A randomised phase II study of extended pleurectomy/decortication preceded or followed by chemotherapy in patients with early-stage pleural mesothelioma: EORTC 1205.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgery in pleural mesothelioma remains controversial. It may be appropriate in highly selected patients as part of a multimodality treatment including chemotherapy. Recent years have seen a shift from extrapleural pleuropneumonectomy toward extended pleurectomy/decortication. The most optimal sequence of surgery and chemotherapy remains unknown. METHODS: EORTC-1205-LCG was a multicentric, noncomparative phase 2 trial, 1:1 randomising between immediate (arm A) and deferred surgery (arm B), followed or preceded by chemotherapy. Eligible patients (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-1) had treatment-naïve, borderline resectable T1-3 N0-1 M0 mesothelioma of any histology. Primary outcome was rate of success at 20 weeks, a composite end-point including 1) successfully completing both treatments within 20 weeks; 2) being alive with no signs of progressive disease; and 3) no residual grade 3-4 toxicity. Secondary end-points were toxicity, overall survival, progression-free survival and process indicators of surgical quality. FINDINGS: 69 patients were included in this trial. 56 (81%) patients completed three cycles of chemotherapy and 58 (84%) patients underwent surgery. Of the 64 patients in the primary analysis, 21 out of 30 patients in arm A (70.0%; 80% CI 56.8-81.0%) and 17 out of 34 patients (50.0%; 80% CI 37.8-62.2%) in arm B reached the statistical end-point for rate of success. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 10.8 (95% CI 8.5-17.2) months and 27.1 (95% CI 22.6-64.3) months in arm A, and 8.0 (95% CI 7.2-21.9) months and 33.8 (95% CI 23.8-44.6) months in arm B. Macroscopic complete resection was obtained in 82.8% of patients. 30- and 90-day mortality were both 1.7%. No new safety signals were found, but treatment-related morbidity was high. INTERPRETATION: EORTC 1205 did not succeed in selecting a preferred sequence of pre- or post-operative chemotherapy. Either procedure is feasible with a low mortality, albeit consistent morbidity. A shared informed decision between surgeon and patient remains essential.

Extended pleurectomy decortication and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for pleural mesothelioma (MARS 2): a phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Extended pleurectomy decortication for complete macroscopic resection for pleural mesothelioma has never been evaluated in a randomised trial. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after extended pleurectomy decortication plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. METHODS: MARS 2 was a phase 3, national, multicentre, open-label, parallel two-group, pragmatic, superiority randomised controlled trial conducted in the UK. The trial took place across 26 hospitals (21 recruiting only, one surgical only, and four recruiting and surgical). Following two cycles of chemotherapy, eligible participants with pleural mesothelioma were randomly assigned (1:1) to surgery and chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone using a secure web-based system. Individuals aged 16 years or older with resectable pleural mesothelioma and adequate organ and lung function were eligible for inclusion. Participants in the chemotherapy only group received two to four further cycles of chemotherapy, and participants in the surgery and chemotherapy group received pleurectomy decortication or extended pleurectomy decortication, followed by two to four further cycles of chemotherapy. It was not possible to mask allocation because the intervention was a major surgical procedure. The primary outcome was overall survival, defined as time from randomisation to death from any cause. Analyses were done on the intention-to-treat population for all outcomes, unless specified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02040272, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between June 19, 2015, and Jan 21, 2021, of 1030 assessed for eligibility, 335 participants were randomly assigned (169 to surgery and chemotherapy, and 166 to chemotherapy alone). 291 (87%) participants were men and 44 (13%) women, and 288 (86%) were diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma. At a median follow-up of 22·4 months (IQR 11·3-30·8), median survival was shorter in the surgery and chemotherapy group (19·3 months [IQR 10·0-33·7]) than in the chemotherapy alone group (24·8 months [IQR 12·6-37·4]), and the difference in restricted mean survival time at 2 years was -1·9 months (95% CI -3·4 to -0·3, p=0·019). There were 318 serious adverse events (grade ≥3) in the surgery group and 169 in the chemotherapy group (incidence rate ratio 3·6 [95% CI 2·3 to 5·5], p<0·0001), with increased incidence of cardiac (30 vs 12; 3·01 [1·13 to 8·02]) and respiratory (84 vs 34; 2·62 [1·58 to 4·33]) disorders, infection (124 vs 53; 2·13 [1·36 to 3·33]), and additional surgical or medical procedures (15 vs eight; 2·41 [1·04 to 5·57]) in the surgery group. INTERPRETATION: Extended pleurectomy decortication was associated with worse survival to 2 years, and more serious adverse events for individuals with resectable pleural mesothelioma, compared with chemotherapy alone. FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (15/188/31), Cancer Research UK Feasibility Studies Project Grant (A15895).

