Applying machine learning to construct an association model for lung cancer and environmental hormone high-risk factors and nursing assessment reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: To utilize machine learning techniques to develop an association model linking lung cancer and environmental hormones to enhance the understanding of potential lung cancer risk factors and refine current nursing assessments for lung cancer. DESIGN: This study is exploratory in nature. In Stage 1, data were sourced from a biological database, and machine learning methods, including logistic regression and neural-like networks, were employed to construct an association model. Results indicate significant associations between lung cancer and blood cadmium, urine cadmium, urine cadmium/creatinine, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. In Stage 2, 128 lung adenocarcinoma patients were recruited through convenience sampling, and the model was validated using a questionnaire assessing daily living habits and exposure to environmental hormones. RESULTS: Analysis reveals correlations between the living habits of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and exposure to blood cadmium, urine cadmium, urine cadmium/creatinine, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, diethyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. CONCLUSIONS: According to the World Health Organization's global statistics, lung cancer claims approximately 1.8 million lives annually, with more than 50% of patients having no history of smoking or non-traditional risk factors. Environmental hormones have garnered significant attention in recent years in pathogen exploration. However, current nursing assessments for lung cancer risk have not incorporated environmental hormone-related factors. This study proposes reconstructing existing lung cancer nursing assessments with a comprehensive evaluation of lung cancer risks. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings underscore the importance of future studies advocating for public screening of environmental hormone toxins to increase the sample size and validate the model externally. The developed association model lays the groundwork for advancing cancer risk nursing assessments.

Stented cryopreserved aortic allograft for reconstruction of long-segment post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis.

Tracheobronchial tuberculosis is one of the conditions causing long segment tracheal stenosis and is a clinically challenging scenario. This report describes a successful tracheal reconstruction in a 44-year-old man with long-segment post-tuberculosis tracheobronchial stenosis, utilizing a stented cryopreserved aortic allograft. The procedure was necessitated by the failure of conventional treatments. The stenotic segment was resected and replaced with a cryopreserved aortic allograft, supported by a metallic stent to maintain airway patency. Post-surgery, the patient experienced resolution of dyspnea without major complications. Currently, at 33 months post-operation, the patient enjoys an enhanced quality of life with effective breathing, speaking, swallowing abilities, and has resumed normal daily activities, with regular bronchoscopic follow-ups. This report demonstrates a novel approach for managing challenging tuberculosis-induced long segment airway stenosis.

Effects of high flow nasal cannula following minimally invasive esophagectomy in ICU patients: A prospective pre-post study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Patients with esophageal cancer who undergo minimally invasive esophagectomy are at risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy delivers humidified, warmed positive airway pressure but has not been applied routinely after surgery. Here, we aimed to compare high-flow nasal cannula and conventional oxygen therapy in patients with esophageal cancer during intensive care unit hospitalization 48 h postoperatively. METHODS: In this prospective pre- and post-intervention study, patients with esophageal cancer who underwent elective minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and were extubated in the operation room and admitted to the intensive care unit postoperatively were assigned to receive either high-flow nasal cannula (HFNCO) or standard oxygen (SO) therapy. Participants in the SO group were recruited before January 2020, and those in the HFNCO group were enrolled after January 2020. The primary outcome was the difference in postoperative pulmonary complication incidence. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of desaturation within 48 h, PaO2/FiO2 within 48 h, anastomotic leakage, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, and mortality. RESULTS: The standard oxygen and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen groups comprised 33 and 36 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. In the HFNCO group, postoperative pulmonary complication incidence was significantly reduced (22.2% vs 45.5%) and PaO2/FiO2 was significantly increased. No other between-group differences were observed. CONCLUSION: HFNCO therapy significantly reduced postoperative pulmonary complication incidence after elective MIE in patients with esophageal cancer without increasing the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Application of aortic allograft in trachea transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The use of tracheal implants for tracheal reconstruction remains a challenge in thoracic medicine due to the complex structure of the trachea in mammalian organisms, including smooth muscles, cartilage, mucosa, blood vessels, cilia, and other tissues, and the difficulty in achieving tracheal regeneration using implants from either allografts or synthetic biomaterials. METHODS: This project used the Lee-Sung strain pig, a swine breed local to Taiwan, as the experimental subject. The aorta of the pig was harvested, decellularized to form the scaffold, and transplanted into the trachea of allogeneic pigs together with growth factors. Postoperative physiological function and tissue changes were observed. The postoperative physiological parameters of the LSP were monitored, and they were sacrificed after a certain period to observe the pathological changes in the tracheal epithelial cells and cartilages. RESULTS: Overall, six LSP tracheal transplantations were performed between March 4, 2020, and March 10, 2021. These included aortic patch anastomosis for pig 1 and aortic segmental anastomosis for pigs 2-6. The shortest and longest survival periods were 1 day and 147 days, respectively. Excluding the pig that survived for only 1 day due to a ruptured graft anastomosis, all other subjects survived for over 1 month on average. CONCLUSION: In this study, we grafted a decellularized porcine aorta into a recipient pig with a tracheal defect. We found cryopreservation of the allogeneic aorta transplantation was a feasible and safe method for the management of airway disease, and immunosuppressants were unnecessary during the treatment course.

