Is chest tube capnography effective in differentiating between true and false air leaks after minimally invasive thoracic surgery?

OBJECTIVE: Air leak (AL) is the most frequent adverse event after thoracic surgery. When AL occurs, the concentration of the principal gas in the pleural space should be similar to that of air exhaled. Accordingly, we tried to develop a new method to identify AL by analyzing pCO2 levels in the air flow from the chest drainage using capnography. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of 104 patients who underwent VATS surgery between January 2020 and July 2021. Digital drainage systems were used to detect AL. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (79%) had lung resection. Among them, 19 had post-operative day 1 air leaks (median 67 ml/min). AL patients had higher intrapleural CO2 levels (median 24 mmHg) (p < 0.001). Median chest drainage duration was 2 days (range 1.0-3.0). Univariable logistic regression showed a linear and significant association between intrapleural CO2 levels and AL risk (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.17-1.36, p < 0.001, C index: 0.94). The Univariable Gamma model demonstrated that an elevation in CO2 levels was linked to AL on POD1 (with an adjusted mean effect of 7.006, 95% CI 1.59-12.41, p = 0.011) and extended duration of drainage placement (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intrapleural CO2 could be an effective tool to assess AL. The linear association between variables allows us to hypothesize the role of CO2 in the identification of AL. Further studies should be performed to identify a CO2 cutoff that will standardize the management of chest drainage.

Comparison of operative and postoperative characteristics and outcomes between thoracoscopic segmentectomy and lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer: a propensity score matching study from the Italian VATS Group Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Only few studies compared the surgical morbidity and mortality of thoracoscopic segmentectomy versus lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer, in particular, by relating the segmental resections with the corresponding anatomical lobes. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 7487 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy (7269) or segmentectomy (218) from January 2014 to July 2019. A propensity score matching approach was used to account for potential confounding factors between the 2 groups. After matching, 349 lobectomies and 208 segmentectomies were included in the analysis. We analysed the operative and postoperative outcomes of video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy compared with video-assisted lobectomy and, in details, the results of segmentectomy with its corresponding lobectomy in a large cohort of patients from the Italian VATS Group Registry. RESULTS: The overall conversion rate to thoracotomy was not statistically different between the groups (27 patients 8% vs 7 patients 3%, P = 0.1). The lobectomy group had a greater number of resected lymph nodes (median 11 vs 8, P = 0.006). No significant differences were detected in 30-day mortality (1.4%, 5 patients vs 0.9%, 2 patients), overall complications (18%, 62 patients vs 14%, 29 patients) and prolonged air leakage (31 patients, 9% vs 12 patients, 6%) between lobectomy and segmentectomy, respectively. No statistical differences were found regarding the median duration of drainage (3.2 days, P = 1) and the overall median length of hospital stay (6.4 days, P = 0.1) between the 2 groups. In the context of segmentectomy versus corresponding lobectomy, the right upper lobectomy compared with right upper segmentectomy showed a higher number of resected lymph nodes (P = 0.027). No statistical differences were reported in terms of conversion rate and postoperative complication and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Segmentectomy could be considered a safe procedure without significant differences compared to thoracoscopic lobectomy in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Left upper lobectomy with pulmonary artery reconstruction after neoadjuvant therapy in re-VATS.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Many studies have demonstrated reduced postoperative pain, hospital stay, and morbidity, while achieving the same oncological results. Indeed, it has become a widespread technique in many countries around the world. VATS can be applied also to challenging surgical procedures, such as plasty of the pulmonary artery, to obtain an oncologically radical resection of the tumor, and in the context of an N2 disease even after a previous operation on the thorax. In this case report, we demonstrate how to  carry out this procedure safely to achieve radical resection of the diseased tissue.

Left lower lobar lung transplant.

A lung transplant is an effective therapeutic option for selected patients with end-stage lung diseases. The shortage of donors is a major limitation for this life-saving therapy, especially in patients with small body sizes or with reduced thoracic cavities, who usually wait longer for grafts with adequate dimensions. Nonanatomic or sublobar graft resections can be sufficient in cases of a small size discrepancy between the donor and the recipient; however, in cases of a greater size mismatch, lobar reduction is mandatory but, because of the associated technical difficulties, only a few centers have adopted this procedure as part of their routine clinical practice. We describe a left upper lobectomy performed at the back table and the subsequent implantation of the left lower lobe in the recipient's chest cavity.