Anaesthetic and perioperative considerations for extrapleural pneumonectomy and extended pleurectomy/decortication: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and extended pleurectomy/decortication (ePD) are surgical cytoreductive techniques aimed at achieving macroscopic resection in malignant pleural tumours such as pleural mesothelioma, non-mesothelioma pleural malignancies such as thymoma and sarcoma, and rarely for pleural tuberculosis, in a more limited fashion. Despite extensive studies on both surgical techniques and consequences, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding how best to approach the perioperative anaesthesia challenges for EPP and ePD.It is unknown if the risk stratification processes for such surgeries are standardised or what types of functional and dynamic cardiac and pulmonary tests are employed preoperatively to assist in the perioperative risk stratification. Further, it is unknown whether the types of anaesthesia and analgesia techniques employed, and the types of haemodynamic monitoring tools used, impact on outcomes. It is also unknown whether individualised haemodynamic protocols are used to guide the rational use of fluids, vasoactive drugs and inotropes.Finally, there is a dearth of evidence regarding how best to monitor these patients postoperatively or what the most effective enhanced recovery protocols are to best mitigate postoperative complications and accelerate hospital discharge. To increase our knowledge of the perioperative and anaesthetic treatment for patients undergoing EPP/ePD, this scoping review attempts to synthesise the literature and identify these knowledge gaps. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review Protocols methodology. Electronic databases, OVID Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, will be systematically searched for relevant literature corresponding to EPP or ePD and perioperative or anaesthetic management. Data will be analysed and summarised descriptively and organised according to the three perioperative stages: preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors in clinical care. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required. The findings will be disseminated through professional networks, conference presentations and publications in scientific journals.

Aerostasis to limit air leak following extended pleurectomy-decortication.

Extended pleurectomy-decortication is a cytoreductive surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Prolonged air leak remains a major postoperative challenge, lengthening hospital stay and increasing morbidity. In this video report, we present a stepwise approach for visceral decortication and introduce the concept of aerostasis by construction of an artificial neopleura. Our results suggest that improved aerostasis results in shortened air leak duration.

Pathological Pleural Invasion is a Risk Factor for Late Recurrence in Long-Term Survivors of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer after Complete Resection.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding late recurrence after pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for late recurrence after surgery for NSCLC in the current era. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent complete resection for pathological I-III NSCLC between 2006 and 2015. Late recurrence was defined as a recurrence that met the following conditions: (1) the patient underwent chest computed tomography (CT) at or after 54 months after surgery and recurrence was not detected at that time, and (2) recurrence that occurred more than 5 years after surgery. The factors influencing late recurrence, relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) after surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1275 with 5-year relapse-free survival after surgery were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 66.4 years and 54% of the patients were men. The median interval between surgery and the latest follow-up examination was 98 months. In total, 35 patients (2.7%) experienced late recurrence and 138 patients have died thus far. The cumulative recurrence, RFS, and OS rates at 10 years were 3.9%, 84.9%, and 86.3%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that pleural invasion was an independent risk factor for late recurrence. Pleural invasion was a poor prognostic factor for both RFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural invasion was a predictor of late recurrence. Age > 67 years, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) > 5 ng/ml, non-adenocarcinoma, and pleural invasion were poor prognostic factors for RFS.

