Sternotomy in thyroid surgery

Introduction: A bulky retrosternal goiter means for the surgeon to consider an extracervical approach, usually from a partial sternotomy. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of a group of thyroid operations requiring sternotomy in a ten-year period (year 2012­2021), in an attempt to predict the need for sternotomy. Results: We performed a total of 1254 thyroid operations, with partial sternotomy required in 11 cases (0.88%): in 6 women and 5 men aged 43­84 years (mean 73.1 years). For these, 3 total thyroidectomies and 6 hemithyroidectomies (lobectomies) were performed. In 2 cases, we operated on the mediastinal residue, or regenerate, after a previous thyroidectomy from the cervical approach. The duration of hospitalization was 5­14 days, once there was bleeding with the need for operative revision, otherwise the procedures were without complications, including phonation. The border of the lower part of the thyroid gland in relation to the upper border of the aortic arch was in the range of +20 to -22 mm. The mean was -8.5 mm. Conclusion: All sternotomy thyroidectomies performed by us had a close relationship to, or overlapped with the upper line of the aortic arch. Significantly retrosternal propagating goiters are mostly eufunctional (81.9 % in our group) and develop in patients in the seventh or eighth decade of life. Therefore, if only one lobe propagates intrathoracically, a hemithyroidectomy is sufficient. A carcinoma is rarely present; in one case in our group. We believe that the necessity of sternotomy cannot be accurately predicted, but it is necessary to be prepared for it, especially in the case of a goiter exceeding the level of the aortic arch. In case of greater retrosternal propagation, it is certainly appropriate to perform a CT, for surgical reasons (possibility of sternotomy, risk of leaving part of the gland) and anesthetic reasons (compression and deviation of the trachea).

Morgagni hernia - case reports.

Morgagni hernia is a rare form of diaphragmatic hernia. It is a congenital defect of the diaphragm, often asymptomatic in adulthood and thus usually found only incidentally. Its treatment is predominantly surgical. This article presents three case reports of patients operated in our department.

Differentiated thyroid microcarcinoma current perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has a good prognosis and low mortality despite its growing incidence, which is particularly the case of microcarcinomas (T1a - up to 10 mm). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of overall survival of patients in the group of thyroid gland surgeries for differentiated forms of microcarcinoma in the period of 2006-2015 up to the present. An overview of contemporary therapeutic methods is included. RESULTS: Thyroid cancer was detected in 144 cases out of the total of 1820 patients with thyreopathy undergoing surgery (8%); DTC microcarcinoma was detected in 65 cases (45.1%) of all carcinomas. The papillary form was diagnosed in 59 cases (51.8% of all papillary cases), and the follicular form was found in 6 cases (37.5% of all follicular cases). Two cases of Hürthle cells cancer were found, both in a stage higher than T1. Overall 10-year survival of carcinomas >T1 was 86%, reaching 90% in the microcarcinoma group (Gehan Wilcoxon test: p=0.10675). CONCLUSION: Differentiated microcarcinoma shows a very good overall survival. Provided that other criteria are satisfied, particularly unifocal occurrence without spreading through the gland casing and without any suspicion of nodal involvement, hemithyroidectomy is considered to be a sufficient procedure or the method of choice, respectively.

[Chest Injury and its Surgical Treatment in Polytrauma Patients. Five-Year Experience]. / Poranení hrudníku a jeho operacní lécba u polytraumatizovaných nemocných v petiletém období.

