Enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in the perioperative period in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To investigate the potential enhancement of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)in postoperative recovery in elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 85 elderly NSCLC patients who underwent ERAS(the ERAS group)and 327 elderly NSCLC patients who received routine care(the control group)after VATS at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between May 2015 and April 2017.After propensity score matching of baseline data,we analysed the postoperative stay,total hospital expenses,postoperative 48-h pain score,and postoperative complication rate for the 2 groups of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.RESULTS After propensity score matching,ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay(6.96±4.16 vs 8.48±4.18 d,P=0.001)and total hospital expenses(48875.27±18437.5 vs 55497.64±21168.63 CNY,P=0.014)and improved the satisfaction score(79.8±7.55 vs 77.35±7.72,P=0.029)relative to those for routine care.No significant between-group difference was observed in postoperative 48-h pain score(4.68±1.69 vs 5.28±2.1,P=0.090)or postoperative complication rate(21.2%vs 27.1%,P=0.371).Subgroup analysis showed that ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and increased the satisfaction score of patients who underwent lobectomy but not of patients who underwent sublobar resection.CONCLUSION ERAS effectively reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and improved the satisfaction score in the perioperative period for elderly NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy but not for patients who underwent sublobar resection.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic fissureless right upper lobe anterior segmentectomy for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor:A case report

BACKGROUND Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors(IMTs)are exceptionally rare neoplasms with intermediate malignant potential.Surgery is the accepted treatment option,aiming for complete resection with clear margins.CASE SUMMARY A 39-year-old woman presented with a growing solitary pulmonary nodule measuring 2.0 cm in the right upper lobe(RUL)of the lung.The patient underwent a RUL anterior segmentectomy using uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy.A preliminary tissue diagnosis indicated malignancy;however,it was later revised to an IMTs.Due to the absence of a minor fissure between the right upper and middle lobes,an alternative resection approach was necessary.Therefore,we utilized indocyanine green injection to aid in delineating the intersegmental plane.Following an uneventful recovery,the patient was discharged on the third postoperative day.Thereafter,annual chest tomography scans were scheduled to monitor for potential local recurrence.CONCLUSION This case underscores the challenges in diagnosing and managing IMTs,showing the importance of accurate pathologic assessments and tailored surgical strategies.

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.

Gastroparesis after video-assisted thoracic surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)lobectomy is a common treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancer.Some patients can experience slight gastrointestinal discomfort after lobectomy for a moment.Gastroparesis is a gastrointestinal disorder that can be severe;it is associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia and impaired postoperative recovery.Here,we report a rare case of gastroparesis after VATS lobectomy.CASE SUMMARY A 61-year-old man underwent VATS right lower lobectomy uneventfully but had an obstruction of the upper digestive tract 2 d after surgery.Acute gastroparesis was diagnosed after emergency computed tomography and oral iohexol X-ray imaging.After gastrointestinal decompression and administration of prokinetic drugs,the patient’s gastrointestinal symptoms improved.Since perioperative medication was applied according to the recommended dose and there was no evidence of electrolyte imbalance,intraoperative periesophageal vagal nerve injury was the most likely underlying cause of gastroparesis.CONCLUSION Although gastroparesis is a rare perioperative complication following VATS,clinicians should be on the alert when patients complain about gastrointestinal discomfort.When surgeons resect paraesophageal lymph nodes with electrocautery,excessive ambient heat and compression of paraesophageal hematoma might induce vagal nerve dysfunction.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery―the past, present status and the future

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has developed very rapidly in these two decades, and has replaced conven-tional open thoracotomy as a standard procedure for some simple thoracic operations as well as an option or a complementary procedure for some other more complex operations. In this paper we will review its development history, the present status and the future perspectives.

Nonintubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Objective： The objective of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of nonintubated nniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax （PSP）. Methods： From November 2011 to June 2013, 32 consecutive patients with PSP were treated by nonintubated uniportal thoracoscopic bullectomy using epidnral anaesthesia and sedation without endotracheal intubation. An incision 2 cm in length was made at the 6th intercostal space in the median axillary line. The pleural space was entered by blunt dissection for placement of a soft incision protector. Instruments were then inserted through the incision protector to perform thoracoscopic bullectomy. Data were collected within a minimum follow-up period of 10 months. Results： The average time of surgery was 49.0 rain （range, 33-65 rain）. No complications were recorded. The postoperative feeding time was 6 h. The mean postoperative chest tube drainage and hospital stay were 19.3 h and 41.6 h, respectively. The postoperative pain was mild for 30 patients （93.75%） and moderate for two patients （6.25%）. No recurrences ofpneumothorax were observed at follow-up. Conclusions： The initial results indicated that nonintubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic operations are not only technically feasible, but may also be a safe and less invasive alternative for select patients in the management of PSP. This is the first report to include the use of a nonintubated uniportal technique in VATS for such a large number of PSP cases. Further work and development of instruments are needed to define the applications and advantages of this technique.

Surgical approaches for stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis:feasibility of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy in comparison with trans-sternal resection

Complete resection could be achieved in virtually all myasthenic patients with Masaoka stage I and II thymoma us- ing the trans-sternal technique. Whether this is appropriate for minimally invasive approach is not yet clear. We evalu- ated the feasibility of complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） thymectomy for the treatment of Ma- saoka stage I and Ⅱ thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis, compared to conventional trans-sternal thymectomy. We summarized 33 patients with Masaoka stage I and II thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis between April 2006 and September 2011. Of these, 15 patients underwent right-sided complete VATS （the VATS group） by us- ing adjuvant pneuomomediastinum, comparing with 18 patients using the trans-sternal approach （the T3b group）. No intraoperative death was found and no VATS case required conversion to median sternotomy. Significant differences between the two groups regarding duration of surgery and volume of intraoperative blood loss （P = 0.001 and P 〈 0.001, respectively） were observed. Postoperative morbidities were 26.7% and 33.3% for the VATS and T3b groups, respectively. All 33 patients were followed up for 12 to 61 months in the study. The cumulative probabilities of reaching complete stable remission and effective rate were 26.7% （4/15） and 93.3% （14/15） in the VATS group, which had a significantly higher complete stable remission and effective rate than those in the T3b group （P = 0.026 and P = 0.000, respectively）. We conclude that VATS thymectomy utilizing adjuvant pneuomo- mediastinum for the treatment of stage I and II thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis is technically feasible but deserves further investigation in a large series with long-term follow-up.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Objective： To review our experience of the treatment of bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax （PSP） by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS）. Materials and methods： Retrospective chart review was followed by an on-clinic or telephone interview. Patients were cared for by one thoracic surgeon in four medical centers or community hospitals in Northern and Central Taiwan. Thirteen patients with bilateral PSP underwent bilateral VATS simultaneously or sequentially from July 1994 to December 2005. Results： Twelve males and one female, with age ranging from 15 to 36 years （mean 23.1 years）, were treated with VATS for bilateral PSP, under the indications of bilateral pneumothoracis simultaneously （n=4） or sequentially （n=9）. The interval between the first and second contra-lateral VATS procedure for non-simultaneous PSP patients ranged from 7 d to 6 years. Eleven of 13 patients （84.6%） had prominent pulmonary bullae/blebs, and underwent bullae resection with mechanical or chemical pleurodesis. The mean operative time was （45.6±18.3） min （range 25-96 min） and （120.6±28.7） min （range 84-166 min） respectively for the non-simultaneous （second VATS for the recurrence of contralateral side after first VATS） and simultaneous （bilateral VATS in one operation） procedures. There was no postoperative mortality. However, prolonged air leakage （〉7 d） occurred in one patient （7.7%） who recovered after conservative treatment. The mean duration of chest tube drainage was 3.1 d and the median follow up period was 3.4 years. Conclusions： VATS is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of bilateral PSP. Bilateral VATS is only recommended for patients with simultaneously bilateral PSP, because the incidence of recurrence, even with visible bullae, was not so high in my group and in some previous literature. Bilateral VATS in a supine position should only be used in selective cases, because of possible pleural adhesion or hidden bullae on the posterior side.

