Association of the postoperative white blood cells (WBC) count in peripheral blood after radical surgical treatment of left upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with overall survival - single center results.

INTRODUCTION: The individual patient prognosis after radical surgery for Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of left upper lobe remains still unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of elevated white blood cell count in peripheral blood as early indicator of postoperative NSCLC prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective statistical analysis was performed studying patients subject to radical treatment of left upper lobe NSCLC in period of five years with subsequent one to three-year monitoring of morbidity and mortality of the patient population. The statistical ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis of the WBC count in peripheral blood third day after the operation was used to evaluate the relationship with overall survival, with respect to patients surviving for at least 24 months. RESULTS: Based on the results of the ROC analysis with a total area under the curve (AUC) of 0.67, it is possible to confirm that the WBC count established third day after the operation allows us to classify patients into groups according to the 24-month overall survival. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the potential of using WBC count to improve current protocols to establish postoperative prognosis for NSCLC of the upper left lobe (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 11).

[Our experience with chest wall stabilization]. / Nase zkusenosti se stabilizací hrudníku.

INTRODUCTION: An unstable chest wall is defined as a fracture of at least three adjacent ribs broken at least in two planes. As a result of impaired mechanical strength of the chest wall, paradoxical movements occur, resulting in insufficient pulmonary ventilation with the development of respiratory insufficiency with typical consequences - hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis. METHODS: In this paper we describe a group of 16 patients who underwent stabilization of the chest wall. The average age of the group was 56 years, the youngest patient was 23 and the oldest one 76 years old. There was an average of 6.1 broken ribs per patient, individually ranging from 4 to 8. In 11 cases, the stabilization was performed for a block fracture, in 5 cases for a serial fracture with a thoracic wall deformity. RESULTS: The average length of hospital stay was 19 days, the time from admission to surgery was 4.46 days, and the average duration of mechanical ventilation was 2.63 days. In our group, we had only one deep wound infection that was healed using vacuum therapy. Concerning other complications, there was one case of bronchopneumonia and one patient developed delirium. No redrainage for fluido- or pneumothorax was necessary. CONCLUSION: The main focus of this paper is on the active surgical approach to treatment of serial and block fractures of ribs with deformation or manifest instability of the chest wall. Not all patients with block fracture required stabilization, whereas 5 patients with serial fracture of the ribs were indicated for surgical revision for chest wall deformity and other complications.Key words: flail chest treatment indications.

[Initial experience with using uniportal VATS (SITS) to treat the implications of thoracic trauma in the 1st Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University and St. Annes Teaching Hospital in Brno]. / Iniciální zkusenosti s pouzitím "uniportal VATS (SITS)" prístupu pri osetrování dusledku hrudních traumat na I. chirurgické klinice LFMU a FNUSA v Brne.

Thoracic trauma represents a multidisciplinary therapeutic challenge requiring individualized approach to every patient. Continuous development and implementation of mini-invasive techniques in thoracic surgery pave way to so far unique attempts to establish video-assisted thoracic surgery for thoracic trauma as well. The indication is limited by hemodynamic stability of the patient, extent of the trauma, as well as by time required for the treatment. However, proper indication provides an unequivocal benefit in terms of postoperative pain, early mobilization and excellent cosmetic effect. Continuous reduction of the number of incisions down to monoportal approach is currently the peak of mini-invasive approach in thoracic trauma management. The aim of this work is to provide 3 case reports documenting the current spectrum of monoportal video-assisted surgery indication for thoracic trauma.Key words: uniportal VATS thoracic trauma.

[Assessment of thoracic trauma at the 1st Department of Surgery in Brno (1 January 2011 - 31 December 2015)]. / Poranení hrudníku na I. chirurgické klinice LF MU a FN USA v Brne (vyhodnocené období 1. 1. 2011 az 31. 12. 2015).