UNLABELLED: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Thoracic trauma, one of the most frequent injuries in patients with multiple traumata, is found in 50 to 80% of these patients and it is crucial for the patient's prognosis. It accounts for 25% of all death from polytraumatic injuries. The aim of this retrospective study was an analysis of the occurrence of chest injuries in polytrauma patients and their surgical treatment in the Trauma Centre or Department of Surgery of the University Hospital Pilsen in a five-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with injuries meeting the definition of polytrauma and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16 were included. The demographic characteristics, mechanism of multiple trauma, ISS value and chest injury were recorded in each patient. The number of injured patients in each year of the study was noted. In the patients with chest injury, the type of injury and method of treatment were assessed. The therapy was further analysed including its timing. The number of deaths due to polytrauma involving chest injury, the cause of death and its time in relation to the patient's admission to the Trauma Centre were evaluated. RESULTS In the period 2010-14, 513 polytrauma patients were treated; of them 371 (72.3%) were men with an average age of 40.5 years. The most frequent cause of injury was a traffic accident (74%). The average ISS of the whole group was 35 points. Chest injury was diagnosed in 469 patients (91.4%) of whom only five (1.1%) had penetrating injury. Pulmonary contusion was most frequent (314 patients; 67%). A total of 212 patients with chest injury underwent surgery (45.2%); urgent surgery was performed in 143 (67.5%), acute surgery in 49 (23.1%) and delayed surgery in 63 (29.7%) patients. Chest drainage was the major surgical procedure used in the whole group. Of 61 patients who died, 52 had chest injury. In this subgroup the most frequent cause of death was decompensated traumatic shock (26 patients; 50%). In the whole group, 32 polytrauma patients died within 24 hours of injury (61.5%). CONCLUSIONS Chest injury, almost always blunt, is often diagnosed in polytrauma patients. A prevalent cause of multiple trauma is a traffic accident. Chest injury most frequently involves pulmonary contusion. Nearly half of chest injuries require surgery, of which 2/3 are urgent procedures. The procedure most frequently performed in polytrauma patients with chest injury is chest drainage and this is also a sufficient procedure in 75% of surgically treated patients. KEY WORDS: polytrauma, chest injury, pulmonary contusion, surgical treatment, chest drainage.

[Thyroid carcinoma, ten-years file]. / Karcinom stítné zlázy, desetiletý soubor.

INTRODUCTION: Even though thyroid carcinoma has, in general, a good prognosis and low mortality rate, its incidence, especially the incidence of early forms of the disease has been growing. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of the file of surgeries of documented thyroid carcinoma within the years of 2006-2015. RESULTS: Thyroid carcinoma was recorded in 145 of 1820 patients operated for thyreopathy (8%); microcarcinoma (<10mm) was recorded in 64 cases (44.1%). The carcinoma was mostly detected accidentally during total thyroidectomy, which was in 70 cases (48.3%). The carcinoma was expected in 35 cases (24.1%) on the basis of prior puncture and total thyroidectomy was carried out straight away. Perioperative histology after hemithyroidectomy was requested in 31 cases (21.4%), and it was found positive only in 13 cases; thyroidectomy was finished in the second period in the other cases. Due to advanced carcinoma, tumour exploration/debulking was performed in 3 cases (2.1%) - for anaplastic carcinoma in all these cases. A permanent unilateral lesion - n. laryngeus recurrens - occurred in 3 cases (2.1%); a permanent bilateral lesion was recorded twice (1.4%).The most frequently manifested carcinoma was the papillary carcinoma in 114 patients (78.6%; 83 women/31 men; age of 1284 years; mean age of 50.6), the second most frequent carcinoma was the follicular carcinoma in 16 patients (11.0%; 15/1; 1969; 55.3), followed by the medullary carcinoma in 10 patients (6.9%; 6/4; 2576; 58.1). Anaplastic carcinoma was detected only in 4 cases (2.8%; 2/2; 6487; 75.5), and lymphoma of the thyroid gland occurred twice as well as Hürtle cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Thyroid carcinoma is mostly found accidentally during surgery in the early phase of the disease. This proves the high quality of endocrinology care and the correctness of the tendency to indicate early surgical treatment of thyroidal pathology.Key words: thyroid carcinoma - thyroidectomy complications.