Safety and feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for stage IIIA lung cancer

Objective： The current study was prospectively designed to explore the application of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） radical treatment for patients with stage ⅢA lung cancer, with the primary endpoints being the safety and feasibility of this operation and the second endpoints being the survival and complications after the surgery. Methods： A total of 51 patients with radiologically or mediastinoscopically confirmed stage ⅢA lung cancer underwent VATS radical treatment, during which the standard pulmonary lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection were performed after pre-operative assessment. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss/ complications, postoperative recovery, postoperative complications, and lymph node dissection were recorded and analyzed. This study was regarded as successful if the surgical success rate reached 90% or higher. Results： A total of 51 patients with non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） were enrolled in this study from March 2009 to February 2010. The median post-operative follow-up duration was 50.5 months. Of these 51 patients, 41 （80.4%） had N2 lymph node metastases. All patients underwent the thoracoscopic surgeries, among whom 50 （98%） received pulmonary lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection completely under the thoracoscope, 6 had their incisions extended to about 6 cm due to larger tumor sizes, and 1 had his surgery performed using a 12 cm small incision for handling the adhesions between lymph nodes and blood vessels. No patient was converted to conventional open thoracotomy. No perioperative death was noted. One patient received a second surgery on the second post-operative day due to large drainage （〉1,000 mL）, and the postoperative recovery was satisfactory. Up to 45 patients （88.2%） did not suffer from any perioperative complication, and 6 （11.8%） experienced one or more complications. Conclusions： VATS radical treatment is a safe and feasible treatment for stage ⅢA lung cancer.

Application of video-assisted thoracic surgery in the standard operation for thoracic tumors

Objective： To evaluate the short-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） for thoracic tumors. Methods： The data of 1,790 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. These patients underwent VATS pulmonary resections, VATS esophagectomies, and VATS resections of mediastinal tumors or biopsies at the Cancer Institute ＆ Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2009 and January 2012. Results： There were 33 patients converted to open thoracotomy （OT, 1.84%）. The overall morbidity and mortality rate was 2.79% （50/1790） and 0.28% （5/1790）, respectively. The overall hospitalization and chest tube duration were shorter in the VATS lobectomy group （n=949） than in the open thoracotomy （OT） lobectomy group （n=753）. There were no significant differences in morbidity rate, mortality rate and operation time between the two groups. In the esophageal cancer patients, no significant difference was found in the number of nodal dissection, chest tube duration, morbidity rate, mortality rate, and hospital length of stay between the VATS esophagectomy group （n=8 1） and open esophagectomy group （n=81）. However, the operation time was longer in the VATS esophagectomy group. In the thymoma patients, there was no significant difference in the chest tube duration, morbidity rate, mortality rate, and hospital length of stay between the VATS thymectomy group （n=41） and open thymectomy group （n=41）. However, the operation time was longer in the VATS group. The median tumor size in the VATS thymectomy group was comparable with that in the OT group. Conclusions： In early-stage （Ⅰ/Ⅱ） non-small cell lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomies, VATS is comparable with the OT approach with similar short-term outcomes. In patients with resectable esophageal cancer, VATS esophagectomy is comparable with OT esophagectomy with similar morbidity and mortality. VATS thymectomy for Masaoka stage I and II thymoma is feasible and safe, and tumor size is not contraindicated. Longer follow-ups are needed to determine the oncologic equivalency of VATS lobectomy, esophagectomy, and thymectomy for thymoma vs. OT.