Uniportal versus multiportal nonintubated thoracoscopic anatomical resection for lung cancer: A propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: No studies have compared between uniportal and multiportal nonintubated thoracoscopic anatomical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to compare short- and long-term postoperative outcomes concerning these two methods. METHODS: Our retrospective dataset comprised patients with NSCLC who underwent uniportal or multiportal nonintubated thoracoscopic anatomical resection between January 2011 and December 2019. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival. Propensity scores were matched according to age, sex, body mass index, pulmonary function, tumor size, cancer stage, and surgical method. RESULTS: In total, 1130 such patients underwent nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and 490 consecutive patients with stage I-III NSCLC underwent nonintubated anatomical resection, including lobectomy and segmentectomy (uniportal, n = 158 [32.3%]; multiportal, n = 331 [67.7%]). The uniportal group had fewer dissected lymph nodes and lymph node stations. In paired group analysis, the uniportal group had shorter operation durations (99.8 vs. 138.2 min; P < 0.001), lower intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates and ICU admission intervals (7.0% vs. 27.8%; P < 0.001), and shorter postoperative hospital stays (4.1 days vs. 5.2 days; P < 0.001). The most common postoperative complication was prolonged air leaks. No surgical mortality was observed. The multiportal group had higher complication rates for grades ≥ II NSCLC; however, this difference was not significant (4.4% vs. 1.3%, respectively; P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Nonintubated uniportal VATS for anatomical resection had better results for some perioperative outcomes than multiportal VATS. Oncological outcomes such as recurrence-free and overall survival remained uncompromised, despite fewer dissected lymph nodes.

Primary Tumor Resection for Stage IV Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Without Progression After First-Line Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Treatment: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: In studies of stage IV epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), <10% of patients underwent surgery; thus, the effect of surgery in these patients remains unclear. We investigated whether primary lung tumor resection could improve the survival of patients with stage IV EGFR-mutant NSCLC without progression after first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients treated with first-line EGFR-TKIs without progression on follow-up imaging. Patients in the surgery group (n = 56) underwent primary tumor resection, followed by TKI maintenance therapy. Patients in the control group (n = 224; matched for age, metastatic status, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) received only TKI maintenance therapy. Local ablative therapy for distant metastasis was allowed in both groups. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. The secondary endpoints were overall survival, failure patterns, and complications/adverse events. RESULTS: The median time from TKI treatment to surgery was 5.1 months. For the surgery and control groups, the median follow-up periods were 34.0 and 38.5 months, respectively, with a median (95% confidence interval) progression-free survival of 29.6 (18.9-40.3) and 13.0 (11.8-14.2) months, respectively (P < 0.001). Progression occurred in 29/56 (51.8%) and 207/224 (92.4%) patients, respectively. The median overall survival in the surgery group was not reached. The rate of surgical complications of grade ≥2 was 12.5%; complications were treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Primary tumor resection is feasible for patients with EGFR-mutant nonprogressed NSCLC during first-line EGFR-TKI treatment and may improve survival better than maintenance EGFR-TKI therapy alone.