[Sternal fractures and their surgical treatment]. / Zlomeniny sterna, operacní lécba.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Sternal fractures occur most frequently in vehicle accidents, then due to falls from a height and by other blunt chest trauma. Most of these injuries are simple, non-displaced fractures only rarely requiring surgical management. Based on a retrospective analysis, the authors present their experience with the treatment of sternal fractures, emphasizing the use of osteosynthesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 293 patients treated for fresh sternal fractures in the period from 2004 to 2013 were evaluated. Their median age was 47.5 years (range, 2 to 86 years). They were allocated to two groups according to the method of treatment, ie., conservative versus surgical. The two groups were compared in the following characteristics: mechanism and extent of trauma, methods of treating the fracture and associated injuries and troponin-T and myoglobin values. RESULTS: Of the 293 patients, 16 had surgery (surgical group) and the remaining patients were treated conservatively. Eleven patients (3.8%) had surgery for instability or chest wall deformity. Five patients (1.7%) underwent urgent cardiovascular surgery due to complications of sternum fracture. In the surgical group, comminuted fractures were more frequent (p=0.0003), rib fractures had a higher incidence rate (p=0.0442), concomitant abdominal injuries occurred more often (p=0.0173) and serum levels of troponin-T and myoglobin were higher (p<0.0001 and p=0.0114, respectively) than in the other group. DISCUSSION: The majority of sternal injuries (90-95%) are non-displaced, simple fractures that heal spontaneously. In complicated fractures, reduction and fragment fixation relieve pain, provide prevention from respiratory complications and make the duration of mechanical ventilation shorter. Our results show that osteosynthesis was mostly indicated in displaced and comminuted fractures or severe chest deformity. Concomitant intra-abdominal injury is caused by a flexion mechanism or an impact on the front of the body. Serious sternal fractures are associated with increased serum levels of troponin-T and myoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: Plate fixation is a suitable method of stable osteosynthesis in complicated sternal fractures. It shortens the duration of mechanical ventilation and repairs post-traumatic chest wall deformities.

[Sarcoma of the chest wall after radiotherapy for breast carcinoma - a case report]. / Sarkom hrudní steny po ozárení pro karcinom prsu kazuistika.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoma occurring in soft tissues after radiotherapy is a rare complication of radiation treatment of tumours. It was most often described after treatment for breast cancer as well as for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cervical carcinoma. The time interval between the radiation therapy and the development of the sarcoma can be very wide. Treatment demands radical surgical resection of the sarcoma with the edge of the resected tissue without tumour cells. In some cases, this is followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The median survival time is 23 months, the longest survival being associated with sarcomas removed in a radical way. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a female patient with recurring leiomyosarcoma of the chest wall after radiotherapy for cancer of the right breast. In 2006, this 62-year-old patient was operated on to keep her right breast with axilla exenteration. After the surgery, hormonal therapy was followed by adjuvant radiotherapy of the right breast and the adjacent axilla. We used a linear accelerator and the total amount of radiation was 50 Gy (2 Gy fractionally once a day, five days a week). Four years after the operation, leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed in the pectoral muscle at the site where the tumour of the right breast had been excised. Between 2011 and 2013, a total of five operations of re-occurring sarcoma were performed - two excisions of the tumour, a mastectomy, rib resection and, at last, block resection of the chest wall. Adjuvant oncological treatment was not indicated. The patient, now being 69 years old, is still in a good physical and mental condition without any generalization of the disease. CONCLUSION: Sarcoma of the chest wall is a relatively rare consequence of radiotherapy for breast cancer. Sarcoma treatment involves radical surgical resection of the tumour whenever possible. The surgery is mostly followed by radiotherapy which, however, is impossible in a patient after breast-preserving surgery for carcinoma with radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is not very effective in sarcomas. Therefore, the operation needs to be performed by an experienced surgeon in a sufficiently radical way.

[Pulmonary metastases - 12-year experience with surgical therapy]. / Plicní metastázy - dvanáctileté zkusenosti s chirurgickou lécbou.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, radical surgical therapy of selected secondary pulmonary tumours is a generally accepted therapeutic procedure that has been proven to extend long-term survival of the patients with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality. The authors present a retrospective analysis of a set of patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary metastases of various tumours in a 12-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2001-2012, 159 patients with secondary pulmonary tumours were operated on at the authors department, of whom 80 were men; the median age was 65 years. Solitary metastases were present in 112 patients (70.4%); the other patients had multiple metastases; 24 patients (15.1 %) suffered from bilateral involvement, and 6 patients (3.8%) suffered from relapsed metastatic disease after previous radical surgery. Colorectal carcinoma metastases were diagnosed in most cases (75 people - 47.2%). The median disease-free period from the surgery of the primary tumour was 27 months in the patient set. RESULTS: In total, 166 unilateral (87.4%) and 24 bilateral surgeries were performed using one- or two-stage procedure (12.6%). Precise laser excisions represented the most common type of surgery (59 procedures - 31.1%). In total, 296 metastases were radically resected, and 13 were treated using radiofrequency ablation. Perioperative morbidity was 13.2% with a zero lethality rate. 90 operated patients (56.6%) still survive after the metastasectomy, with median survival of 44 months. The overall 3-year survival in the set was 59%, and 5-year survival was 39%. The number of metastases is a statistically significant factor affecting survival in the patient cohort with colorectal carcinoma metastases, the risk of death being 2.7 times higher in patients with 2 and more colorectal carcinoma metastases. 68 patients (42.8%) live without progression of the disease after the metastasectomy, with the median disease-free interval of 29 months. In total, 43% of the patients were free of any signs of relapse or disease progression for 3 years, and 27% for 5 years. The risk of disease progression is 2.1 times higher in patients with 2 and more metastases of any tumour, and for colorectal carcinoma this risk is 2.3 times higher. CONCLUSION: The achieved results confirm the positive role of pulmonary metastasectomy in disseminated tumour therapy. The number of metastases is the decisive prognostic factor affecting both long-term survival of operated patients and their DFI.

