Objective improvement in dexterity for trainees undergoing a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery simulation program, a prospective single center study.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the recommended approach for the management of early-stage operable non-small cell lung carcinoma as well as for other pathologies of the thoracic cavity. Although VATS approaches have been largely adopted in Europe and North America, teaching the technique to novice thoracic surgery trainees remains challenging and non-standardized. Our objective was to assess the impact of a VATS simulation training program on the dexterity of thoracic surgery residents in a prospective single institution study. Methods: We developed a 6-month VATS simulation training program on two different dry-lab simulators (Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Stupnik® lobectomy model; CK Surgical Simulation® Crabtree perfused lobectomy model) and assessed the skills of first year thoracic surgery residents (study group, n=7) before and after this program using three standardized exercises on the Surgical Science Simball® Box (peg placement on a board, rope insertion in loops, precision circle cutting). The results were compared to those of last-year medical students who performed the same Simball® Box exercises at a 6-month interval without undergoing a training program (control group, n=5). For each participant, the travel distances of instruments, operation time and absences of periods of extreme motion were assessed for each exercise by the use of the computer-based evaluation of the Simball® Box. Results: After the 6-month VATS training program, all residents revealed a significant increase of their performance status with respect to instrument travel distances operation times and absence of periods of extreme motion in all three exercises performed. The performance of the control group was not different from the study group prior to the training program and remained unchanged 6 months later, for all exercises and parameters assessed. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the implementation of a VATS simulation training program objectively increases the dexterity of thoracic surgery residents and could be an interesting training tool for their surgical education.

Survival prognostic and recurrence risk factors after single pulmonary metastasectomy.

BACKGROUND: Identification of the prognostic factors of recurrence and survival after single pulmonary metastasectomy (PM). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent PM for a single lung metastasis between 2003 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 162 patients with a median age of 64 years underwent single PM. Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) was performed in 83.9% of cases. Surgical resection was achieved by wedge in 73.5%, segmentectomy in 7.4%, lobectomy in 17.9% and pneumonectomy in 1.2% of cases. The median durations of hospital stay and of drainage were 4 days (IQR 3-7) and 1 day (IQR 1-2), respectively. During the follow-up (median 31 months; IQR 15-58), 93 patients (57.4%) presented recurrences and repeated PM could be realized in 35 patients (21.6%) achieved by VATS in 77.1%. Non-colorectal tumour (HR 1.84), age < 70 years (HR 1.77) and previous extra-thoracic metastases (HR 1.61) were identified as prognostic factors of recurrence. Overall survival at 5-year was estimated at 67%. Non-colorectal tumour (HR 2.40) and mediastinal lymph nodes involvement (HR 3.42) were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high recurrence rates after PM, surgical resection shows low morbidity rate and acceptable long-term survival, thus should remain the standard treatment for single pulmonary metastases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Local Ethics Committee approved the study (No. 2019-02,474) and individual consent was waived.

Early discharge after thoracoscopic anatomical pulmonary resection for non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Although video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has shortened hospitalization duration for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, the factors associated with early discharge remain unclear. This study aimed to identify patients eligible for a 72-h stay after VATS anatomical resection. METHODS: Monocentric retrospective study including all consecutive patients undergoing VATS anatomical resection for NSCLC between February 2010 and December 2019. Two groups were defined according to the discharge: 'early discharge' (within 72 postoperative hours) and 'routine discharge' (at >72 postoperative hours). RESULTS: A total of 660 patients with a median age of 66.5 years (interquartile range 60-73 years) (female/male: 321/339) underwent VATS anatomical pulmonary resection for NSCLC [segmentectomy in 169 (25.6%), lobectomy in 481 (72.9%), bilobectomy in 8 (1.2%) and pneumonectomy in 2 (0.3%) patients]. The cardiopulmonary and Clavien-Dindo III-IV postoperative complication rates were 32.6% and 7.7%, respectively. The median postoperative length of stay was 6 days (interquartile range 4-10 days). In total, 119 patients (18%) could be discharged within 72 h of surgery. On multivariable analysis, the factors significantly associated with an increased likelihood of early discharge were: body mass index >20 kg/m2 [odds ratio (OR) 2.37], absence of prior cardiopathy (OR 2), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide >60% (OR 1.82), inclusion in an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol (OR 2.23), use of a single chest tube (OR 5.73) and postoperative transfer to the ward (OR 4.84). Factors significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of early discharge were: age >60 years (OR 0.53), American Society of Anaesthesiologists score >2 (OR 0.46) and use of an epidural catheter (OR 0.41). Readmission rates were not statistically different between both groups (5.9% vs 3.1%; P = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Age, pulmonary functions and comorbidities may influence discharge after VATS anatomical resection. The early discharge does not increase readmission rates.

Short-term local control after VATS segmentectomy and lobectomy for solid NSCLC of less than 2 cm.