Modern view on the problem of acute pleural empyema surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: data study on the results of treatment of acute non-specific purulent-destructive pleura diseases with the purpose of further improvement of its results on the basis of improvement of diagnostics, identification of factors of disease prognosis and by implementing differential tactics of surgical treatment with the use of minimally invasive interventions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: We have studied modern literary sources on the topic of current trends in the treatment of acute pleural empyema and its complications. The studied material is summarized and presented in the form of a literature review in this article. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: These issues cannot be considered to be completely solved and require further study. Everything mentioned above dictates the search of new effective methods of the treatment of the mentioned pathology and proves the relevance of the theme. The outlined information highlights the necessity of improvement of surgical tactics in patients with pleural empyema.

The Prognostic Role of the Number of Involved Structures in Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Results from the ESTS Database.

BACKGROUND: The role of the number of involved structures (NIS) in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) has been investigated for inclusion in future staging systems, but large cohort results still are missing. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic role of NIS for patients included in the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) thymic database who underwent surgical resection. METHODS: Clinical and pathologic data of patients from the ESTS thymic database who underwent surgery for TET from January 2000 to July 2019 with infiltration of surrounding structures were reviewed and analyzed. Patients' clinical data, tumor characteristics, and NIS were collected and correlated with CSS using Kaplan-Meier curves. The log-rank test was used to assess differences between subgroups. A multivariable model was built using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The final analysis was performed on 303 patients. Histology showed thymoma for 216 patients (71.3%) and NET/thymic carcinoma [TC]) for 87 patients (28.7%). The most frequently infiltrated structures were the pleura (198 cases, 65.3%) and the pericardium in (185 cases, 61.1%), whereas lung was involved in 96 cases (31.7%), great vessels in 74 cases (24.4%), and the phrenic nerve in 31 cases (10.2%). Multiple structures (range, 2-7) were involved in 183 cases (60.4%). Recurrence resulted in the death of 46 patients. The CSS mortality rate was 89% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. In the univariable analysis, the favorable prognostic factors were neoadjuvant therapy, Masaoka stage 3, absence of metastases, absence of myasthenia gravis, complete resection, thymoma histology, and no more than two NIS. Patients with more than two NIS presented with a significantly worse CSS than patients with no more than two NIS (CSS 5- and 10-year rates: 9.5% and 83.5% vs 93.2% and 91.2%, respectively; p = 0.04). The negative independent prognostic factors confirmed by the multivariable analysis were incomplete resection (hazard ratio [HR] 2.543; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.010-6.407; p = 0.048) and more than two NIS (HR 1.395; 95% CI 1.021-1.905; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that more than two involved structures are a negative independent prognostic factor in infiltrative thymic epithelial tumors that could be used for prognostic stratification.

Occult solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura presenting as recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.

A woman in her 30s, non-smoker, presented at the emergency department two times because of spontaneous pneumothorax. The first episode was treated with small bore catheter drainage, while during the second episode-occurring only 1 week later-thoracoscopic talcage was attempted. The postoperative course was characterised by slow clinical and radiological resolution, and recurrence 3 days after discharge. Eventually, multiportal video-assisted thoracoscopic exploration identified an interfissural solid mass. Resection and further work-up revealed the diagnosis of 'low-risk' solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) stage pT1N0M0. The interdisciplinary tumour board advised no adjuvant therapy. A CT thorax was scheduled in 1 year for follow-up. The patient was discharged without complications and has had no recurrences of pneumothorax at 6 months of follow-up. This report shows that SFT can easily be missed on initial presentation and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pneumothorax, especially when frequently recurring.

Defining Optimal Settings for Lung Cryobiopsy in End-Stage Pulmonary Disease. A Human, Ex Vivo, Diseased Lung Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate optimal settings of probe size, freezing time, and distance to the pleura that influence the size and quality of biopsy specimens during transbronchial lung cryobiopsies in ESPD. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 17 patients undergoing lung transplantation. We created a nonperfused ex vivo bronchoscopy setting to perform multiple cryobiopsies with different probe sizes (1.7, 1.9, and 2.4 mm), freezing times (3, 5, 7, 10, 20, 30 seconds), and probe distance from pleura (5, 10, and 20 mm). Alveolated pulmonary parenchyma area≥50% in histology was considered a good quality biopsy, with a minimum procedural artifact. We used logistic regression to identify independent parameters as risk factors for histologic adequacy. RESULTS: A total of 545 cryobiopsies were obtained from 34 explanted lungs after pneumonectomy for lung transplantation. The mean maximum diameter of the specimen achieved with the 1.7 probe was larger (13.5 mm) than those obtained with 1.9 and 2.4 mm probes (11.3 and 10.7 mm, P= 0.07). More pleural macroscopic damage and pleural tissue in histology occurred with the 2.4 mm probe ( P <0.001). There was no difference in the quality of specimens between the different freezing times and the distance from the pleura. CONCLUSIONS: Freezing time and distance from the pleura did not affect the histologic quality for diagnosing ESPD in severely damaged lungs. Smaller cryoprobe size did not negatively affect sample adequacy.