Surgical therapy of pulmonary metastases - 10-year results.

INTRODUCTION: The surgical therapy of selected secondary pulmonary tumors, including both solitary and multiple or bilateral tumours, is currently a generally accepted therapeutic procedure demonstrably extending the long term survival of these patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is a ten-year retrospective analysis of a group of patients who underwent surgery due to pulmonary metastases of various primary tumors. METHODS: In 2000-2009, 87 patients (of which 44 were male with a median age of 64 years) with secondary pulmonary tumors underwent surgery at the departments of the authors of this study. Solitary metastases were found in 60 patients, multiple metastases in the remaining patients, while 13 patients had bilateral metastases. The median disease-free period from surgery of the primary tumor was 31 months. RESULTS: In total, 74 unilateral and 13 bilateral surgeries were performed in one or two periods. The most common type of surgery included anatomical pulmonary resections (32 procedures), wedge resections (29 procedures) and laser excisions (24 procedures). In total, the radical resection was performed in 156 metastases. Post-operative morbidity was 17.2 % with zero mortality. A proportion of 50.6 % of operated patients survived after resection of metastases with median survival of 39 months. The overall three-year and five-year survivals in the group were 57 % and 38 %, respectively. A proportion of 35.6 % of patients live after resection of metastases without disease progression, and the median is 15 months. CONCLUSION: The achieved results confirm the positive role of pulmonary metastasectomy in the therapy of disseminated cancer disease (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 34).

[Mediastinitis after esophageal perforation]. / Mediastinitida po perforaci jícnu.

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of therapy in patients with mediastinal infection resulting from esophageal perforation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective (2008-2012) processing of a group of surgically treated patients. The aspects assessed were aetiology, the surgical methods applied and the length of therapy. RESULTS: The total number of patients treated was 16. In 8 cases, the aetiology was iatrogenic (3 cases of leaking esophageal anastomosis in consequence of resection of the esophagus, 2 cases of perforation after fundoplication, 1 case of esophageal cardiomyotomy, and 2 cases of perforation during endoscopy). In 4 patients, the aetiology was spontaneous perforation, impacted foreign bodies caused difficulties to 3 patients, and the last cause was acid corrosive esophagitis. A stent was applied in all the patients at the site of the defect. The mediastinitis was drained through the access from thoracotomy or left thoracolaparotomy, respectively (8 cases), or by combination of laparotomy/laparostomy and pleural drainage (5 cases). Pleural (in 3 cases) and neck (1 case) drainage meant minimum intervention. Esophagectomy was not carried out in any of the patients. 4 patients died. The average period of time for which the stent was left in situ was 53.7 days; the average time of hospitalization in surviving patients was 53.4 days. CONCLUSION: Stent application does not show any difference regarding patients' survival (25% mortality), but enables shortening the total therapy time and, predominantly, preserving the native esophagus.

[Liver and pulmonary metastases of the colorectal carcinoma - the experience of the Department of Surgery, University Hospital in Pilsen]. / Jaterní a plicní metastázy kolorektálního karcinomu - zkusenosti Chirurgické kliniky FN v Plzni.

