Radicality of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in minimally invasive pulmonary resection: a comparative analysis of uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic approaches.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is a serious health problem with a high mortality rate. In the context of surgical management, minimally invasive approaches, including uniportal thoracoscopic techniques, offer potential benefits such as faster recovery and increased patient cooperation. The aim of this study was to compare the accessibility of the mediastinal lymph nodes between uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic approaches and to verify whether the use of the uniportal approach affects the radicality of the lymphadenectomy. METHODS: A comparative study conducted from January 2015 to July 2022 at the University Hospital Ostrava focused on evaluating the radicality of mediastinal lymphadenectomy between subgroups of patients undergoing surgery using the uniportal thoracoscopic approach and the multiportal thoracoscopic approach. RESULTS: A total of 278 patients were included in the study. There were no significant differences in the number of available lymphatic stations between the subgroups. The mean number of lymph node stations removed was 6.46 in the left hemithorax and 6.50 in the right hemithorax. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity for the entire patient population was 24.5%, with 18.3% having minor complications and 3.6% having major complications. The overall mortality rate in the study population was 2.5%, with a statistically significant difference in mortality between uniportal and multiportal approaches (1.0% vs 6.4%, p=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The uniportal approach demonstrated comparable accessibility and lymph node yield to the multiportal approach. There was also no difference in postoperative morbidity between the two approaches. The study suggests the possibility of lower mortality after uniportal lung resection compared with multiportal lung resection, but this conclusion should be interpreted with caution.

Metastatic potential of T1a and T1b non-small cell lung cancer: analysis in the Czech population.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the Czech Republic, in part due to its significant metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to collect real data on the metastatic potential and clinical characteristics of T1a and T1b lung cancer in the Czech population and to investigate potential factors that would predict an increased risk of lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Prospective-retrospective study conducted at the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital Ostrava during the period from January 1, 2015, to July 31, 2022. The study included patients who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy for T1a and T1b non-small cell lung carcinoma. RESULTS: Out of a total of 165 patients with T1a and T1b lung carcinoma, 17.6% of patients were confirmed to have metastatic involvement of the lymph nodes (with 9.1% classified as N2 lymph node involvement). The highest percentage of positive lymph nodes was observed in patients with tumors located in the upper left lobe (29.5%) and lower right lobe (23.3%). Adenocarcinoma was the most commonly metastasizing carcinoma, with 21.1% of patients showing positive lymph nodes. Neuroendocrine carcinoma metastasized in 19.4% of cases, while squamous cell carcinoma did so in 6.8% of cases. The cumulative risk of having positive lymph nodes in T1a and T1b adenocarcinoma located in the upper left lobe reached 40.0%, of which the risk of N2 lymph node involvement was 25.0%. CONCLUSION: T1a/b non-small cell lung cancer exhibits significantly lower metastatic potential than T1c tumors and higher. Adenocarcinoma showed a 3-fold higher metastatic potential than squamous cell carcinoma, indicating the need for increased attention in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, especially in tumors localized in the upper left lobe, where a cumulative risk of lymph node metastasis of up to 40% was observed.

Innovative trends in surgery: a robotic approach to retrotracheal goitre.

The retrotracheal form is a rare variant of retrosternal goitre. The incidence is low, representing approximately 4% of all retrosternal goitres. The traditional approach to the treatment of this type of pathology is the cervical approach combined with high thoracotomy. Recently, however, new methods and technologies have begun to emerge that also open new possibilities for the surgical management of these conditions. The aim of this case report was to present the potential of a video-robotic approach in the treatment of retrotracheal goitre. The authors have successfully used this innovative method in the treatment of retrotracheal lesions, bringing hope for more effective and less invasive surgical interventions in this difficult-to-access area.

Laparoscopic repair of perforated peptic ulcer - routine procedure or targeted patient selection?