Thoracoscopic Wedge Resection Versus Segmentectomy for cT1N0 Lung Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The choice between wedge resection and segmentectomy as a sublobar resection method for patients with cT1N0 lung cancer remains debatable. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes after wedge resection and segmentectomy for patients with cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The study enrolled 1002 consecutive patients with cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma who underwent sublobar resection at the authors' institution between 2011 and 2017. A propensity score-matching analysis was used to compared the clinical outcomes between the wedge resection and segmentectomy groups. RESULTS: Wedge resection was performed for 810 patients (80.8%), and segmentectomy was performed for 192 patients (19.2%). Wedge resection resulted in better perioperative outcomes than segmentectomy. The multivariate analysis showed that the significant risk factors for poor disease-free survival (DFS) were elevated preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels, total tumor diameter greater than 2 cm, and a consolidation-to-tumor (C/T) ratio higher than 50%. After propensity-matching, no differences in overall survival or DFS were noted between the two matched groups. However, subgroup analysis showed that segmentectomy was associated with better DFS than wedge resection (p = 0.039) for the patients with a tumor diameter greater than 2 cm and a C/T ratio higher than 50%. CONCLUSION: Segmentectomy is the appropriate surgical method for sublobar resection in cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma patients with a tumor diameter greater than 2 cm and a C/T ratio higher than 50%. Wedge resection may be a safe and feasible sublobar resection method for patients with a tumor diameter of 2 cm or smaller or a C/T ratio of 50% or lower.

Propensity-Matched Analysis Comparing Survival After Sublobar Resection and Lobectomy for cT1N0 Lung Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The optimal surgical method for cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in clinical outcomes of sublobar resection and lobectomy for cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma patients. METHODS: We included 1035 consecutive patients with cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery at our institute from January 2011 to December 2016. The surgical approach, either sublobar resection or lobectomy, was determined at the discretion of each surgeon. A propensity-matched analysis incorporating total tumor diameter, solid component diameter, consolidation-to-tumor (C/T) ratio, and performance status was used to compare the clinical outcomes of the sublobar resection and lobectomy groups. RESULTS: Sublobar resection and lobectomy were performed for 604 (58.4%; wedge resection/segmentectomy: 470/134) and 431 (41.6%) patients, respectively. Patients in the sublobar resection group had smaller total tumor diameters, smaller solid component diameters, lower C/T ratios, and better performance status. More lymph nodes were dissected in the lobectomy group. Patients in the sublobar resection group had better perioperative outcomes. A multivariable analysis revealed that the solid component diameter and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level are independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. After propensity matching, 284 paired patients in each group were included. No differences in overall survival (OS; p = 0.424) or disease-free survival (DFS; p = 0.296) were noted between the two matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sublobar resection is not inferior to lobectomy regarding both DFS and OS for cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma patients. Sublobar resection may be a feasible surgical method for cT1N0 lung adenocarcinoma.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for thoracic empyema in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic empyema in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis is a challenging situation. The clinical characteristics are rarely reported, and the surgical outcomes remain unclear. We report our experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in these patients during 10-year period of time. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2015, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, bacteriological studies, and thoracoscopic surgical results of 23 empyema patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 67.1 ± 12.9 years. All patients had additional preexisting systemic diseases. The mean duration of hemodialysis was 34.7 ± 25.8 months. The infections causing empyema were pneumonia in 11 (47.8%), blood stream infection in 8 (34.8%), and uremic pleuritis in 4 (17.4%). Among the 22 identified microorganisms, the most common pathogen was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (31.8%). After thoracoscopic surgery, 8 patients (34.8%) required additional procedures for complications, including 2 patients who required repeated thoracoscopy for hemothorax and 6 (26.1%) patients who required open drainage for residual empyema. The mean hospital stay was 62.4 days, and 6 patients (26.1%) died in the hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that maintenance hemodialysis longer than 5 years was a significant factor associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 14.8, 95% confidence interval 1.5-151.6; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: While surgical management of thoracic empyema in uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis is associated with high rates of complication and mortality, thoracoscopic surgery is feasible, especially for patients undergoing hemodialysis for less than 5 years.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy for fetal adenocarcinoma lung cancer with severe pulmonary emphysema: a case report.