INTRODUCTION: Liver and pulmonary metastases of the colorectal carcinoma develop in about 20-70%, resp. in 10-22% patients with the colorectal carcinoma. Their treatment is still a matter of discussion. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment as a part of the multimodal approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 patients with liver and pulmonary colorectal metastases were operated on between 2002 and 4/2013. The average age was 62.8 ± 10.7 years. 19 patients had metachronous and 11 synchronous metastases. The liver metastases preceded pulmonary in 14 cases, and vice versa in 5 patients. Both types of metastases developed in seven patients simultaneously. Liver resection was performed in 23, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in 7 patients. Laser pulmonary metastasectomy was performed in 15, pulmonary resection in 14 and RFA in one patient. The liver procedure preceded pulmonary in 25 patients. 73.3% patients had adjuvant oncological treatment. RESULTS: 30 days mortality rate was 3.3% (N=1) for the actinomycotic sepsis complicated with MRSA infection. Morbidity rate was 10%. Recurrence of liver metastases developed in 6 patients. RFA was performed in all patients. The median of overall and disease free survival was 6.9, resp. 1.1 years. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment as a part of the multimodal treatment is the only radical treatment for patients with liver and pulmonary metastases. It offers good long-term results.

[Catamenial pneumothorax - case studies from our department in a ten-year period]. / Katameniální pneumotorax - kazuistiky z vlastního pracoviste v období 10 let.

Catamenial pneumothorax is defined as spontaneous pneumothorax in women of reproductive age occurring in conjunction with the menstrual cycle. The authors present 4 cases of this condition treated in our department during the past ten years. The causes leading to the development of this condition and optimal treatment procedures are also discussed.

[Descending necrotising mediastinitis - surgical management]. / Descendentní nekrotizující mediastinitida - chirurgická lécba.

INTRODUCTION: Descending necrotising mediastinitis (DNM) is a less common form of infection in the mediastinum caused by downward spread from the cervical, oral and pharyngeal regions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluate a group of patients who underwent surgical management of DNM at our department between 2007 and 2011. RESULTS: We operated on 7 patients (1 female, 6 males) with the mean age of 56.3 years. In 3 cases the infection was of odontogenic origin and in 4 cases of tonsillar origin. Except for one patient with permanent immunosuppression, after kidney transplantation, swab culture showed the original, inciting pathogen to be Streptococcus in all cases; as for anaerobic organisms it was mostly Fusobacterium. In all cases we performed external cervical drainage and mediastinal drainage through a cervical approach. In 3 cases it was necessary to perform mediastinal drainage through thoracotomy. Mean hospital stay was 45.7 days, 30-day mortality was zero. CONCLUSION: The results confirm a better prognosis of DNM compared to mediastinitis caused by oesophageal perforation or oesophageal surgery complication.

[Surgical therapy of pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer--ten-year results]. / Chirurgická léba plicních metastáz kolorektálního karcinomu--desetileté výsledky.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, surgical therapy of pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer is a generally accepted therapeutic approach that has been proven to extend long term patient survival with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of the study is to retrospectively analyse a group of patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer over a period of ten years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2000 to 2009, 39 patients with pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer underwent surgical therapy at the site of the authors, out of whom 21 were males (53.8%), with a mean age of 60.4 years. Out of the total, 24 patients (61.5%) presented with solitary metastases, multiple metastases were found in the remaining patients. 8 patients (20.5%) bileral affection was detected. 34 patients (87.2%) underwent adjuvant oncological therapy of a radically surgically curable primary tumor before metastasectomy and 6 patients (15.4%) underwent surgery for liver metastases. Five patients in the group (12.8%) had both pulmonary and secondary liver affections at the same time. The median disease-free period after the primary tumor surgery was 27 months in the whole group. RESULTS: In total, we performed 31 unilateral (79.5%) and 8 bilateral (20.5%) one- or two- step surgeries. The most common type of surgery included anatomical pulmonary resections (18 procedures), laser excisions (13 procedures) and wedge resections (9 procedures). In total, we performed 73 radical resections of metastases and 5 metastases were treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Metastatic affection of hilar lymph nodes was found in three patients (7.7%). Perioperative morbidity reached 12.8%, mortality was zero, and two re-operations were required because of complications (5.1%). 53.8% of patients with metastasectomy are still alive, the median survival time is 38 months. The three-year survival rate is 52% and the five-year survival rate is 41% five years. Pre-operatively increased value of tissue polypeptid specific antigen (TPS) was the only statistically significant factor that had a negative impact on the overall survival. 30.7% of patients with metastasectomy show no disease progression, the median disease- free interval is 14 months. There is a statistically significant correlation between DFI (Disease Free Interval) following metastasectomy and the type of surgery and the lowest value of DFI was achieved with radiofrequency ablation. The risk of disease progression is 3.4-times higher in patients with two and more metastases of colorectal cancer up to 3.9-times higher in subjects with three and more metastases. CONCLUSION: The positive effect of pulmonary metastasectomy on the long-term survival is evident. However, careful selection of patients with individual evaluation of each single case is required. In particular, indication for metastasectomy should be carefuly considered in cases of multiple affection, which are associated with higher risk of disease progression. The essential requirement is to achieve complete resection of the pathological focus, with a maximum effort aimed at sparing healthy pulmonary tissue, which allows for potential necessary reoperations in case of the disease recurrence. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy (SMLA) should be an integral part of any pulmonary metastasectomy.

