attention has been paid to the mini-invasive methods of the distribution of the malignant process in the thoracic and abdominal cavities for last time. In the Thoracic department of the Republican Research Oncological Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan during the period from 2004 to 2008 in the plan of investigation of the patients with esophageal and stomach cancer including roentgenoscopy and (or) roentgenography of the thoracic chest, contrast esophageal and stomach roentgenoscopy, EPGDS and ultrasonography of the mediastinal and abdominal cavity organs additionally computed tomography and diagnostic thoraco-and (or) laparoscopy were included. The cancer of mesothoracic esophageal part with invasion into the upper thoracic part was diagnosed in 2 patients, the cancer of mesothoracic esophageal part-in 12 patients, the cancer of the middle and the lower parts-in 7 patients, the cancer the lower thorax part-in 7 patients, the cardioesophageal cancer-in 9 patients, a total cancer of a stomach with affection of the bottom third of the oesophagus-in 1 patient. Thoracoscopy and laparoscopy allow determination of the respectability of the tumorous process in the esophageal and stomach cancer considerably lowering the number of exploratory thoracotomies and laparotomies.

Observation on the Effect of Spontaneous Ventilation Single-Port Thoracoscopy and Conventional Thoracoscopy on T Lymphocyte Subsets and Inflammatory Factors in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective:To explore the effects of two types of surgical approaches,spontaneous ventilation single-port thoracoscopy and conventional thoracoscopy,on T lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:Fifty-eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects.All of them underwent standard lobectomy and lymph node dissection.Among them,32 patients who underwent spontaneous ventilation single-port thoracoscopy were included in the study group,while 26 patients who underwent conventional thoracoscopy were included in the control group.The perioperative related indices,lung function,immune factor levels,and inflammatory factor levels were compared between the two groups.Results:In the study group,the perioperative incision length,intraoperative blood loss,operation time,and number of lymph node dissections were 4.28±2.01,77.89±12.02,87.21±16.11,and 20.69±4.45,respectively.In the control group,the perioperative incision length,intraoperative blood loss,operation time,and number of lymph node dissections were 6.32±2.45,84.98±16.98,95.88±14.89,and 21.45±4.36,respectively.There was no statistical difference between the study group and the control group in the number of lymph node dissections and intraoperative blood loss;the lung function in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group;the levels of T cell subsets CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+,CD16+CD56+of the study group were 46.36±5.87,30.98±4.12,1.19±0.23,and 17.41±6.25,respectively,while those in the control group were 35.78±4.12,34.14±3.87,1.04±0.24,and 12.45±5.56,respectively;the levels of immunoglobulin IgG,IgM,and IgA of the study group were 10.45±2.14,1.21±0.24,and 1.26±0.25,respectively,while those of the control group were 8.78±1.78,1.06±0.12,and 1.06±0.26,respectively,with statistical differences;the levels of CRP,IL-6,IL-8,and TNF-αof the control group were 21.87±4.26,98.01±9.58,111.03±9.96,and 123.05±9.77,respectively,while those of the study group were 19.47±3.89,89.12±8.96,104.32±9.12,and 112.98±9.16,respectively,in which the comparison was statistically significant.Conclusion:In the surgical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer,spontaneous ventilation single-port thoracoscopic surgery has several advantages,which include less trauma and bleeding.It reduces the impact of surgical trauma on the immune function of the body,improves the postoperative lung function and inflammatory stress of the body,as well as accelerates the recovery of patients.It is an alternative to open lung lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer.

Surgical cardiac synchronization therapy for the cardiomyopathy heart failure with micro-invasive thoracoscopy techniques

Objective The cardiac synchronization therapy (CRT) was proven to have good treatment for the cardiacconduction disorders patients with serious heart failure. But many disadvantages were gradually be noticed,such as difficulty of sinus electrode implantation,coronary sinus injury and bleeding,still one third

Primary repair of esophageal atresia Gross type C via thoracoscopic magnetic compression anastomosis:Is it the best option?

Magnetic compression anastomosis is a promising treatment option for patients with complex esophageal atresia;but,at the present time,should not be the first therapeutic option in those cases where the surgeon can perform a primary anastomosis of the two ends of the esophagus with acceptable tension.