INTRODUCTION: Peptic ulcer is one of the most common diseases of the proximal gastrointestinal tract. Its complications are relatively common, the most serious one being peptic ulcer perforation with the incidence of about 10 cases per 100,000 population per year and the mortality rate of 10-40%. Surgical suture via laparoscopy or laparotomy is the only treatment option. The aim of the study was to compare the short-term results of laparoscopic and open repair of acute peptic ulcer perforation and evaluate the accuracy of the Boey scoring system in the Czech population. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted at the surgical department of the University Hospital Ostrava. The patients underwent laparoscopic or open repair of perforated peptic ulcer in 2017-2021. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients; laparoscopic repair was performed in 43.3% of the patients, and open repair in 56.7%. Postoperative morbidity was 70.0%, mild complications were reported in 23.3% of the patients, and severe complications in 16.7%. Patients undergoing the laparoscopic repair showed a higher incidence of mild as well as severe complications (26.9% vs 20.6% and 19.2% vs 14.7%) but also a higher incidence of an uncomplicated postoperative course. Overall postoperative mortality was 30.0% (laparoscopy 15.4%, laparotomy 41.2%). The study results confirmed the estimated baseline risk of mortality based on the Boey score. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair may be the procedure of choice for patients with no or low risk factors. Patients undergoing laparoscopy showed a higher incidence of mild and severe complications. The higher mortality of patients after open repair is related to their worse initial clinical condition. Preoperative determination of mortality risk using the Boey score is accurate and appropriate in terms of choosing the surgical approach.

Laparoscopic versus open hernia repair in patients with incarcerated inguinal hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic approach is employed very rarely in the treatment of patients with incarcerated inguinal hernia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and benefits of laparoscopic hernioplasty (TAPP) in the treatment of incarcerated inguinal hernia. METHODS: It was a retrospective clinical study focused on comparison of perioperative and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic and open hernia repair of incarcerated inguinal hernia. All adult patients undergoing surgery for incarcerated inguinal hernia at the University Hospital Ostrava between 2014 and 2018 were included in the study. RESULTS: In total, 31 patients were enrolled into the study (20 patients with open hernia repair and 11 patients with laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty [TAPP]). Operative time was shorter in the laparoscopic group (69.5 vs 82.2 min, p=0.444); length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TAPP group (3.45 vs 8.5 days, p=0.010). Postoperative complications were more frequent in the open hernia repair group (40% vs 0.0%, p=0.134); the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hernioplasty provides a safe and effective operating technique for patients with incarcerated inguinal hernia.

The importance of sentinel lymph node biopsy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: prospective multicentre trial.

INTRODUCTION: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is currently under discussion. The aim of our study was to determine the false negativity rate (FNR) of SLNB, the accuracy of ultrasound examination in the evaluation of the status of lymph nodes and the accuracy of perioperative cryobiopsy of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). METHODS: Prospective multicentre study, which took place in years 20182020 at three centres in the Czech Republic. A total of 59 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The FNR of SLNB in the group of patients with cN1 before NAC and ycN0 after NAC was 12.5%. The FNR of perioperative histological examination of the SLN was 38.5%. The FNR of ultrasound examination of axillary lymph nodes in patients after NAC was 35.5%, and the false positivity rate was 16.7%. The incidence of inflammatory complications in our cohort was 3.3%. CONCLUSION: The FNR of SLNB in the group of patients with cN1 before NAC and ycN0 after NAC exceeds the tolerable limit of 10%. The FNR of perioperative histological examination of the SLN is high; definitive histological examination of the SLN may change the original diagnostic-therapeutic plan. Ultrasound examination of the axillary lymph nodes in patients after NAC is a method with high false negativity and positivity and may not correspond with the perioperative finding. The incidence of inflammatory complications in our cohort in patients after NAC is comparable to literature data on the frequency of complications in patients without NAC.

Granulomatous mastitis treatment options and our experience.

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare benign inflammatory disease of the breast, first described by Kessler and Wolloch in 1972. Clinically, it can present as unilateral, sometimes painful, increasing breast resistance, or as a hard, irregular mass. Sonography is the most useful diagnostic method for GM evaluation. The only method for definitive diagnosis is the use of biopsy. In histological findings, GM is characterized by non-caseifying granulomas, often associated with microabscess and fistula formation. There is considerable heterogeneity in treatment options; this may explain the high recurrence rate which is close to 50%. Such a high recurrence rate is alarming and proves that current treatments are suboptimal. Two treatment options are discussed worldwide: conservative strategies involving drug therapy with corticosteroids versus a surgical approach involving partial or total mastectomy. All conservative treatment options are associated with a high risk of recurrence, and most patients require surgery in the end. Thorough excision of inflammatory tissue is crucial for successful treatment while negative surgical margins are associated with a low recurrence rate. The surgical approach to GM requires sufficient radicality and presumes knowledge in the field of reconstructive breast surgery, similarly to oncosurgical breast conservation operations. However, alternatives to GM treatment with oral steroids may be acceptable for patients concerned about surgery. This article presents six case reports of patients treated at our department.