[Surgical treatment of pulmonary carcinoids - ten-year results]. / Chirurgische Behandlung von Lungenkarzinoiden - Zehnjahresergebnisse.

INTRODUCTION: Carcinoids are malignant neuro-endocrine tumours occurring in the bronchopulmonary location in about 25 %, and accounting for approximately 2 % of all pulmonary tumours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our retrospective analysis included 27  patients, 14  men and 13  women, mean age 58.4  years, treated from 2000 to 2009 for carcinoids in bronchopulmonary locations. The tumour manifested clinically in 52 % of the cases, the most common symptom being cough; one tumour manifested as carcinoid syndrome. All patients underwent fibrobronchoscopy that was positive in 20  cases (74.1 %). Pre-surgery histological diagnoses were made in 13  patients (48.1 %). Chest CT scans were carried out in 26  patients, and the investigation failed to detect the expected pathological process in 2  of the patients. Octreoscans were carried out in 12  patients, and were successful in identifying a primary neuroendocrine tumour in 75 %. RESULTS: All patients in the sample underwent rad-ical surgical therapy; the most common surgical procedure was lobectomy (70.4 %). Perioperative morbidity and mortality were zero. Typical carcinoids were found in 20  cases while 7  cases were atypical carcinoids, 20  tumours were located centrally. 74 % of the tumours were consistent with stage  I A disease. Mean follow-up period was 47 (range: 6-134)  months. Local recurrences were observed in 2  patients (7.4 %), but the tumour disseminated in 4  patients (14.8 %). Two patients (7.4 %) died during the follow-up period. Overall five-year survival in the sample was 92.3 %, 90.9 % in the typical carcinoid group and 100 % for atypical carcinoids. We found a statistically significant association between disease-free interval and histological type of the tumour; the risk of progression was 8  times higher in -patients with atypical carcinoids compared to patients with typical carcinoids (Log-Rank-Test: p-value = 0.0049). CONCLUSION: Radical surgical treatment of bronchopulmonary carcinoids is the optimum therapeutic approach that results in the best results both regarding perioperative morbidity and mortality and regarding long-term survival of the patients.

[Pulmonary metastases of the clear cell (conventional) renal cell carcinoma--options and results of surgical treatment]. / Moznosti a výsledky chirurgické lécby plicních metastáz svetlobunecného (konvencního) renálního karcinomu.

BACKGROUNDS: At the diagnosis, up to one third of patients with clear cell (conventional) renal cell carcinoma have metastases, and the disease will progress in a half of patients with localized disease; the lungs are the most frequently affected organ. Despite clear advances in targeted biological treatment, radical surgery of organ, mainly pulmonary, metastases is a justified treatment approach with good results. AIM: A nine-year retrospective analysis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma undergoing surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our centre, 13 patients with the mean age of 65 years, 9 of which were men, underwent surgical treatment between 2001 and 2009. Surgery was only indicated in patients after renal tumour resection without extrapulmonary metastases in whom presurgical assessment suggested that the pulmonary metastases were resectable (with respect to their number and location) and in whom the benefits of performing the surgery outweighed any potential risks. Metastases were solitary in 9 patients and multiple in the rest, 2 patients had bilateral involvement. Median disease-free interval following nephrectomy was 28 months. RESULTS: A total of 11 unilateral and 2 bilateral resections were performed during one or two surgical operations. Most frequently, wedge resection was performed (7 patients). A total of 23 metastases were resected. Perisurgical morbidity was 15.4%, zero mortality. Of those undergoing metastasectomy, 53.8% are still surviving with a median survival of 24.3 months. Three-year survival in the sample was 66%, 5-year survival was 53%. Five patients (38.5%) have had no disease progression for a median of 8.8 months. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the positive role of metastasectomy in the treatment of pulmonary metastases of clear cell (conventional) renal cell carcinoma. Long-term survival after pulmonary metastasectomy might be expected in patients with solitary metachrone small metastases with DFI after nephrectomy > 1 year, without tumour involvement of the relevant lymph nodes and R0 resection.