Semi-rigid thoracoscopy for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions： a comparative study

Background Thoracoscopy is highly sensitive and accurate for detecting pleural effusions. However, most respiratory physicians are not familiar with the use of the more common rigid thoracoscope or the flexible bronchoscope, which is difficult to manipulate within the pleural cavity. The semi-rigid thoracoscope combines the best features of the flexible and rigid instruments. Since the practice with this instrument is limited in China, the diagnostic utility of semi-rigid thoracoscopy （namely medical thoracoscopy） under local anesthesia for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions was evaluated . Methods In 50 patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions who were studied retrospectively, 23 received routine examinations between July 2004 and June 2005 and the rest 27 patients underwent medical thoracoscopy during July 2005 and June 2006. Routine examinations of the pleural effusions involved biochemistry and cytology, sputum cytology, and thoracentesis. The difference in diagnostic sensitivity, costs related to pleural fluid examination and complications were compared directly between the two groups. Results Medical thoracoscopy revealed tuberculous pleurisy in 6 patients, adenocarcinoma in 7, squamous-cell carcinoma in 2, metastatic carcinoma in 3, mesothelioma in 2, non-Hodgkin＇s lymphoma in 1, and others in 4. Only 2 patients could not get definite diagnoses. Diagnostic efficiency of medical thoracoscopy was 93% （25/27）. Only 21% patients were diagnosed after routine examinations, including parapneumonic effusion in 2 patients, lung cancer in 2 and undetermined metastatic malignancy in 1. Twelve patients with tuberculous pleurisy were suspected by routine examination. Costs related to pleural effusion testing showed no difference between the two groups （P=0.114）. Twenty-three patients in the routine examination group underwent 97 times of thoracentesis. Two pleural infection patients and 2 pneumothorax patients were identified and received antibiotic treatment and drainage. Medical thoracoscopy could be well tolerated by all the patients. The semi-rigid thoracoscope could be easily controlled by chest physicians. The most common complication was transient chest pain （20 of 27 patients） from the indwelling chest tube, which would be managed with conventional analgesics. One case of subcutaneous emphysema and 2 cases of postoperative fever were self-limiting. No severe complications occurred. Conclusions Medical thoracoscopy is a simple, safe, and cost-effective tool, with a high positive rate. Physicians should extend its access to proper patients if the facilities for medical thoracoscopy are available.

Diagnostic and therapeutic value of thoracoscopy for pleural effusions： experience from 628 consecutive cases in China

Pleural effusions, the excessive accumulations of fluid in pleural space, are frequently associated with a variety of clinical diseases, such as cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, etc. This means that both malignant and benign diseases can cause pleural effusions. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to determine the etiology prior to the treatment of patients with pleural effusions.

Thoracoscopy for diagnosis and management of refractory hepatic hydrothorax

The prevalence of pleural effusion caused by hepatocirrhosis ranges from 0.4% to 30%. Some patients with hepatic hydrothorax （HH） fail to respond to aggressive medical management such as albumin application, diuretics, and thoracentesis, and remain refractory massive pleural fluid. The repeated suctions to relieve the symptoms such as respiratory distress are associated with significant hyponatremia and hypoalbuminemia caused by the large volumes of fluid loss. Review of the literature has revealed that, to date, no therapy is ideal. This report describes our experiments in treating HH of patients with cirrhosis and ascites by thoracoscopy and talc poudrage, to offer our efforts to approach the pathogenesis of HH and to explore the new therapeutic strategy.

Determining the need for a thoracoscopic approach to treat a giant hiatal hernia when abdominal access is poor

BACKGROUND Giant hernias present a significant challenge for digestive surgeons.The approach taken(laparoscopic vs thoracoscopic)depends largely on the preferences and skills of each surgeon,although in most cases today the laparoscopic approach is preferred.AIM To determine whether patients presenting inadequate laparoscopic access to the intrathoracic hernial sac obtain poorer postoperative results than those with no such problem,in order to assess the need for a thoracoscopic approach.METHODS For the retrospective series of patients treated in our hospital for hiatal hernia(n=112),we calculated the laparoscopic field of view and the working area accessible to surgical instruments,by means of preoperative imaging tests,to assess the likely outcome for cases inaccessible to laparoscopy.RESULTS Patients with giant hiatal hernias for whom a preoperative calculation suggested that the laparoscopic route would not access all areas of the intrathoracic sac presented higher rates of perioperative complications and recurrence during follow-up than those for whom laparoscopy was unimpeded.The difference was statistically significant.Moreover,the insertion of mesh did not improve results for the non-accessible group.CONCLUSION For patients with giant hiatal hernias,it is essential to conduct a preoperative evaluation of the angle of vision and the working area for surgery.When parts of the intrathoracic sac are inaccessible laparoscopically,the thoracoscopic approach should be considered.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy

Esophageal resection is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) might theoretically decrease this rate. We reviewed the current literature on MIE, with a focus on the available techniques, outcomes and comparison with open surgery. This review shows that the available literature on MIE is still crowded with heterogeneous studies with different techniques. There are no controlled and randomized trials, and the few retrospective comparative cohort studies are limited by small numbers of patients and biased by historical controls of open surgery. Based on the available literature, there is no evidence that MIE brings clear benef its compared to conventional esophagectomy. Increasing experience and the report of larger series might change this scenario.

Clinical Features and Treatment of Bronchogenic Cyst in Adults

Objective To investigate the clinical features and management of bronchogenic cyst in the adults. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients admitted to our hospital with histopathologically proved bronchogenic cyst from January 1983 to December 2007. Of all the patients, 28 were male and 22 were female, with an average age of 36.9 (range, 18 to 64) years. The symptoms, location of the cysts, imaging evaluation, surgical treatment manner, and outcome of these patients were analyzed. Results Symptoms were present in 33 of the 50 patients, and cough was the most common symptom. Thirteen patients presented with complications: hemoptysis, infected cyst, dysphagia, paralysis, and hoarseness. The locations of the cysts included the mediastinum (28 cases), pulmonary parenchyma (12 cases), hilar area (3 cases), visceral pleura (1 case), and some rare locations including the intestinal mesentery (1 case), retroperitoneum (1 case), adrenal gland (1 case), neck (2 cases), and dura matter of the cervical verte-brae (1 case). Chest X-ray was performed in 36 patients and computed tomography (CT) was performed in 41 patients. The bronchogenic cyst in CT was characterized as a round, well circumscribed, unilocular mass, with density ranging from that of water to high density (0-50 Hu). As for treatment, complete resection of the bronchogenic cyst was performed in 47 (94%) patients, subtotal resection was performed in 3 (6%) patients. Open surgery was performed in 45 (90%) patients, and thoracoscopy (video-assisted thoracic surgery) was performed in 5 (10%) paitients. Of the 12 patients with intrapulmonary cyst, 11 patients underwent lobectomy and 1 patient underwent wedge resection. Postoperative sequelae occurred in 2 patients, 1 with persistent air leakage and 1 with hoarseness. All patients were proved with bronchogenic cyst pathologically. The average follow-up period was 6.5 years (range, 4 months to 10 years), and no late sequelae or recurrence of the cyst occurred. Conclusions The clinical and imaging presentations of bronchogenic cyst in adults are variable. Surgical resection is the best way for diagnosis and treatment. Both open surgery and thoracoscopy are appropriate for the selected candidates.

Surgical Treatment of Intralobar Pulmonary Sequestration

Objective To evaluate the clinical features,diagnosis,treatment,and outcome of intralobar pulmonary sequestration (ILS). Methods Patients who were diagnosed with ILS in our hospital between January 1988 and January 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. We recorded the clinical symptoms,imaging findings,operative technique,complications,and outcome of these patients. Results Forty-seven patients (25 men and 22 women) with an average age of 32.3 years were enrolled. Forty-two patients had symptoms including cough and hemoptysis. Chest X-ray,computed tomography (CT),magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),and angiography were performed. Thoracotomy was performed in 45 patients,while thoracoscopy was performed in 2 patients. Lobectomy was the most common treatment procedure. Massive bleeding developed in 2 patients due to injury of aberrant supplying artery intraoperatively,1 patient had atrial fibrillation,1 patient had thrombosis of upper extremity postoperatively. All patients were confirmed the diagnosis pathologically,4 accompanied with bronchogenic cyst,15 with bronchiectasis,8 with infection,2 with aspergilloma,and 1 with carcinoid. No late complications occurred. Conclusions ILS is rare,surgery is recommended because some patients may have potential severe complications. Contrast enhanced CT and three-dimensional reconstruction is the best diagnostic method. Both thoracotomy and thoracoscopy are appropriate for the selected candidates.