A Rare Presentation of Minimally Invasive Mesothelioma as a Large Tension Pneumothorax.

Development of mesothelioma is associated with asbestos exposure. Common presentations are with pleural-based plaques invading the chest wall and/or pleural effusion on chest imaging. The intent of this case report is to describe a rare presentation of mesothelioma, which presented atypically as a large tension pneumothorax. A 93-year-old male presented with a history of dyspnea that started after a coughing episode. On physical examination he was hemodynamically stable, but was hypoxic requiring 2L of supplemental oxygen. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a large right tension pneumothorax. A chest tube was placed and connected to suction (-20cmH20), but he continued to have an unresolving air leak over the following 2-week period. Upon video-assisted thoracotomy there were no blebs or adhesions seen. Right apical wedge resection and talc pleurodesis were performed. Pathologic examination revealed an atypical mesothelial cell proliferation with minimal, focal invasion into the pulmonary parenchyma. Tumor spread along the visceral pleura was thought to be the underlying cause of the pneumothorax. The surgical margins were uninvolved by the tumor, and the patient was later discharged home in stable condition. This was a rare presentation of what could best be described as minimally invasive mesothelioma arising in a background of probable mesothelioma in situ, which presented atypically as a large tension pneumothorax. This case highlighted the importance of establishing a pathologic diagnosis from pleural effusion cytology and/or pleural biopsy in persons presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax, and the difficulty in confirming a pathologic diagnosis of early mesothelial neoplasia.

A Novel Method for Thoracoscopic Overlap Esophagogastric Reconstruction With Pleural Closure following Minimally Invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy for Esophagogastric Junction Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis following minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy is a technically demanding surgical technique that can result in serious intrathoracic infections when anastomotic leakage occurs. Herein, we report a novel side-overlap esophagogastric anastomosis with pleural closure for esophagogastric junction cancer. METHODS: The 3 key points of our novel technique were the following: (1) overlap esophagogastric anastomosis and closure of the entry hole were all performed using a linear stapler; (2) the pleura was closed to separate the anastomotic site from the thoracic cavity; and (3) the mediastinal drain was inserted transhiatally from the abdominal cavity. RESULTS: This modified anastomosis procedure was performed on 8 consecutive patients at our institution. The median overall/thoracoscopic operating time and estimated blood loss were 652.5/241.5 min and 89 mL, respectively. No mortality or serious postoperative complications occurred, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 22 days (range, 17 to 37 d). CONCLUSION: This novel thoracoscopic overlap esophagogastric reconstruction procedure with pleural closure is safe and feasible.

Uniportal thoracoscopic bullectomy with improved parietal pleurectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

INTRODUCTION: Parietal pleurectomy with bullectomy has been established as an effective method for preventing the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Our center introduced enhanced technical measures in uniportal thoracoscopic parietal pleurectomy with bullectomy for patients with PSP, aiming to document our initial experience and assess the procedure's effectiveness in preventing the recurrence of PSP. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical data of 86 patients with PSP who underwent the improved uniportal thoracoscopic parietal pleurectomy with bullectomy between July 2019 and August 2022. During the procedure, the parietal pleura above the second intercostal space was stripped but not removed. Instead, it was retained in the thoracic cavity using a piece of pedunculated pleura. Subsequently, the stumps of the lung were covered by the preserved parietal pleura. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the mean operative time was 59.87 ± 16.93 min, and the postoperative drainage duration averaged 3.94 ± 2.17 days. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 24.33 ± 48.91 ml, and the mean postoperative drainage volume was 289.00 ± 170.03 ml. Prolonged air leakage for more than 5 days was observed in five patients (5.81%), but no other postoperative complications were recorded. During the follow-up, one patient (1.16%) experienced a recurrence of pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: The perioperative results of bullectomy with the improved pleurectomy technique are deemed satisfactory. The various technical steps attempted at our center are found to be feasible and safe, and they may contribute to reducing the rates of recurrence in PSP.