A single institution experience using the LigaSure vessel sealing system in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

This study sought to report our 6-year experience with the LigaSure vessel sealing system（LVSS） in videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery（VATS） for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.A series of 180 consecutive patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were operated on in our institution from May 2005 to December 2010.Intraoperatively,large lesions（bullae or blebs） with a diameter more than 2 cm were resected by staplers,and the residual lesions were treated by LVSS.LVSS was also used to ablate the apical area when no lesions were found.Conventional apical pleural abrasion was done in all cases.All patients were successfully treated using VATS with minimal perioperative bleeding.The mean operating time was 76 minutes（range,43-160 minutes） for single-side procedures and 169 minutes（range,135-195 minutes） for bilateral procedures,the mean number of applied staples was 1.93 per patient（range,0-8 days）,the duration of drainage was 3.8 days（range,2-15 days）,and the duration of hospital stay was 5.8 days（range,3-16 days）.Postoperative complications included persistent air leak（〉 5 days） in 11 cases（6.1%） and residual pneumothorax in 6（3.3%）.None required reoperation.The mean duration of follow-up was 57 months（range,24-105 months）.Recurrence was seen in three cases（1.7%）,and all underwent another operation thereafter.None of the lesions in the relapse cases received ablation with LVSS in the first operation.LVSS can optimize VATS for primary spontaneous pneumothorax and reduces the use of single-use staples.The method is safe,easy to use,and cost-effective and produces satisfactory results.

Long-term survival outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery for patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background： Video-assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） has been shown to be a safe alternative to conventional thoracotomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. However, popularization of this relatively novel technique has been slow, partly due to concerns about its long-term outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term survival outcomes of patients with NSCLC after VATS, and to determine the significant prognostic factors on overall survival. Methods： Consecutive patients diagnosed with NSCLC referred to one institution for VATS were identified from a central database. Patients were treated by either complete-VATS or assisted-VATS, as described in previous studies. A number of baseline patient characteristics, clinicopathologic data and treatment-related factors were analyzed as potential prognostic factors on overall survival. Results： Between January 2000 and December 2007, 1,139 patients with NSCLC who underwent VATS and fulfilled a set of predetermined inclusion criteria were included for analysis. The median age of the entire group was 60 years, with 791 male patients （69%）. The median 5-year overall survival for Stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ disease according to the recently updated TNM classification system were 72.2%, 47.5%, 29.8% and 28.6%, respectively. Female gender, TNM stage, pT status, and type of resection were found to be significant prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. Conclusions： VATS offers a viable alternative to conventional open thoracotomy for selected patients with clinically resectableNSCLC

Nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery under epidural anesthesia—Encouraging early results encourage randomized trials

Nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） that is also defined awake VATS entails thoracoscopic procedures performed by regional anesthesia in spontaneously ventilating,mildly sedated or fully awake patients.

Experiences and benefits of positron emitted tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) combined with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the diagnosis of Stage 1 sarcoidosis

Background： The purpose of this study was to describe our experiences and analyze the benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） combined with positron emitted tomography （PET）-computed tomography （CT） in the diagnosis of patients with early （Stage 1） sarcoidosis. Methods： From 1995 to 2006, seven patients （two males, five females）, with ages ranging from 26 to 58 years, were impressed with Stage 1 sarcoidosis （mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes involvements without lung involvement） by histological examination of intrathoracic lymph nodes （LNs） and/or lung parenchyma taken＇from VATS biopsy. Three of them received PET or PET-CT evaluation. VATS was approached from the right and left side in one and six patients, respectively, according to the locations of their lesions. Results： All the VATS biopsied LNs or lung specimens were adequate for establishing diagnosis. Mediastinal LNs were taken from Groups 3, 4 in four, Group 7 in two, and Groups 5, 6 in one of them. Hilar LNs biopsies were performed in four cases. Lung biopsy was performed in all but two cases. All of them were expressed pathologically or radiologically as Stage 1 sarcoidosis. PET-CT revealed high emission signals over these affected LNs. These patients received oral steroid treatment or follow up only. All of them were followed up from 5 months to 11 years with satisfactory results. Conclusion： VATS biopsy is a minimally invasive, safe and effective procedure. It can be used as a diagnostic altermative of transbronchial lung biopsy （TBLB）, and can harvest larger and more areas of specimens than mediastinoscopy for staging patients with sarcoidosis. PET-CT can provide us more accurate information about the characteristics and localization of these lesions before biopsy. VATS combined with PET-CT can provide more accurate and earlier diagnosis of patients with unknown intrathoracic lesions, including the sarcoidosis.