Clinical outcome after pulmonary metastasectomy from primary hepatocellular carcinoma:Analysis of prognostic factors

AIM： To review the surgical outcomes in terms of the surgical indications and relevant prognostic factors. METHODS： Sixteen patients underwent therapeutic lung surgery between March 1999 and May 2006. The observation period was terminated on May 31, 2007. The surgical outcomes and the clinicopathological factors were compared. RESULTS： There was no mortality or major morbidity encountered in this study. The mean follow-up period after metastasectomy was 26.7 ＋ 28.2 （range： 1-99 mo）, and the median survival time was 20 mo. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 56% and 26%, respectively. At the end of the follow-up, 1 patient died from hepatic failure without recurrence, 6 died from hepatic failure with a recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, and 4 died from recurrent HCC with cachexia. Among several clinical factors, Kaplan Meier analysis revealed as a treatment for the that liver transplantation primary lesion, grade of cell differentiation, and negative evidence HBV infection were independent predictive factors. On Cox＇s proportional hazard model, there were no significant factors affecting survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with HCC. CONCLUSION： A metastasectomy should be performed before other treatments in selected patients, Although not significant, patients with liver transplantation of a primary HCC survived longer, Liver transplantation might be the most beneficial modality that can offer patients better survival, A multi- institutional and collaborative study would be needed for identifying clinical prognostic factors predicting survival in patients with HCC and lung metastasis.

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.

Thoracoscopic segmentectomy and lobectomy assisted by threedimensional computed-tomography bronchography and angiography for the treatment of primary lung cancer

BACKGROUND Anatomical segmentectomy has been proposed as a substitution for lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer.However,it requires technical meticulousness due to the complex anatomical variations of segmental vessels and bronchi.AIM To assess the safety and feasibility of three-dimensional computed-tomography bronchography and angiography(3D-CTBA)in performing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)for lung cancers.METHODS In this study,we enrolled 123 patients who consented to undergo thoracoscopic segmentectomy and lobectomy assisted by 3D-CTBA between May 2017 and June 2019.The image data of enhanced computed tomography(CT)scans was reconstructed three-dimensionally by the Mimics software.The results of preoperative 3D-CTBA,in combination with intraoperative navigation,guided the surgery.RESULTS A total of 59 women and 64 men were enrolled,of whom 57(46.3%)underwent segmentectomy and 66(53.7%)underwent lobectomy.The majority of tumor appearance on CT was part-solid ground-glass nodule(pGGN;55.3%).The mean duration of chest tube placement was 3.5±1.6 d,and the average length of postoperative hospital stay was 6.8±1.8 d.Surgical complications included one case of pneumonia and four cases of prolonged air leak lasting>5 d.Notably,there was no intraoperative massive hemorrhage,postoperative intensive-care unit stay,or 30-d mortality.Preoperative 3D-CTBA images can display clearly and vividly the targeted structure and the variations of vessels and bronchi.To reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence,the application of 3D-CTBA with a virtual 3D surgical margin help the VATS surgeon determine accurate distances and positional relations among the tumor,bronchial trees,and the intersegmental vessels.Three-dimensional navigation was performed to confirm the segmental structure,precisely cut off the targeted segment,and avoid intersegmental veins injury.CONCLUSION VATS and 3D-CTBA worked in harmony in our study.This combination also provided a new pattern of transition from lesion-directed location of tumors to computer-aided surgery for the management of early lung cancer.

Combined thoracoscopic and endoscopic surgery for a large esophageal schwannoma

A 47-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy identified a submucosal tumor in the left wall of the esophagus that was diagnosed as a benign schwannoma on biopsy. Computed tomography revealed a tumor of length 60 mm in the thoracic esophagus, with its cranial edge at the level of the aortic arch. On endoscopy, a submucosal tunnel was created 40 mm proximal to the cranial edge of the tumor, and its oral end was dissected from the mucosal and muscular layers. This was followed by the resection of the entire tumor by left-sided thoracoscopy. The esophageal defect was closed in layer by continuous suture from the thoracic side. Endoscopic closure was achieved by using clips. No postoperative complications were observed. Oral diet was resumed from postoperative day 7 and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 9. This combined approach has not been described for similar tumors. Our experience demonstrated that large esophageal tumors can be safely excised with minimally invasive surgery by using a combination of thoracoscopy and endoscopy.