INTRODUCTION: The number of cases of thorax injury increased steadily between 2011 and 2015. This is probably related to a more active lifestyle of the younger generations and also to the increasing average age of citizens. The aim of the study was to show problems connected with thorax injury. METHOD: Our retrospective study evaluated a group of patients with thoracic injury (diagnosis codes S20-S29) in the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 who were treated in our Department. RESULTS: We evaluated a group of 1,697 patients with thoracic injury were divided into five subgroups: 1) simple contusion of the thorax, 2) simple rib fractures, 3) contusion of the thorax with vertebral fractures, 4) serial, multiple rib fractures, 5) stab and gunshot injuries of the thorax. Each subgroup was analyzed independently and in detail. The number of thoracic injuries increased steadily, year on year. More than 40% of the patients were older than 60 years. In the group with simple rib fractures, the authors found 14 cases of pneumothorax (5.1%), which was drained in only 8 cases. The most common complications in the serial rib fractures group included pneumothorax (33 cases, 20%), hemothorax (28 cases, 16.9%) and lung contusion (15 cases, 9%). Stabilization of the thoracic wall was performed 16 times, out of the total of 26 multiple rib fracture cases (61.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Thorax injury is routinely encountered by surgeons. The authors recommend to pay particular attention not only to serious, but also to simple thorax injuries in very old patients, for instance those on anticoagulation therapy. Adequate caution also needs to be taken with serial rib fractures and flail chest and their treatment.Key words: thorax injury - rib fractures - hemothorax - pneumothorax.

[Multiple Primary Lung Cancer - a  Case Report and Literature Review]. / Vícenásobné nádorové onemocnení plic -  kazuistika a prehled literatury.

BACKGROUND: Multiple primary lung cancer is a relatively rare nosological entity. This case report is a reminder and points out the pitfalls of its diagnosis and therapy. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old patient was indicated for surgical therapy for non-small cell lung cancer of the middle lobe and right lung, which were diagnosed during a screening investigation after the patient had undergone previous mastectomy of the right breast with axillary dissection for invasive ductal adenocarcinoma. Another infiltration in the lower lobe of the same lung was removed at the same time and was classified as a primary lung carcinoma; it was a synchronous lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer presenting with more than one primary lesion in the lung is a rare nosological entity that can be classified into two types; synchronous and metachronous. Whereas synchronous cancers arise in the lung at the same time, metachronous cancers develop after treatment of the initial lesion. The incidence of multiple lung cancer is increasing due to earlier diagnosis and because successful treatment of the initial cancer at an early stage has led to an increase in patient survival, resulting in an increase in the interval between detection of the initial cancer and detection of the second. Smoking is one of the main risk factors. Diagnosis is made difficult because metastatic disease must be excluded. Basic information is obtained from a biopsy of the tumor. The staging of more than one primary lung cancer is complex and needs to be meticulous if curative resection is being contemplated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography should be performed to evaluate for extra-thoracic metastases. KEY WORDS: lung carcinoma - multiple cancer disease - synchronous - metachronous - diagnosis - therapyThe authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.Submitted: 22. 2. 2016Accepted: 20. 4. 2016.

[Repeated resection for recurrent pulmonary metastases]. / Opakované plicní resekce v chirurgii plicních metastáz.

INTRODUCTION: Repeated pulmonary resections are predominantly used in sarcomas, colorectal cancer, Grawitz tumours, and at a young age in general. Patients with the recurrence of pulmonary metastases within a period of six months have a poor prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the period from I/1997 to XII/2011, a total of 165 operations were performed in 149 patients. 11patients had multiple pulmonary resections. According to histological origin, sarcomas were found in 6 cases, Grawitz tumours in 2 cases, Schwannoma malignum in 1 case and laryngeal carcinoma in 1 case. There was synovialosarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar sarcoma and uterine sarcoma in the group of sarcomas. RESULTS: In our retrospective study, the most commonly used approach was muscle-sparing vertical thoracotomy in 14 patients, posterolateral thoracotomy in 8 patients, VATS in 3 patients and clamshell thoracotomy in 3 patients. We performed 22 extraanatomic resections - of which 3 times VATS, 6 times lobectomy (of which 1 completion pneumonectomy). We observed complications in 6 cases (small air leak in 3 patients, wound infection in 3 patients) in the postoperative period. No rethoracotomy for complications was needed, lethality was 0. The overall 5-year survival that we observed was 45.4%. CONCLUSION: Surgery is an integral part of complex oncological care. What is extremely important is strict selection of patients eligible for surgery for repeated resections and, of course, an experienced team of thoracic surgeons, but also other physicians. When performed by experienced specialists, surgical treatment of lung metastases is a safe and very useful procedure.

[Wound microbial sampling methods in surgical practice, imprint techniques]. / Metody odberu vzorku na kultivacní vysetrení v chirurgické praxi, otiskové metody.