Background: Fetal adenocarcinoma is a very rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma. Its incidence ranges from 0.1 to 0.87% among all primary lung neoplasms. Low-grade types tend to appear in the younger generation, and the age ranges from 20 to 50 years with a mean age of around 35 years. Surgical resection is currently the best way to treat fetal adenocarcinoma lung cancer without distant metastasis. Case report: This is a 56-year-old female who underwent low-dose computer tomography (LDCT) screening during the health examination. She used to be a heavy smoker for more than 30 years, and the CT images revealed severe bronchiectasis and emphysema. There is a solitary nodule with a diameter of 18.9 x 17.8mm in the central area of the left upper lobe. We decided to conduct left upper lobe S1~S3 segmentectomy under uniportal VATS. The surgery was successful, and the patient was discharged within one week and recovered well. The final diagnosis was fetal adenocarcinoma, low-grade (pT1cN0Mx, stage IA3). Conclusion: The first case reported as fetal adenocarcinoma lung cancer who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy. We believe it is a safe and feasible procedure for low-grade types fetal adenocarcinoma patient with poor pulmonary function.

Comparison between non-surgical and surgical management of rib fractures in major trauma patients without brain injuries.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the different outcomes between the non-surgical and surgical groups in patients with major trauma without brain injuries. METHODS: This study prospectively collected data from patients with traumatic rib fractures without brain injuries from June 2017 to November 2019. The primary outcomes were the pain score at admission and discharge and the length of hospital stay. We performed multiple regression analysis to compare the outcomes and surgical risk as the severity of chest trauma between both groups. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were enrolled. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between both groups. However, the surgical group had more severe chest trauma than the non-surgical group. After the analysis, the pain score improved significantly in the surgical group. The hospital stay of the surgical group was four days shorter than that of the non-surgical group, and there was severe chest trauma in the surgical group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of rib fractures can reduce pain and hospital stay in major trauma patients.

Quality of life outcomes after surgical intervention in patients with multiple rib fractures: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Optimized conservative treatment of rib fractures has long been practiced, but surgical fixation has not been promising until recently. We aimed to examine and analyze immediate postoperative outcomes and 6-month quality of life after injury in patients with moderately severe traumatic rib fractures. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study between July 2017 and June 2019 at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Seventy-two patients with moderately severe thoracic trauma were enrolled; 38 received conservative treatment and 34 underwent surgical fixation. Quality of life was measured using the 36-item Short Form Survey at; the first 3 days of hospitalization; before discharge; and at 1-, 2-, and 6-month follow-ups (visits 1-5). Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were recorded, and linear regression analysis was conducted using the generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: Among patients with moderately severe thoracic injury (chest Abbreviated Injury Scale score≥ 2), the operative group had more severe injuries and longer intensive care unit and in-hospital stays. However, they had a comparable quality of life 6 months after injury and higher physical component scores in the early postoperative period. Linear regression analysis obtained an equation with several factors positively affecting prediction of the mean physical component score, such as body mass index ≤25, age ≤36 years, fewer ribs requiring fixation, and diabetes mellitus. Mental component score did not show an upward trend, but the Work Quality Index largely determined the predicted mean value of the mental component score. CONCLUSION: Surgical rib fixations hasten recovery in patients with severe thoracic injury (chest Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3) to achieve 6-month quality of life comparable to patients injured less severely (chest Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥2). The ability to resume previous work positively influenced the mental component score; thus, surgical intervention should also aim to help patients regain their social function.

Prognostication and optimal criteria of circumferential margin involvement for esophageal cancer after chemoradiation and esophagectomy.

Purpose: Circumferential radial margin (CRM) involvement by tumor after resection for esophageal cancer has been suggested as a significant prognostic factor. However, the prognostic value of CRM involvement after surgery with neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of and survival outcomes in CRM involvement as defined by the Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for patients with esophageal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant CCRT and esophagectomy. Methods: A total of 299 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant CCRT followed by esophagectomy between 2006 and 2016 were enrolled in our study. The CRM status of the specimens obtained was determined pathologically according to both the CAP and RCP criteria. Survival analyses were performed and compared according to the two criteria. Results: Positive CRM was found in 102 (34.1%) and 40 (13.3%) patients according to RCP and CAP criteria, respectively. The overall and progression-free survival rates were significantly lower in the CRM-positive group than in the CRM-negative group according to both the RCP and CAP criteria. However, under multivariate analysis, in addition to pathological T and N staging of the tumor, only CAP-defined CRM positivity was a significant prognostic factor with adjusted hazard ratios of 2.64 (1.56-4.46) and 2.25 (1.34-3.78) for overall and progression-free survival, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In patients with esophageal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy, CAP-defined CRM positivity is an independent predictor of survival. Adjuvant therapy should be offered to patients with positive CRM.

Non-Intubated Versus Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older: A Propensity Matching Study.