Adult Benign, Non-Iatrogenic Bronchoesophageal Fistulae: Systematic Review and Descriptive Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

BACKGROUND: Adult, benign, non-iatrogenic bronchoesophageal fistula (BEF) is a rare condition, which is occasionally described in single case reports. Therefore, little is known about its possible causes, presentation and management. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature in MEDLINE, PubMed Central and EMBASE databases between 1990 and 2020 was carried out to identify all cases of BEF. The initial database search identified 19,452 articles, of which 183 (251 individual patient cases) were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Main causes of BEF were congenital malformations (97/251, 38.7%) and infections (82/251, 32.7%), while 33/251 (13.1%) fistulae were regarded as idiopathic and 39/251 (15.5%) attributed to other causes. Esophagograpy was the most sensitive method of diagnosis (97.4%) compared with esophagoscopy (78.9%), computed tomography (49.6%) and bronchoscopy (46.0%). Definitive treatment was surgical for 176 patients (70%), endoscopic for 25 (10%) and medical for 37 (14.7%). Compared with congenital BEFs, infective BEFs had shorter median symptom duration and were distributed more proximally over the bronchial tree. Definitive treatment was almost only surgical for congenital BEFs, while infective BEFs were treated also endoscopically (12%) and by medical therapy (38%). Morbidity, treatment failure and recurrence rates were higher for infective BEFs. CONCLUSIONS: BEFs are rare. Symptoms are non-specific and a high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis. Patients with infective BEF tend to have a more severe clinical picture than those with congenital BEF. Surgery is the main treatment for patients affected by congenital BEF, while infective BEFs may heal conservatively.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in lung transplantation: Indications, techniques and results.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the field of lung transplantation has rapidly expanded over the past 30 years. It has become an important tool in an increasing number of specialized centers as a bridge to transplantation and in the intra-operative and/or post-operative setting. ECMO is an extremely versatile tool in the field of lung transplantation as it can be used and adapted in different configurations with several potential cannulation sites according to the specific need of the recipient. For example, patients who need to be bridged to lung transplantation often have hypercapnic respiratory failure that may preferably benefit from veno-venous (VV) ECMO or peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO in the case of hemodynamic instability. Moreover, in an intra-operative setting, VV ECMO can be maintained or switched to a VA ECMO. The routine use of intra-operative ECMO and its eventual prolongation in the post-operative period has been widely investigated in recent years by several important lung transplantation centers in order to assess the graft function and its potential protective role on primary graft dysfunction and on ischemia-reperfusion injury. This review will assess the current evidence on the role of ECMO in the different phases of lung transplantation, while analyzing different studies on pre, intra- and post-operative utilization of this extracorporeal support.

Total Lung-sparing Surgery for Tracheobronchial Low-grade Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Total lung-sparing tracheobronchial sleeve resections are a step forward in the treatment of low-grade bronchial tumors in which minimal resection margins are required to achieve complete control of the disease. METHODS: This study retrospectively collected data on patients who underwent total lung-sparing procedures for low-grade tracheobronchial tumors at 2 thoracic surgical centers from January 1984 to October 2019. RESULTS: The study included 98 patients, 46 -female (47%) and 52 -male (53%), with a median age of 39 years (range, 7 to 70 years). Thirty-four patients underwent operative endoscopy before surgery (32 had laser treatment, and 2 had endobronchial stenting). The surgical resections were as follows: 9 (9%), tracheal carina; 18 (18%), second carina; 31 (32%), left main bronchi; 25 (26%), right main bronchi; and 15 (15%), intermediate bronchus. The median length of the resected bronchus was 2.2 cm. The median postoperative in-hospital stay was 8 days, and no perioperative mortality was observed. Postoperative complications were recorded in 26-patients (27%). The final histologic classification was as follows: 37 typical carcinoids (38%); 10 atypical carcinoids (10%); 29 adenoid cystic carcinomas (30%); 15 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (15%); 6 inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (6%); and 1 glomic tumor (1%). Twenty-two patients had positive resection margins and underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Three patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma had recurrences (1 local and 2 systemic). After a median follow-up time of 54.5 months (range, 4 to 360 months), the overall actuarial 5-year survival was 97%. CONCLUSIONS: Total lung-sparing tracheobronchial sleeve resection for low-grade malignant disease requires advanced surgical skills, but the hospital morbidity and mortality are very low. This technique is adequate and safe for highly selected patients with low-grade endobronchial malignant diseases, and its use should be encouraged in experienced centers.