Anesthetic management of thoracotomy for massive intrathoracic solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a case report.

BACKGROUNDS: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare thoracic tumor and usually asymptomatic. Massive SFTP may affect adjacent organs and tissues including pulmonary vasculature, bronchus and heart. A thoracotomy for massive SFTP is necessary in severe case. Therefore, it is important for anesthesiologists to understand the condition of patients with massive SFTP and develop an appropriate anesthetic management strategy. A 76-year-old woman with massive SFTP presented to our clinical center and was evaluated as requiring thoracotomy. She received multidisciplinary cooperation treatment from the radiology, cardiac, thoracic surgery and anesthetic teams. The perioperative management of anesthesiologists played a crucial role in the great prognosis of this woman. CONCLUSIONS: This case report demonstrates the importance of comprehensive and meticulous perioperative management and provides guidance to the multidisciplinary team on the potential risk and the rational treatment strategy of patients with massive SFTP during the perioperative period.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pleural adhesion in human: evidence from redo surgery.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduced pleural adhesion in animal studies, but its effect on human had not been studied. A retrospective study was carried out for patients with solitary pulmonary nodules without a pre-operative tissue diagnosis positive for malignancy. The impact of the use of NSAIDs after stage one wedge resection was assessed by the degree of pleural adhesions encountered during second-stage, redo completion lobectomy. From April 2016 to March 2022, 50 consecutive patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included, and 44 patients were selected for analysis after exclusion (Treatment group with NSAID: N = 27; Control group without NSAID: N = 17). The preoperative characteristics and the final tumor pathologies were similar between the groups. The use of NSAID was significantly associated with lower risk of severe pleural adhesions and complete pleural symphysis (risk difference = -29%, p = 0.03). After controlling the effect of tumor size and chest drain duration, only the use of NSAID was statistically associated with the lowered risk of severe pleural adhesions and complete pleural symphysis. No statistically significant effects of NSAID on operative time (p = 0.86), blood loss (p = 0.72), and post-operative length of stay (p = 0.72) were demonstrated. In human, NSAIDs attenuated the formation of pleural adhesions after pleural disruptions. Physicians and surgeons should avoid the use of NSAIDs when pleural adhesion formation is the intended treatment outcome.

Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided Mid-Point Transverse Process to Pleura Block for Perioperative Analgesia in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Mid-point transverse process to pleura (MTP) block is a new regional analgesia technique. This study aimed to assess the perioperative analgesic effects of MTP block in children undergoing open-heart surgery. DESIGN: A single-center, randomized, double-blinded, controlled, superiority study. SETTING: At a University Children's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-two patients aged 2 to 10 years who underwent open-heart surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either bilateral MTP block or no block (control). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was fentanyl consumption in the first postoperative 24 hours. The secondary outcomes were intraoperative fentanyl consumption, modified objective pain score (MOPS) measured at 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours after extubation, and the duration of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The mean (SD) postoperative fentanyl consumption (µg/kg) in the first 24 hours was significantly reduced in the MTP block group (4.4 ± 1.2) compared to the control group (6.0 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). The mean (SD) intraoperative fentanyl requirement (µg/ kg) was significantly reduced in the MTP block group (9.1 ± 1.9) compared to the control group (13.0 ± 2.1, p < 0.001). The MOPS was significantly reduced in the MTP block group compared to the control group at 1, 4, 8, and 16 hours after extubation but was comparable in both groups at 24 hours. The mean (SD) duration of ICU stay (hours) was significantly reduced in the MTP block group (25.0 ± 2.9) compared to the control group (30.7 ± 4.2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Single-shot bilateral ultrasound-guided MTP block in children undergoing cardiac surgery reduced the mean fentanyl consumption in the first postoperative 24 hours, intraoperative fentanyl requirements, pain score at rest, time to extubation, and duration of ICU stay.