The wound is a damage of tissue. The process of healing is influenced by many systemic and local factors. The most crucial and the most discussed local factor of wound healing is infection. Surgical site infection in the wound is caused by micro-organisms. This information is known for many years, however the conditions leading to an infection occurrence have not been sufficiently described yet. Correct sampling technique, correct storage, transportation, evaluation, and valid interpretation of these data are very important in clinical practice. There are many methods for microbiological sampling, but the best one has not been yet identified and validated. We aim to discuss the problem with the focus on the imprint technique.

[Is pneumonectomy justified in the management of lung metastases?]. / Je oprávnené provedení pneumonektomie v lécbe plicních metastáz?

The authors discuss about questions of possibility pneumonectomy in concept of lung metastasis therapy. They analysed in detail indications, surgery, complications, survival and factors of survival. The authors also introduce case report of one patient with pneumonectomy in your group of patients.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum--a case review]. / Spontánní pneumomediastinum--kazuistika.

The authors present in the following case review a patient with spontaneous pneumomediastinum which can be on of the causes of acute chest pain and it is necessary to think about it in the differential diagnosis of this condition.

[Rates of metastatic affections of mediastinal nodes during pulmonary metastasectomy]. / Cetnost metatastického postizení mediastinálních uzlin behem plicní metastasektomie.

OBJECT: The aim is the evaluation of lymph node metastasis rate during pulmonary metastasectomy harvested by technique of systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in year 2009-2010. METHODS: We performed systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy (the same technique as in non-small cell lung cancer) during pulmonary metastasectomy. RESULTS: There was found lymph node metastasis in four cases from 70 patients. The rate of metastatic involved mediastinal lymph node 5.7% harvested during lung metastasectomy is on lower limit of published interval. We expected higher lymph node involvement in lung metastasis of colorectal origin.

[Malignant mediastinal teratoma--a case review]. / Maligni teratom mediastina--kazuistika.

In this case report the authors present a case of mediastinal malignant teratoma of a 23 years old patient, who suddenly suffers form chest pain as the only symptom. During examination is a huge mediastinal tumor diagnosed. After histological diagnosis is a radical surgery performed. According to the definitive histology is an adjutant oncological treatment indicated. The aim of our report is to think always about the mediastinal tumors as one of the possible cause of thoracic pain.

[Open pleural window at treatment of the advanced thoracic empyema: 20 high-risk patients' treatment experience]. / Otevrené pleurální okénko v lécbe pokrocilého empyému hrudníku: zkusenosti s lécbou dvaceti rizikových pacientu.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the retrospective clinical study was the analysis of the 20 high-risk patients operated in our department within years 2000-2008 by the modified Eloesser procedure for the serious thoracic empyema. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have analyzed the data of the 17 men and 3 women. The most important objectives were the cause of the disease, type of procedure, perioperative mortality, length of stay and subsequent procedures. The underlying disease was the malignant intrathoracic disease in 40%, diabetes mellitus was found in 25%. The cause of empyema was pleuropneumonia in 45%, postresectional empyema occurred in 35%. RESULTS: There were two perioperative deaths (10%), remaining patients were all dismissed in a stabilized condition the 22nd postoperative day at average. Six subsequent reconstructive procedures were performed. There was no early death for the postpneumonectomy empyema. CONCLUSION: In case of the serious pleural empyema in a high-risk patient is the modified Eloesser procedure safe and life saving surgical operation. The timing of the procedure and correct indication for surgery are essential.

[Multiple lung metastasectomy for the poor differentiated metastatic synovial sarcoma]. / Metastazektomie více'etných plicních metastáz nízce diferencovaného synoviálního sarkomu.

OBJECTIVES: Synovial sarcoma is the rare indication for the pulmonary metastasectomy due to its aggressive biologic behavior and early dissemination. The radical surgical approach in therapy of the multiple pulmonary metastases could improve quality of life and median survival in carefully selected patients. METHODS: From the group of 7 patients with the lung metastases of the synovial sarcoma operated in our department during the last 5 years we are presenting the case of the 39 years old man with the previous history of the surgical removal of the synovial sarcoma near the cubital fossa one year before. Considering the lungs as the only organ involved, bilateral complete metastasectomy through muscle sparing vertical thoracotomies was done. There were 12 metastases from all lung lobes with the exception of the right middle lobe. Analysis of the pathologist showed biphasic metastatic synovial sarcoma with the high mitotic activity. The 6 cycles of the MAID regime succeeded. RESULTS: Median survival of the whole group is 25 months, there are 3 patients alive. In the above mentioned patient 1 year after the metastasectomy PET-CT showed focus of the 4th left rib suspected to be malignant. Wide resection of the rib was done, but no malignancy was disclosed, there were only reparative changes. The patient has been tolerated the oncological treatment very well and 45 months after the lung metastasectomy there are no sings of a malignant disease. CONCLUSION: Lung metastasectomy of the multiple lung metastases of the synovial sarcoma is of value despite of uncertain long-term prognosis. It is recommended to consider the metastasectomy even in low differentiated tumors. The prerequisite for the effective treatment is a complete resection.