Indications and Results of Sternal Allograft Transplantation: Learning From a Worldwide Experience.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the anterior chest wall defect after sternectomy is a challenge for cardiothoracic surgeons. In 2010, the Padua group published the first case of cadaveric sternum transplantation after sternectomy. This multicenter study reports the clinical indications and early and long-term results of sternal chondral allograft transplantation. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter study from 7 academic centers. We collected demographic data, surgical indications, technical details, and early postoperative results. The complications, long-term stability, and tolerance of the allografts were also analyzed. RESULTS: Between January 2008 and December 2019, 58 patients underwent sternectomy followed by reconstruction using cadaveric-cryopreserved sternochondral allografts. Thirty-two patients were male, median age 63.5 years (interquartile range, 50-72 years). Indications for sternectomy were secondary sternal tumors (n = 13), primary sternal tumors (n = 15), and nonneoplastic disease (n = 30). Thirty patients underwent total sternectomy, 16 lower-body sternectomy, and 12 upper-body manubrium resection. The 30-day mortality was 5%; overall morbidity was 31%. Six early reoperations were necessary because of bleeding (n = 1), titanium plate dislocation (n = 1), and resuture of the skin in the lower part of the incision (n = 4). Overall, 5-year survival was 74%. In all the survived patients, the reconstructions were stable and free from mechanical or infective complications. CONCLUSIONS: The main indications for sternal allograft implantation were complex poststernotomy dehiscence followed by primary or secondary tumor involvement of the sternum. The collected results demonstrate that sternochondral allograft transplantation is a safe and effective method in reconstructing the anterior chest wall after sternectomy. Further studies to demonstrate the integration of the bone grafts into the patients' sternal wall will be made.

Video-assisted left lower lobectomy with intrapericardial pulmonary vein isolation.

The thoracoscopic approach to lobectomy is now the gold standard in cases of pulmonary malignancies because it is associated with a significant reduction in both  postoperative hospital stay and pain. Even in cases of complex resection, as in the case reported here, the procedure can be performed safely after careful pre-operative planning.  This video tutorial describes our technique for the intrapericardial isolation of the left inferior pulmonary vein in a patient affected by a left lower lobe metastasis from a colonic carcinoma.  The lesion was retracting the inferior vein to such an extent that an intrapericardial approach was required in order to obtain a radical resection. The operation was carried out using a 3-port technique to allow for safe and unhindered manipulation of the hilar structures and the parenchyma. The pericardial sac was easily opened and the feasibility of the procedure was readily confirmed.  The patient made an uneventful recovery; specifically, we did not record any arrhythmia or hemodynamic instability. She was discharged home on the 4th postoperative day.

VATS right basal segmentectomy for NSCLC in a patient with systemic sclerosis.

In recent decades, the thoracoscopic approach has been accepted as the gold standard to treat early stage non-small-cell lung cancer because it reduces postoperative pain and results in a shorter hospital stay. More recently, several techniques for performing sublobar resection have been reported that achieve a radical resection while sparing as much parenchyma as possible.  This video tutorial illustrates our technique for resecting the basal segments of the right lower lobe in a patient presenting with an adenocarcinoma in the right lower lobe. The patient also had systemic sclerosis, which led to pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis. Therefore, it was important to limit the parenchymal resection to save the apical segment of the lower lobe so as not to exacerbate the underlying conditions. The vascular and bronchial structures are readily identifiable, and the intersegmental plane can be easily accessed by clamping the associated bronchus while inflating the lung.

Human corpse model for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy simulation and training.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive surgery simulation is an integral part of surgical education and skills acquisition. Our goal was to present a new video-assisted thoracic surgery simulation model based on the human corpse as an alternative to animal models. METHODS: Selective cannulation of the cadaver heart was used to fill the pulmonary vessels with a gel to improve the visibility and tactile feedback of the vessels and to simulate any bleeding complications. During surgical simulation, the tutor fills out a questionnaire designed to evaluate the duration of the procedure, the correct completion of the surgical steps and the occurrence of complications. At the end of the simulation session, in order to compare the simulation to clinical practice, all the participants were asked to answer 5 questions using a scale from 1 to 10. RESULTS: We have performed 2 hands-on sessions using 2 human corpses for each session. Each surgeon performed 1 lobectomy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) first as the operator and at least 1 lobectomy as an assistant. The median operative time was 83 min in favour of surgeons who had previously performed more than 30 video-assisted lobectomies (P = 0.03). All the surgeons were able to complete all the steps of the procedure; surgeons who had performed fewer than 10 lobectomies required more support by the tutors than the other surgeons. The median total score was 40.5 (interquartile range 39-44.8). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this model includes most of the features necessary to validate a surgical simulator and allows realistic training for performing a VATS lobectomy. This model could be an effective alternative to anaesthetized animals for VATS lobectomy training and simulation.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy simulation and training with a new human cadaver model.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. The use of surgical models for training and simulation in minimally invasive surgery simulation is an integral part of surgical education and skills acquisition for residents, and also for more experienced surgeons.Live animals  are still the most frequently used realistic surgical models.  In this video tutorial, we demonstrate the use of a new human cadaver model with the aim of replacing the live animal model without compromising the fidelity of the simulation.  To prepare the cadaver, selective cannulation of the heart was performed to fill the pulmonary vessels with a gel used to improve the visibility and tactile feed-back of the vessels, and to simulate any bleeding complications. The complete cadaver was then used for the simulation, with all the same instruments and devices required in normal clinical practice, to demonstrate and practice both surgical and non-surgical skills for VATS lobectomy. In our opinion this model provides most of the features necessary for a valid surgical simulator and allows realistic training for VATS lobectomy. We believe that the cadaver model can be an effective alternative to anesthetized animals for VATS lobectomy training and simulation.