[Mediastinal cysts, surgical management]. / Mediastinální cysty, chirurgické resení.

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinal cysts are common lesions, affecting children, as well as adults. They account for 20-30 % pathological mediastinal masses. The treatment is surgical, including extirpation, respectively enucleation of the cyst. AIM OF THE STUDY: Assessment of the author's patient group and overview of current literature data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a group of 11 patients (9 female and2 male subjects, the mean age was 47.6 years) indicated for scheduled procedures for mediastinal cysts from 2006 to 2010. RESULTS: Histological examination confirmed pericardial cysts in 7 subjects (63.6%), brochogenic cysts in 3 (27.3%) subjects and a thymic cyst in one subject (9.1%). The commonest location was anterior mediastinum - 7 subjects (63.6%), whereas upper mediastinum was the cyst site in 3 (27.3%) subjects and posterior mediastinum in 1 (9.1%) subject. Thoracotomy was indicated in 3 subjects, one subject was indicated for lung resection for carcinoma using thoracotomy and the pericardial cyst was a secondary known diagnosis, one patient was operated using sternotomy. 6 patients were indicated for videothoracoscopic (VTS) procedures and a decision to convert to thoracotomy was taken in 2 of these subjects. The patients were discharged from hospital 4-12 days after thoracotomy (the mean of 6.67 days), 3-4 days after VTS (the mean of 3.25 days), while the patient undergoing sternotomy was discharged on the postoperative Day 8. The mean size of the cysts removed using thoracotomy was 78 x 55 mm and the mean size of the cysts removed using VTS was 50 x 29 mm. CONCLUSION: The surgical technique for expected mediastinal cysts should be selected based on the cysts location, rather than on their size. The main objective is to indicate each mediastinal cyst for VTS (shorter duration of hospitalization) and eventual conversion to thoracotomy does not cause any delays or complications. Also asymptomatic cysts should be indicated for surgery.

[Surgical treatment of liver and pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma]. / Chirurgickái lécba jaterních a plicních metastáz kolorektálního karcinomu.

THE AIM: The aim of the work was to evaluate the set of 10 patients, who were operated on hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma at the Surgical Clinic of Medical Faculty of Charles University and Faculty Hospital in Plzen in years from 2005 till 2009. With regard to limited experience with the patients who underwent hepatic as well as pulmonary resection, we focused on the evaluation of a long-term survival of the patients and their mortality and morbidity. THE SET OF THE PATIENTS: In years from 2005 till 12/2009 we operated 10 patients during whose affection there occurred hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma and these were solved surgically. This concerned 5 men and 5 women at an average age of 62.4 years (42-71 years). In 10% it was hepatic resection in the first period after the operation of primary carcinoma, it was the first performance on the hepatic parenchyma in 90%. THE RESULTS: Morbidity of the set was 20.1% regarding hepatic resections and 5.6% regarding pulmonary resections. A 30-day postoperative mortality was 0%. In three cases a hepatic involvement was bilateral, in two cases in the left lung and 5 patients had an involvement of the right pulmonary lobe. In 4 cases primary carcinoma was in the rectum and in 6 cases in the large intestine. The period of three months was an average time between hepatic and pulmonary resection. Resection on liver parenchyma was the most often performance and metastasectomy with the help of laser on the pulmonary parenchyma. Rectal carcinoma spread into lungs in 50%. An average time of a 5-year survival in the patients after resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma was 26%. THE CONCLUSION: Hepatic and pulmonary resection in the selected patients with generalized colorectal carcinoma extends the period of a survival and does not worsen the quality of the life. The patients after resection of both--hepatic and pulmonary metastases have got a worse long-term survival than the patients being only after hepatic resections.

