COVID-19 pneumonia following double-sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer.

Here, we report a 54-year-old man who underwent double-sleeve left upper lobectomy for lung cancer and his postoperative course was complicated with COVID-19 pneumonia. Five days after his discharge from hospital, he was re-admitted with mild fever and bilateral multiple ground glass opacities on his chest CT. PCR testing confirmed COVID-19 infection and he was treated according to policies established by our nation's health authority. He is still receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and remains well at 3 months after the operation.

Low protein content of drainage fluid is a good predictor for earlier chest tube removal after lobectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Owing to the great absorption capability of the pleura for transudates, the protein content of draining pleural fluid may be considered as a more adequate determinant than its daily draining amount in the decision-making for earlier chest tube removal. In an a priori pilot study, we observed that the initially draining protein-rich exudate converts to a transudate quickly in most patients after lobectomies. Thus, chest tubes draining high-volume but low-protein fluids can safely be removed earlier in the absence of an air leak. This randomized study aims to investigate the validity and clinical applicability of this hypothesis as well as its influence on the timing for chest tube removal and earlier discharge after lobectomy. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients undergoing straightforward lobectomy were randomized into two groups. Patients with conditions affecting postoperative drainage and with persisting air leaks beyond the third postoperative day were excluded. Drains were removed if the pleural fluid to blood protein ratio (PrRPl/B) was ≤0.5, regardless of its daily draining amount in the study arm (Group S; n = 38), and patients in the control arm (Group C; n = 34) had their tubes removed if daily drainage was ≤250 ml regardless of its protein content. Patients were discharged home immediately or the following morning after removal of the last drain. All cases were followed up regarding the development of symptomatic pleural effusions and hospital readmissions for a redrainage procedure. RESULTS: Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the pattern of decrease in PrRPl/B were the same between groups. The mean PrRPl/B was 0.65 and 0.67 (95% CI = 0.60-0.69 and 0.62-0.72) on the first postoperative day, and it remarkably dropped down to 0.39 and 0.33 (95% CI = 0.33-0.45 and 0.27-0.39) on the second day in Groups S and C, respectively, and remained below 0.5 on the third day (repeated-measures of ANOVA design, post hoc 'within-group' comparison of the first postoperative day versus second and third days; P < 0.002). Eleven of 38 (29%) and 16 of 27 (59%) patients' chest tubes were, respectively, removed on the first and second postoperative days in Group S, but only two of 34 (6%) and ten of 32 (31%) patients, respectively, had their chest tubes removed in Group C (two-tailed Fisher's exact test, P = 0.02 and 0.005 for the first and the second postoperative days, respectively). On the third postoperative day, daily drainage remained ≥250 ml in 22 (65%) patients, among whom, 17 (77%) would have their chest tubes removed on the PrRPl/B value in Group C. However, drains could not be removed due to the high protein content of draining fluid despite the acceptable volume of daily drainage in only three (27%) of 11 cases in Group S (McNemar's paired proportions test, P = 0.009). The mean chest tube removal time (2.1 ± 0.9 vs 2.9 ± 1.0 days; P < 0.001) and the median hospital stay [3 days (IQR: 1-3) vs 4 days (IQR: 2-4), P < 0.003] were significantly shorter in Group S. None of the patients required a redrainage procedure due to a persistent and symptomatic pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the daily drainage, chest tubes can safely be removed earlier than anticipated in most patients after lobectomy if the protein content of the draining fluid is low.

Management of bilateral pneumothoraces after talc pleurodesis and unilateral lung volume reduction surgery.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is one of the surgical options in the treatment of advanced emphysema and may also be considered as a 'bridge' operation to lung transplantation in selected patients. Although its long-term effects are still debatable, some patients significantly benefit from this operation. Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is one of the commonest complications of severe emphysema that necessitates an emergency drainage procedure. However, there is no satisfactory information regarding the management of this complication occurring after LVRS in the literature. This paper reports a case of bilateral pneumothorax three months after a unilateral LVRS that was performed following a contra-lateral talc pleurodesis for recurrent pneumothorax.

Management of acquired bronchobiliary fistula: 3 case reports and a literature review.

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF), which often presents with bilioptysis, is an abnormal communication between the bronchial system and biliary tree. It is a complication associated with a high mortality rate and requires a well-planned management strategy. Although hydatid disease is still the leading cause, extensive surgical interventions and invasive procedures of the liver have altered the profile of patients in recent decades. This paper presents 3 cases of BBF and reviews the literature regarding the treatment options generally mandated by clinical presentation and the underlying disease.

Giant carcinoid tumor mimicking pulmonary sequestration.

A 42-year-old woman who previously underwent two consecutive thoracotomies for a lower lobe mass in her right lung was referred to our clinic for further management. Both procedures were abandoned due to excessive bleeding. Computed tomographic angiography demonstrated an infra-diaphragmatic systemic arterial supply of the mass similar to pulmonary sequestration. However the lobe had a normal venous drainage to the left atrium. Then a right lower lobectomy was undertaken through a hemi-clamshell incision, and histopathology revealed an atypical carcinoid tumor. The patient was discharged home after a satisfactory postoperative period. She still remains disease free at 14 months follow-up.