A comparative study of the therapeutic effect in two protocols: video-assisted thoracic surgery combined with laparoscopy versus right open transthoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer management

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the best intra-thoracoscopic surgery technique between video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) combined with laparoscopy and right open transthoracic esophagectomy, in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: From November 2006 to May 2008, 221 patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled in this study, prospective randomized in two groups. 111 patients were performed the VATS technique (Experimental group), whereas in the other 110 patients esophagectomy was adopted by thoracotomy (Control group). Results: The time consuming of Experimental group was 272.3 min in average with a standard deviation(std) of 57.9, and it was 218.7 min in average with std of 91.0 in the control group (P=0.000). The operative blood loss was 219.7±194.4 mL in the Experimental group, compared with 590.0±324.4 mL in the control group, with significant difference (P=0.000). Postoperative hospital stay of Experimental group was 9.6±1.7d, and it was 11.4±2.3d in the control group (P=0.000). There was no-delayed union of incision in the Experimental group, but 6.36% in the control group (P=0.007). The disorder of gastric emptying occurred 0.9% in the Experimental group, whereas 6.4% in the Control group. There was no significant difference in survival curves and rates (P=0.555). Conclusion: There were several advantages of VATS technique, such as reduced hemorrhage, better recovery, few complications, and great number of lymph node dissection, although there was no significant difference in long-term survival rate. Thus the VATS combined with laparoscopy technique was worthy of generalization in esophageal surgery with good prospects.

Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and Outcomes for Recurrent Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Single-Institution Experience

Introduction: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is relatively common condition in young adults. Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (uniportal VATS) has been accepted as a less invasive technique for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Strong evidence suggests that Uniportal VATS procedures are technically feasible and safe with excellent outcomes comparable to conventional VATS approach. Objectives: This article aims to discuss our experience with uniportal thoracoscopic approach as a valuable option in patients with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. Study Design: A retrospective study analysis between January 2014 and December 2016. Materials and Methods: From January 2014 to December 2016, 22 consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax were to undergo uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (uniportal VATS). Their chronic residual postoperative pain, hospital stay and recurrence rate were analyzed. Results: Twenty-two patients with unilateral recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax were included;all received uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (uniportal VATS) and mechanical pleurodesis. Conclusions: We conclude that uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (uniportal VATS) demonstrated benefits to patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax a safe, effective and also faster recovery, and decreased postoperative pain and short hospital stay.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for complex mediastinal mature teratoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Mediastinal mature teratoma is the most common histological type of primary extragonadal germ cell tumor.In this report,we describe a rare case of giant mature teratoma located primarily in the anterior mediastinum and causing partial atelectasis of the upper and middle lobes of the right lung,as well as extrinsic compression of the right atrium.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old male with a giant mediastinal mature teratoma presented with progressive exertional dyspnea and chest pain for 1 mo.Computed tomography of the chest indicated the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal teratoma.The patient underwent right uniportal anterior approach video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS).En bloc resection of the giant teratoma,wedge resection of the upper and middle lobes of the right lung,resection of the thymus and partial excision of the pericardium were successfully performed.The pathological diagnosis revealed a mature cystic teratoma with foreign-body reaction that was closely related to the right lung,atrium dextrum,superior vena cava and ascending aorta.An atrophic thymic tissue was also discovered at the external teratoma surface.The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7.CONCLUSION This is the first report of the use of uniportal VATS for complete resection of a teratoma in combination with wedge resection of the right upper and middle lung lobes and partial resection of the pericardium.