Introduction: In most developed countries, lung cancer is associated with the highest mortality rate among all cancers. The number of elderly patients with lung cancer is increasing, reflecting the global increase in aging population. Patients with impaired lung or cardiac function are at a high risk during intubated general anesthesia, which may preclude them from surgical lung cancer treatment. We evaluated the safety and survival of non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) versus those of intubated thoracoscopic surgery for surgical resection for lung cancer in older patients. Methods: Patients aged ≥75 years who underwent non-intubated and intubated VATS resection with pathologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, using a combination of thoracic epidural anesthesia or intercostal nerve block and intra-thoracic vagal block with target-controlled sedation, from January 2011 to December 2019 were included. Ultimately, 79 non-intubated patients were matched to 158 patients based on age, sex, body mass index, family history, comorbidity index, pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second/ forced vital capacity [%]), and disease stage. The endpoints were overall survival and recurrence progression survival. Results: All patients had malignant lung lesions. Data regarding conversion data and the postoperative result were collected. Both groups had comparable preoperative demographic and cancer staging profiles. The anesthetic duration in the non-intubated group was shorter than that in the intubated group, which showed a significantly higher mean number of lymph nodes harvested (intubated vs non-intubated, 8.3 vs. 6.4) and lymph stations dissected (3.0 vs. 2.6). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and postoperative ICU stay were significantly longer in the intubated group. The complication rate was higher and hospital stay were longer in the intubated group, but these differences were not significant (12% vs. 7.6%; p = .07, respectively). Conclusions: In the elderly, non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery provides similar survival results as the intubated approach, although fewer lymph nodes are harvested. Non-intubated surgery may serve as an alternative to intubated general anesthesia in managing lung cancer in carefully selected elderly patients with a high risk of impaired pulmonary and cardiac function.

Previous Extrapulmonary Malignancies Impact Outcomes in Patients With Surgically Resected Lung Cancer.

Background: As the overall survival of patients with cancer continues to improve, the incidence of second primary malignancies seems to be increasing. Previous studies have shown controversial results regarding the survival of patients with primary lung cancer with previous extrapulmonary malignancies. This study aimed to determine the clinical picture and outcomes of this particular subgroup of patients. Materials and Methods: We included 2,408 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer at our institute between January 1, 2011 and December 30, 2017 in this retrospective study. Medical records were extracted and clinicopathological parameters and postoperative prognoses were compared between patients with lung cancer with and without previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Results: There were 200 (8.3%) patients with previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Breast cancer (30.5%), gastrointestinal cancer (17%), and thyroid cancer (9%) were the most common previous extrapulmonary malignancies. Age, sex, a family history of lung cancer, and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels were significantly different between the two groups. Patients with previous breast or thyroid cancer had significantly better overall survival than those without previous malignancies. Conversely, patients with other previous extrapulmonary malignancies had significantly poorer overall survival (p < 0.001). The interval between the two cancer diagnoses did not significantly correlate with clinical outcome. Conclusion: Although overall survival was lower in patients with previous extrapulmonary malignancies, previous breast or thyroid cancer did not increase mortality. Our findings may help surgeons to predict prognosis in this subgroup of patients with primary lung cancer.

Thoracoscopic Surgery Without Drainage Tube Placement for Peripheral Lung Nodules.

BACKGROUND: Although drainage tube placement after thoracoscopic pulmonary resection is considered mandatory, the drainless approach after pulmonary resections may be feasible in selected patients. We aimed to determine whether a drainless approach is safe and associated with shorter hospital stay after thoracoscopic surgery for peripheral lung nodules. METHODS: This single-center, open-label, parallel-group, prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled patients with peripheral lung nodules treated with uniportal thoracoscopic wedge resection. After confirming the absence of air leaks and before closing the wound, patients were allocated to receive or not receive drainage using a chest tube, according to a preestablished randomization sequence provided in sealed envelopes. The primary end point was the length of postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: Of 107 patients who agreed to participate in the study between August 2016 and September 2017, 100 were randomized to the drainage group (n = 50) or drainless group (n = 50) for intention-to-treat analysis. Patients in the drainless group had shorter postoperative hospital stay (mean, 1.2 versus 2.6 days; P < .001), shorter surgery duration (mean, 59.0 versus 73.7 minutes; P = .001), and lower pain on postoperative day 1 (mean, 0.9 versus 1.2 points; P = .011). In the drainless group, residual pneumothorax was noted in 31 patients at 6 hours (62%), in 18 patients at 1 day (36%), and in 1 patient at 10 to 14 days after surgery (2%). Medical costs were also substantially lower in the drainless group. CONCLUSIONS: Uniportal thoracoscopic wedge resection without drainage is feasible and safe for selected patients with peripheral lung nodules.