[Use of the KLS Martin Nd:YAG laser MY 40 13 in lung parenchyma surgery]. / Vyuzití KLS Martin Nd: YAG laseru MY 40 13 v plicní chirurgii.

INTRODUCTION: Nd:YAG laser MY 40 1.3 has been developed to be employed in lung tumor resections. The method's principle is based on tissue absorption of light energy and its transformation into heat. The light beam wavelength is 1318 nm and its output power is 40 W. The beam even penetrates fluid media up to the depth of 6mm, and its hemostatic effect is much larger than in other models (obstruction of arteries of up to 2 mm in diameter, veins of up to 3 mm in diameter). The laser beam application to the lung parenchyma is continuous and non-contact. AIM: Analysis of our initial experience with the use of the instrument in surgical management of primary and secondary lung tumors. METHODOLOGY: From March 2008 to December 2008, the authors operated 12 male and 5 female patients, the average age was 60.7 years. In 12 subjects, lung metastases of malignant tumors were detected, 3 subjects suffered from primary lung carcinoma and two from benign lung lesions. 7 operated subjects had multiple secondary lung tumors in various lobes of a single lung or both lungs, in 5 subjects, the secondary tumors were solitary. Most commonly--in 7 cases, the subjects suffered from colorectal carcinoma metastases. All the above surgical procedures were performed under general anesthesia with selective lung ventilation via posterolateral thoracotomy. RESULTS: In the all 12 patients, the lung metastases were radically removed using parenchyma-saving laser metastasectomy. In 3 subjects with primary pulmonary carcinoma, the laser was used to perform limited resection for intraoperative biopsy purposes, which was followed by standard radical pulmonary resection. The two benign lesions were managed in a similar way. Perioperative morbidity and mortality was nil, no significant air leak was recorded in the subjects during the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser MY 40 1.3 facilitates radical removals of secondary pulmonary neoplasms, in particular of the multiple and deeply located ones, with no need for extensive lung parenchyma resections and with minimum intraoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Furthermore, it can be successfully used in a numer of other surgical procedures, such as management of pleural adhesions, lung biopsies, resections of emphysematous bullae, resections of benign lung tumors, dissections of inerlobal fissures, etc., where the method can fully replace staplers. It has potential for its further application in miniinvasive pulmonary surgery in the near future.

[Incidence and management of prolonged air leak following pulmonary lobectomy]. / Výskyt a resení prolongovaného úniku vzduchu po plicní lobektomii.

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged air leak (prolonged air leak - PAL, an air leak for over 7 postoperative days) is a common complication following lung resections. It extends the period of thoracic drainage, duration of hospitalization, increases postoperative morbidity rates and the cost of the treatment. METHODOLOGY: The retrospective study included a group of 256 subjects with lung lobectomies, performed during 2002-2007, where active thoracic drainage was introduced postoperatively. The following parametres were assessed: gender, age, preoperative FEV1/FVC values, intraoperative detection of pleural adhesions, missing interlobar fissures (due to stapler resections), presence of distinct bullae, number of removed mediastinal lymph nodes, lobectomy types (upper vs. lower), use of staplers and insufficient lung inflation of 2cm, detectable on x-ray on the day of the procedure. RESULTS: PAL was recorded in 26 (10.1%) of the subjects and their thoracic drain was left in place for 8-34 days (the mean of 15.9 days). In 7 subjects, the active thoracic drainage was replaced by a passive one (on the 14.4th postoperative day, on average, the range: postoperative Day 11 to postoperative Day 22). In seven subjects, the drain's position was changed, and in a single subject, reoperation for PAL was required. In particular, the following subjects are more likely to develop PAL: patients with FEV1/FVC of 80% (p-value = 0.0066; odds ratio = 3.494), where stapler resections of interlobar fissures are required (p-value = 0.0118; odds ratio = 3.070) and males (p-value = 0.0471; odds ratio = 3.200). CONCLUSION: In patients, predisposed to develop PAL, saving techniques to optimalize surgical procedures, as well as approaches to optimalize their postoperative care, including early replacement of the active thoracic drainage for the passive method, should be employed.