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.

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.

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.

Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Minimally invasive resection of lung cancer remains surprisingly uncommon in comparison to the adoption of similar techniques in other surgical disciplines. The reported use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for anatomic resections in comparison to open lobectomy ranges from 10% -40% even though it has been demonstrated to be equivalent in safety and accomplishes the same oncologic goals. Further, it may provide improved survival outcomes as others have reported benefits in perioperative recovery and patient satisfaction. VATS pneumonectomy has been far less commonly described despite the physiologic advantages such as less blood loss, shorter intensive care stay, and less respiratory compromise. This report specifically addresses this lacuna by drawing upon the successful case of a VATS pneumonectomy with fissure invasion and then considering why minimally invasive VATS techniques remain underutilized. In conclusion, we suggest that focused thoracic surgery fellowship training in VATS techniques will make thoracoscopic surgery a more conventional technique rather than a challenging procedure.

Three-dimensional image simulation of primary diaphragmatic hemangioma: A case report

BACKGROUND Fewer than 200 cases of diaphragmatic tumors have been reported in the past century. Diaphragmatic hemangiomas are extremely rare. Only nine cases have been reported in English literature to date. We report a case of cavernous hemangioma arising from the diaphragm. Pre-operative three-dimensional(3D)simulation and minimal invasive thoracoscopic excision were performed successfully, and we describe the radiologic findings and the surgical procedure in the following article.CASE SUMMARY A 40-year-old man was referred for further examination of a mass over the right basal lung without specific symptoms. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a poorly-enhanced lesion in the right basal lung, abutting to the diaphragm, measuring 3.1 cm × 1.5 cm in size. The mediastinum showed a clear appearance without evidence of abnormal mass or lymphadenopathy. A preoperative 3D image was reconstructed, which revealed a diaphragmatic lesion. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed, and a red papillary tumor was found, originating from the right diaphragm. The tumor was resected, and the pathological diagnosis was cavernous hemangioma.CONCLUSION In this rare case of diaphragmatic hemangioma, 3D image simulation was helpful for the preoperative evaluation and surgical decision making.

Primary pneumothorax:Should surgery be offered after the first episode?

Surgery is the recommended and most effective means of preventing the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax(PSP). However, the conventional belief amongst most clinicians is that surgery should not be routinely offered to patients with an uncomplicated first episode of PSP. The view that surgery should be reserved for recurrent episodes of ipsilateral PSP is based on an apprehension regarding traumatic thoracicsurgery combined with a perception that recurrences after a single episode of PSP are unlikely. Modern advances in minimally invasive thoracic surgery have now dramatically reduced the morbidity of PSP surgery. Such surgery is now safe, effective and causes minimal indisposition for patients. On the other hand, modern clinical data suggests that recurrence rate of PSP is perhaps much higher than previously assumed, with more than half of patients experiencing a second episode within several years of the first. With such new appreciations of the current situation, it is appropriate to now consider offering surgery to patients even after the first episode of PSP.