Prediction of pleural invasion using different imaging tools in non-small cell lung cancer.

Clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is used for planning therapeutic strategies. In particular, pleural invasion is regarded as an indicator for upstaging to T2 or T3 in the current 8th TNM staging system; patients with pleural invasion should be indicated for lobectomy rather than sublobar resection. Therefore, accurate preoperative prediction of pleural invasion is important for surgical planning. In recent years, different radiological investigations for patients with NSCLC have been widely used, and methods for more precise detection have been developed in the current medical imaging studies. Therefore, several radiological investigation tools have been used for the prediction of pleural invasion. In this article, to identify the imaging modalities for accurate prediction of pleural invasion, we reviewed the different methods used for this purpose and discussed their advantages and limitations.

Computed tomography-guided dye localization for deeply situated pulmonary nodules in thoracoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Increased lung cancer screening of asymptomatic adults using low-dose computed tomography (CT) with high-resolution imaging modalities has increased the identification of small and deeply situated pulmonary nodules. This study aimed to evaluate the role of preoperative patient blue vital (PBV) dye localization for an undiagnosed nodule deeply situated in the lung parenchyma followed by minimally invasive lung resection. METHODS: From July 2013 to December 2016, 27 consecutive patients (16 women, median age: 62 years) with small undiagnosed pulmonary nodules at a depth of more than 30 mm underwent preoperative CT-guided PBV dye localization followed by thoracoscopic diagnostic resection of the nodule at National Taiwan University Hospital. The clinical characteristics were collected retrospectively to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure. RESULTS: The median size of pulmonary nodule in preoperative CT images was 11 mm with a median depth of 31.6 mm (range, 30.0-48.6 mm). Of the 27 nodules, 8 were pure ground-glass nodules, 3 were pure solid nodules, and 16 were partially solid nodules. The diagnostic yield of CT-guided dye localization following diagnostic wedge resection was 100%. The final pathological diagnoses were: primary adenocarcinoma of the lung (n=20), adenocarcinoma in situ (n=1), and benign nodules (n=6). Only asymptomatic complications were noted after localization, and the median hospital stay was 3 days [interquartile range (IQR), 3-4 days]. All of 21 patients were cancer-free after a median follow-up of 39.0 months (IQR, 29.5-50.0 months). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that preoperative, percutaneous CT-guided PBV dye localization for undiagnosed nodules at a depth of more than 30 mm could be a safe and feasible procedure. Furthermore, it was considerably advantageous for preserving the lung parenchyma, especially for benign nodules.

Preoperative Dye Localization for Thoracoscopic Lung Surgery: Hybrid Versus Computed Tomography Room.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided dye localization is essential for the surgical treatment of small lung nodules and is mostly performed by radiologists in the CT room. Several studies reported their early experiences of preoperative localization in the hybrid operating room. A comparison between localization in the CT room and hybrid room has not been reported. Therefore, we compared the outcomes of preoperative localization in the hybrid and CT rooms. METHODS: This study included patients who underwent preoperative CT-guided dye localization for thoracoscopic lung tumor surgery in the hybrid operation room (n = 25) and CT room (n = 283) at our institute. Propensity matched analysis, incorporating nodule size, number, and depth, and operation method, was used to compare the short-term outcomes of these two groups. Each patient in the hybrid room group was matched with 2 patients in the CT room group. RESULTS: Localization was successfully performed in 23 patients (92%) and 50 patients (100%) in the hybrid room and CT room groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in demographics between groups. In the hybrid room group, the global time was shorter (192.6 versus 244.1 minutes, p = 0.003), and the localization time was longer (33.1 versus 22.3 minutes, p < 0.001). All lung nodules were successfully resected in both groups, but the hybrid room group had a relatively higher morbidity rate. CONCLUSIONS: The hybrid operating room may be associated with a shorter global time and similar perioperative and postoperative outcomes compared with the CT room. Localization in the hybrid operating room seems an effective alternative method for managing small lung nodules.