Rare incidence of pulmonary gangrene--algorithm of the treatment.

The pulmonary gangrene is rare and serious disease. Our experience is based on the treatment of the 2 patients with pulmonary gangrene during the last twenty years. The first and lifesaving step in the treatment of sepsis is the early removal of the necrotic tissue. Next surgery succeeds usually after one week after initial treatment. Surgical treatment continues step by step, we do not advise providing of a major anatomical resection in the initial stage of the disease. This policy is effective in the treatment of this serious disease.

[ Sentinel node detection and its importance in the surgical treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma--review]. / Detekce sentinelové uzliny a její význam v chirurgické lécbe nemalobunecného karcinomu plic--prehled.

The optimal type of treatment of the non-small lung cancer has not been found, yet. Systematical mediastinal lymphadenectomy, which is the method of choice in the surgical resection of the lung cancer, is potentially risky and its role is still unclear. The sentinel lymph node technique represents a promising alternative to the standard treatment. The hitherto reached results have to be evaluated with care and greater studies are necessary. According to our opinion, the best results can be expected in stage Ia NSCLC. The combination of the intraoperative scintigraphy and blue dye technique will be probably necessary in the next studies. The review gives the current state-of-art and some suggestions to the future.

Videomediastinoscopy for the diagnosis of the diseases of the lung and mediastinum.

BACKGROUND: The biopsy of the mediastinum by mediastinoscopy is established as the most accurate method especially in the lung cancer staging, but helps also in the diagnosis of various diseases of the lung and mediastinum. The videomediastinoscopic equipment offers more precise procedure and shorter learning curve in comparison with classical technique due to the sharing of the procedure with other (more experienced) surgeon. The aim of our work was to confirm the safety and reliability of the videomediastionoscopy in our department, where the use of the traditional technique was exceptional. METHODS: Patients with expansion in the mediastinum (or enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes) of the unknown aetiology accessible by videomediastinoscopy according to CT were included. Standard videomediastinoscopic technique was used. The attempt to take biopsy of the mediastinal tumor and/or the lymph nodes in stations 1, 2, 4, 7 according the UICC regional lymph node mapping was done. RESULTS: There were 126 patients operated by videomediastinoscopy between January 1998 and June 2003. There were 83 men with a mean age of 50.43 years (range 14 to 78 years) and 43 women with a mean age of 50.79 years (range 18 to 77 years). The diagnosis defined by explicit morphology was made in 95 cases (75.40%). In 25 cases (19.84%) the result of the biopsy was either normal lymphatic tissue or slight inflammatory changes. In three cases (2.38%) the pathologist expressed strong suspicion of the malignant disease, without clear morphology. In two cases (1.59%) all tissue samples were completely necrotic. No biopsy was done once (0.77%). There were four major groups of patients with positive histology: Patients with sarcoidosis, patients with metastases of the epithelial malignity to the mediastinal lymph nodes, patients with lymphoma and the group containing patients with a diagnosis of a low frequency (tuberculosis, sarcoma, Castleman's disease and others). No mortality was related to the procedure. We had one serious surgical complication: bleeding from the right innominate artery successfully treated by suture. CONCLUSION: Videomediastinoscopy is a safe and accurate method with a short learning curve. The key point of the diagnostic success is a proper indication for the procedure. Videomediastinoscopic equipment and its use is to be recommend to each department of general thoracic surgery.

A case of a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation treated by lobectomy.

We present a case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) in central localisation (type IIIa) of the upper lobe of the left lung. We discuss diagnostic (Doppler ultrasonography, CT, MRI, angiography) and therapeutic (embolization therapy) options and a current role of surgery in this uncommon clinical condition. Our patient underwent left upper lung lobectomy as an ultimate therapeutic method without subsequent morbidity. We conclude that surgery is a safe method of treatment of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in selected cases i.e. when PAVM is solitary and of great diameter (more than two centimeters) and where the risks of embolotherapy are high.