Antibiotics are not needed during tube thoracostomy for spontaneous pneumothorax: an observational case study.

BACKGROUND: Usefulness of prophylactic antibiotics following tube thoracostomy remains controversial in the literature. In this study, we aimed to investigate the consequences of closed tube thoracostomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax without the use of antibiotics. METHODS: One-hundred and nineteen patients underwent tube thoracostomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. None of them received prophylactic antibiotic treatment. Eight patients with prolonged air leak undergoing either video assisted thoracoscopic surgery or thoracotomy were excluded. RESULTS: Of the remaining 111 (104 male and 7 female), 28 (25%) patients developed some induration around the entry site of chest tube that settled without further treatment. White blood cell count was high without any other evidence of infection in 12 (11%) patients and returned to its normal levels before discharge home in all. There was also some degree of fever not lasting for more than 48 hours in 8 (7%) patients. Bacterial cultures from suspected sites did not reveal any significant growth in these patients. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic antibiotic treatment seems avoidable during closed tube thoracostomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. This policy was not only cost-effective but also prevented our patients from detrimental properties of unnecessary antibiotic use, such as development of drug resistance and undesirable side effects.

Pleural flap to prevent lobar torsion: A novel technique.

Lobar torsion is reported as very rare but sometimes catastrophic complication if overlooked during the early postoperative period following a lobectomy, though it is totally preventable. In this novel technique, a piece of parietal pleural flap is harvested from the posterior wall of the chest using a hook diathermy while keeping its upper border as close to the apex as possible. Finally, distal end of the flap is secured to the upper edge of the lobe using a fine monofilament absorbable suture. This procedure not only protects the lobe from rotation but also maintains continuous expansion of the lung in the early postoperative period and may, therefore, be a good option to prevent such a serious complication in selected patients following a lobectomy.

How does definition of 'complete resection' conduct surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer?

The term 'complete resection' is traditionally defined as a desired surgical procedure if a considerable survival benefit is anticipated in patients with NSCLC. From a surgeon's viewpoint, it is therefore of great importance in patient selection for thoracotomy. In this setting, one might assume that well-known definitions of Naruke and Mountain with different meanings would subsequently result in a number of conflicting influences. As a result, patient selection criteria for surgery, the role and reliability of invasive staging procedures and futile thoracotomy rates are unavoidably conducted by the definition preferred. Interpretation of the outcomes from the series with different attitudes may also be misleading. Thus, outset of the surgical management of NSCLC should be based on the definition and preferences associated with complete resection. To conclude, if we could depict a universally accepted definition of complete resection which could also easily be attributable to the existing guidelines; contribution of surgery would have been more clearly outlined among other treatment modalities. This will in turn, not only eliminate most of the confusion that a surgeon might have in his/her mind regarding the matter, but might also provide a more stronger evidence for the role of surgery in the long term.

Decision-making for lung resection in patients with empyema and collapsed lung due to tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Collapsed lung with associated empyema is a different clinical entity from destroyed lung . A low perfusion rate of the diseased lung is usually considered an indication for pneumonectomy in patients undergoing thoracotomy for tuberculosis. Such a criterion may not adequately reflect the functional capacity of the underlying parenchyma when the lung is collapsed. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients underwent thoracotomy for tuberculosis at our hospital between 1998 and 2003. Among these, 5 (4%) patients who had a collapsed lung for more than 3 months and pleural infection were the subjects of this study. Surgery was considered after at least a 3-month course of regular antituberculous treatment. Despite no perfusions in 2 patients and 8%, 10%, and 15% perfusion rates for the remaining 3 patients, decortication alone was intentionally performed, and any kind of resectional operation was avoided. RESULTS: The lung gradually filled the hemithorax between 5 and 12 days after surgery in 4 patients. The remaining patient required a thoracomyoplasty 8 weeks after the initial operation. Repeated perfusion scans 1 and 2 years after decortication continued to show no perfusion in patients who had had no preoperative perfusion. All patients were symptom free on regular follow-up between 10 months and 4.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the outcome is unpredictable in terms of lung expansion after decortication, which is a relatively simple procedure compared with other surgical options. We think that the risk of rethoracotomy is acceptable, considering the devastating complications and high mortality rates of resectional surgery in the treatment of such patients.

Carcinoma in situ from the view of complete resection.

World Health Organisation (WHO) defined three types of preinvasive epithelial lesions, one of which is preinvasive bronchial squamous lesions consisting of dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (CIS). It is not clear whether or not CIS at the bronchial resection margin is to be considered as incomplete resection in the literature. Follow-up data of such patients using autofluorescence bronchoscopy proved that CIS regresses without further treatment in significant number of patients. It is therefore reasonable to accept any reported CIS lesion on frozen-section examination as complete clearance of the tumor and thus further resection may not be warranted.