A novel approach to the lung apex avoiding dissection of severe pleural adhesions.

A 70-year-old man was incidentally diagnosed with left pneumothorax. Primary surgery via the caudal thoracic cavity found severe pleural adhesions causing narrowing of the tunnel leading to the lung apex. The point of air leakage was located at the lung apex beyond the tunnel. To stop the air leakage, fibrin glue was injected to the apex via the tunnel; however, leakage reoccurred postoperatively. Considering the lung injury, a novel approach for lung apex without adhesion dissection was chosen for secondary surgery. An axillary skin incision was made at the 2nd intercostal space, and extrapleural dissection proceeded toward the apex. After the pleural space was confirmed by the movement of pleural effusion, the parietal pleura was incised, and a bulla was exposed and resected. The presented procedure to reach the apex of the lung without adhesion dissection could be an option in cases with dense and extensive pleural adhesions.

13019Tension pyopneumothorax caused by Parvimonas micra: a case report.

Tension pyopneumothorax is a rare and life-threatening complication of pneumonia, lung abscess, and empyema, and immediate thoracic drainage or surgery is required. A 70-year-old man presented to another hospital 2 weeks after exacerbation of dyspnea and anorexia. Chest X-ray imaging revealed leftward deviation of the mediastinum, pleural effusion, and collapse of the right lung. The patient was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment. He underwent chest drainage immediately after the transfer. The patient's blood pressure was elevated after drainage. Chest X-ray imaging showed improvement in the mediastinal deviation, but expansion failure of the lung occurred. Debridement and parietal and visceral decortications were performed under thoracotomy. The thoracic cavity was irrigated using a pulse lavage irrigation system with 12,000 mL of saline. The patient underwent fibrinolytic therapy with intrathoracic urokinase postoperatively because of persistent high inflammatory marker levels and multilocular pleural effusion. Parvimonas micra was detected in the preoperative pleural fluid culture. He was discharged on postoperative day 22 and followed up as an outpatient afterwards. Two years have passed since the surgery, and there has been no recurrence of empyema. Decortication of the parietal and visceral pleura and irrigation using a pulse lavage irrigation system were effective.

Pleural abrasion versus apical pleurectomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical approach is the most effective treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The two most widely adopted surgical methods are mechanical abrasion and apical pleurectomy, in addition to bullectomy. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine which technique is superior in treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies published between January 2000 to September 2022 comparing mechanical abrasion and apical pleurectomy for treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The primary outcome was pneumothorax recurrence. Secondary outcomes included post-operative chest tube duration, hospital length of stay, operative time and intra-operative of blood loss. RESULTS: Eight studies were eligible for inclusion involving 1,613 patients. There was no difference in the rate of pneumothorax recurrence between pleural abrasion and pleurectomy (RR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.92). However, pleural abrasion led to shorter hospital length of stay (MD: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.00), post-operative chest tube duration (MD: -0.30; 95% CI: -0.56 to -0.03), operative time (MD: -13.00; 95% CI -15.07 to 10.92) and less surgical blood loss (MD: -17.77; 95% CI: -24.36 to -11.18). CONCLUSION: Pleural abrasion leads to less perioperative patient burden and shorter hospital length of stay without compromising the rate of pneumothorax recurrence when compared to pleurectomy. Thus, pleural abrasion is a reasonable first choice surgical procedure for management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

[Pulmonary Nodule Localization by Pleural Marking Using Virtual Thoracoscopic Imaging].

Percutaneous or transbronchial markings are performed to localize pulmonary nodules preoperatively. We present a novel intraoperative procedure that utilizes virtual thoracoscopic imaging-assisted pleural marking. In this procedure, a virtual thoracoscopic image is created preoperatively, and the coordinates of the pleural point above the tumor are determined. The pleural marker is intraoperatively placed on the coordinates, and dye is transferred to the visceral pleura with two lung ventilations. We present the specific procedures and countermeasures for cases when nodules are not palpable. Additionally, we present a comparison between the various methods of preoperative marking and this method.