Bronchus intermedius sleeve resection through a VATS approach.

In recent years, parenchymal sparing techniques for tumor resection have been developed in order to reduce the amount of lung parenchyma that must be removed in cases of centrally located tumors. These techniques maintain oncological radicality while reducing postoperative complications. At the same time, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been shown to offer comparable surgical and oncological outcomes to thoracotomy, even in complex cases that require tracheal and bronchial reconstructions. In this video tutorial, we describe a case of an isolated sleeve resection of the bronchus intermedius performed through a VATS approach for a bronchial paraganglioma.

Intraoperative extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal support for minimally invasive surgical treatment of vanishing lung syndrome.

Vanishing lung syndrome is a rare disease that could be treated successfully in selected cases with bullectomy. Protective ventilation is very important during surgery to achieve optimal post-operative results and to prevent complications. Hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis are the main disadvantages of this ventilator strategy. The use of extracorporeal CO2 removal device has been introduced to support protective and ultra-protective ventilation during respiratory failure in complex cases. In thoracic surgery the intraoperative use of this device is still not widespread. We report a successful case of a giant left lung bullectomy with intraoperative support with Pro-Lung CO2 removal device for the management of hypercapnia during single lung ventilation.

Two-port intrapericardial left VATS pneumonectomy.

Pneumonectomy is a surgical treatment for locally advanced lung tumors that deeply infiltrate into the pulmonary hilum, and is a major thoracic procedure. An intrapericardial approach may be necessary in cases where it is  impossible to safely deal with the extrapericardial non-invaded sections of the pulmonary vessels. This article describes our technique for intrapericardial left video-assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in a patient with hilar squamous cell carcinoma. The procedure was performed through a two-incision approach and, because of the involvement of the proximal portion of the pulmonary vessels, an intrapericardial isolation and closure of these structures was performed. Radical lymphadenectomy was performed and a pericardial flap was used for coverage of the bronchial stump. This is a complex and challenging procedure, however the patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 7th postoperative day.

Sternal allograft transplantation for anterior chest wall reconstruction after sternectomy.

The reconstruction of the anterior chest wall after sternectomy for cancer or after mediastinitis is still a challenging procedure for the thoracic surgeon. Different surgical techniques and materials have been used for anterior chest wall reconstruction, but none of them is yet considered to be the gold standard.  In this video tutorial, we report on our experience of using a sternal allograft for reconstruction of the anterior chest wall. Sternal allografts offer the same advantages as bone autografts and obviously are perfectly shaped for sternal replacement. They are simple to trim and to fix to the chest wall and, unlike autografts, do not require the patient to undergo an additional incision and procedure for harvesting the bone.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula repair, due to prolonged mechanical ventilation, in patient with double incomplete aortic arch.

We report a case of the repair of an acquired benign tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) after prolonged mechanical invasive ventilation. Patient had an unknown double incomplete aortic arch determining a vascular ring above trachea and esophagus. External tracheobronchial compression, caused by the vascular ring, increasing the internal tracheoesophageal walls pressure determined by endotracheal and nasogastric tubes favored an early TEF development. The fistula was repaired through an unusual left thoracotomy and vascular ring dissection. TEFs are a heterogeneous group of diseases affecting critically ill patients. Operative closure is necessary to avoid further complications related to this condition. Pre-operative study is mandatory to plan an adequate surgical approach.