Partial removal of the pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracic surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

Lobectomy with partial removal of the pulmonary artery in video-assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） currently remains a challenge for thoracic surgeons. We were interested in introducing pulmonary vessel blocking techniques in open thoracic surgery into video-assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） procedures. In this study, we reported a surgical technique simultaneously blocking the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary vein for partial removal of the pulmonary artery under VATS. Seven patients with non-small-cell lung cancer （NSCLC） received lobectomy with partial removal of the pulmonary artery using the technique between December 2007 and March 2012. Briefly, rather than using a small clamp on the distal pulmonary artery to the area of invading cancer, we replaced a vascular clamp with a ribbon and Hem-o-lock clip to block the preserved pulmonary veins so as to prevent back bleeding and yield a better view for surgeons. The mean occlusion time of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins were 44.0±10.0 and 41.3±9.7 minutes, respectively. The mean repair time of the pulmonary artery was 25.3±13.7 minutes. No complications occurred. No patients showed abnormal blood flow through the reconstructed vessel. There were no local recurrences on the pulmonary artery. In conclusion, the technique for blocking the pulmonary artery and veins is feasible and safe in VATS and reduces the risk of abrupt intraoperative bleeding and the chance of converting to open thoracotomy, and extends the indications of VATS lobectomy.

Application of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Standard Operation for Lung Tumors

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the indication and short-term outcomes of video assisted thoracic surgery （VATS） for lung tumors. METHODS Data of 306 consecutive patients undergoing VATS pulmonary resection between January 2009 and August 2010 in Cancer Institute ＆ Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS There were 7 patients who underwent open thoracotomy, accounting for 2.29% （7/306）. The overall morbidity rate of complications and the mortality rate induced by VATS was 1.63% （5/306） and 0.33% （1/306）, respectively. There were no significant differences in morbidity and mortality rate between the patients receiving the VATS and the patients receiving the OT. The overall hospitalization, postoperative length of stay （LOS） and chest tube duration in the VATS lobectomy group （n = 167） were shorter than those in the open thoracotomy （OT）, but the operative time in the VATS group was longer than that in the OT group （n = 124）. There were no significant differences in the number of station of lymph nodal dissection （LND） and number of LND in pathological stage I between VATS group and OT group, but significant differences were found in the number of station of LND and the number of LND in pathological stage II and stage IIIA between the 2 groups. Compared with those who underwent OT wedge resection （n = 72）, the patients who underwent VATS wedge resection （n = 108） had shorter operative time, chest tube duration and hospital LOS, and there were no significant differences in morbidity of the complications and mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION VATS lobectomy can be performed for patients with clinical stage I lung cancer （with tumor diameter smaller than 5 cm, without hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement）. VATS lobectomy is superior to OT lobectomy in short-term outcomes, although further studies exploring long-term outcomes through longer follow-up is needed to determine the oncologic equivalency between the VATS and the open lobectomy. VATS is also superior to OT in pulmonary wedge resection.

Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Mediastinal Lymph Node Tuberculous Abscesses

The mediastinal lymph node tuberculous abscesses（MLNTAs） are secondary to mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis. Surgical excision is often required when cold abscesses form. This study was aimed to examine video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery（VATS） for the treatment of MLNTA. Clinical data of 16 MLNTA patients who were treated in our hospital between December 1, 2013 and December 1, 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients underwent the radical debridement and drainage of abscesses, and intrathoracic lesions were removed by VATS. They were also administered the intensified anti-tuberculosis treatment（ATT）, and engaged in normal physical activity and follow-up for 3 to 6 months. The results showed that VATS was successfully attempted in all of the 16 MLNTA patients and they all had good recovery. Two patients developed complications after surgery, with one patient developing recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and the other reporting poor wound healing. It was concluded that VATS is easy to perform, and safe, and has high rates of success and relatively few side-effects when used to treat MLNTA.