INTRODUCTION: VATS pulmonary segmentectomy is increasingly proposed as a parenchyma-sparing resection for tumors smaller than 2 cm in diameter. The aim of this study was to compare short-term oncological results and local control in solid non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) <2 cm surgically treated by intentional VATS segmentectomy or lobectomy. METHODS: This study was a single center retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing VATS lobectomy (VL) or segmentectomy (VS) for solid <2 cm NSCLC from January 2014 to October 2019. Results In total, 188 patients with a median age of 65 years (male/female: 99/89) underwent VS (n = 96) or VL (n = 92). Segmentectomies in the upper lobes were performed in 57% and as a single segment in 55% of cases. There was no statistically significant difference between VS and VL in terms of demographics, comorbidities, postoperative outcomes, dissected lymph node stations (2.89 ± 0.95 vs. 2.93 ± 1, P = 0.58), rate of pN1 (2.2% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.96) or pN2 upstaging (1.09% vs. 1.06%, P = 0.98). Adjuvant chemotherapy was given in 15% of patients in the VL and 11% in the VS group. During follow-up (median: 23 months), no patients presented with local nodal recurrence or on the stapler line (VS group). Three patients on VL and two in VS groups presented with recurrence on the remnant operated lung. New primary pulmonary tumors were diagnosed in 3.3% and 6.3% of patients in the VL and VS groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short follow-up, our preliminary data shows that local control is comparable for VATS lobectomy and VATS segmentectomy for patients with NSCLC <2 cm.

Is repeated pulmonary metastasectomy justified?

Recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is frequent, but it is unclear to whom repeated pulmonary metastasectomy (RPM) offers highest benefits. Retrospective analysis of oncological and post-operative outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent PM from 2003 to 2018. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free interval (DFI) were calculated. Cox regression was used to identify variables influencing OS and DFI. In total, 264 patients (female/male: 114/150; median age: 62 years) underwent PM for colorectal cancer (32%), sarcoma (19%), melanoma (16%) and other primary tumors (33%). Pulmonary metastasectomy was approached by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 73% and pulmonary resection was realized by non-anatomical resection in 76% of cases. The overall median follow-up time was 33 months (IQR 16-56 months) and overall 5-year survival rate was 62%. Local or distant recurrences were observed in 172 patients (65%) and RPM could be performed in 66 patients (25%) for a total of 116 procedures. RPM was realized by VATS in 49% and pulmonary resection by wedge in 77% of cases. In RPM patients, the 5-year survival rate after first PM was 79%. Post-operative cardio-pulmonary complication rate (13% vs. 12%; p = 0.8) and median length of stay (4 vs. 5 days; p = 0.2) were not statistically different between first PM and RPM. Colorectal cancer (HR 0.56), metachronous metastasis (HR 0.48) and RPM (HR 0.5) were associated with better survival. In conclusion, our results suggest that RPM offers favorable survival rates without increasing post-operative morbidity.

Uniportal VATS laterobasal segmentectomy (S9) of right lower lobe.

Early-stage lung cancer is increasingly being managed by sublobar resection, which offers equivalent oncological results to lobectomy for lesions of less than 2 cm. However, isolated resection of the laterobasal segment (S9) is a difficult procedure and has rarely been reported via a uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) approach. The two key challenges are, first, the segmental arterial supply is deeply located in the lung parenchyma, making the dissection difficult, and second, the cuboidal shape of the lateral basilar segment hampers the identification of the intersegmental plane.

Uniportal ligamentum-based approach to posterolateral segments 9 and 10.

Uniportal VATS posterolateral segmentectomy (S9 and S10) can be an option for treatment of early-stage lung cancer or in cases of central metastases.  Lower lobe segmentectomy is challenging because the pyramidal shape of the basilar segments makes the identification of the intersegmental plane difficult, and the segmental arterial and venous supply is highly variable. Although identifying the segmental arterial branches is easier with a fissure-based technique, the ligamentum-based approach has emerged as a valid and safe alternative in cases of fused fissure.  This video tutorial illustrates the technical aspects of the uniportal VATS ligamentum-based S9+10 segmentectomy of the right lower lobe.

Uniportal VATS fissure-based approach to segments 9 and 10.

Posterolateral bisegmentectomies of the lower lobe (segments 9 and 10) are challenging procedures when performed by uniportal VATS, primarily for the following reasons: first, the cuboidal shape of the basilar segments makes the identification of the intersegmental plane difficult, and second, the segmental arterial and venous supplies are deeply located and highly variable.  The fissure-based dissection, combined with the intersegmental tunneling method, emerges as the safest approach to accomplish accurate identification of the vascular pattern and radical removal of interlobar lymph nodes. The purpose of this video tutorial is to illustrate the technical aspects of the fissure-based uniportal left S9+10 segmentectomy using the intersegmental tunneling method.

First rib resection by VATS for thoracic outlet syndrome.

The goal of surgical treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome is to decompress the thoracic outlet. There is no consensus regarding the surgical approach. Thoracic outlet decompression can be performed by direct open transaxillary, supraclavicular, and infraclavicular procedures, and the decision regarding which to choose can be a difficult one.  Recently, the thoracoscopic approach has become an alternative to the classic open approach. This video tutorial demonstrates first rib resection by VATS for thoracic outlet syndrome and explains the technical aspects of the procedure.