Intrathoracic Needle Migration from the Mediastinum into the Thoracic Cavity.

Intrathoracic needles are rarely used in clinical practice. They can migrate within the body, injure large blood vessels and other organs, and cause severe complications. We report an interesting case of intrathoracic needle removal using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The needle was inserted under the left clavicle, penetrated the mediastinum, and migrated into the right thoracic cavity. Although pneumothorax developed during the disease course, no severe complications were observed. This rare case illustrates the course of needle migration from the mediastinum into the thoracic cavity. Prompt imaging and surgical removal of foreign bodies are necessary in cases of intrathoracic foreign bodies.

Advances in Minimally Invasive Procedures of the Thoracic Cavity.

Significant advances in veterinary minimally invasive surgeries and procedures have occurred in the past 10 years. These advances have been allowed due to continual research into optimizing working space through one-lung ventilation techniques and carbon dioxide insufflation. Additionally, minimally invasive surgery enthusiasts have joined forces with interventionalists and, in many cases, physicians to push the boundaries, minimize pain, suffering, and time away from owners with advances in a variety of procedures. Several larger multi-institutional retrospective studies on various disease processes allow veterinarians and owners to understand that minimally invasive approaches allow for outcomes comparable to traditional open surgery and, in some cases, may now be considered the standard of care in canine and feline patients.

Thoracic cavity irrigation prevents retained hemothorax and decreases surgical intervention in trauma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Retained hemothorax (HTX) is a common complication following thoracic trauma. Small studies demonstrate the benefit of thoracic cavity irrigation at the time of tube thoracostomy (TT) for the prevention of retained HTX. We sought to assess the effectiveness of chest irrigation in preventing retained HTX leading to a secondary surgical intervention. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective study from 2017 to 2021 at a Level I trauma center, comparing bedside thoracic cavity irrigation via TT versus no irrigation. Using the trauma registry, patients with traumatic HTX were identified. Exclusion criteria were TT placement at an outside hospital, no TT within 24 hours of admission, thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) prior to or within 6 hours after TT placement, VATS as part of rib fixation or diaphragmatic repair, and death within 96 hours of admission. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 370 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 225 (61%) were irrigated. Patients who were irrigated were more likely to suffer a penetrating injury (41% vs. 30%, p = 0.03) and less likely to have a flail chest (10% vs. 21%, p = 0.01). On bivariate analysis, irrigation was associated with lower rates of VATS (6% vs. 19%, p < 0.001) and retained HTX (10% vs. 21%, p < 0.001). The irrigated cohort had a shorter TT duration (4 vs. 6 days, p < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (7 vs. 9 days, p = 0.04). On multivariable analysis, thoracic cavity irrigation had lower odds of VATS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.54), retained HTX (adjusted odds ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25-0.74), and a shorter TT duration ( ß = -1.58; 95% CI, -2.52 to -0.75). CONCLUSION: Our 5-year experience with thoracic irrigation confirms findings from smaller studies that irrigation prevents retained HTX and decreases the need for surgical intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

[Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Pleura Communicating with Pulmonary Artery and Vein].

A 68-year-old man was noted to have an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a 100 mm mass in the lower right thoracic cavity. The mass was lobulated and compressed the surrounding lung tissue and diaphragm. Contrast-enhanced CT showed that the mass was heterogeneously enhanced and contained expanded blood vessels within it. The expanded vessels communicated with the pulmonary artery and vein via the diaphragmatic surface of the right lung. The mass was diagnosed as a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) by CT-guided lung biopsy. We performed partial resection of the lung including the tumor via right eighth intercostal lateral thoracotomy. Intraoperative examination showed that the tumor was pediculated from the diaphragmatic surface of the right lung. The stem was about 3 cm long and easily cut with a stapler. The tumor was definitively diagnosed as a malignant SFTP. No recurrence was found for 12 months postoperatively.

Rare case of a right Bochdalek hernia with retroperitoneal prolapse of organs into the thoracic cavity in infancy: A case report.

We report an extremely rare case of a right Bochdalek hernia with a sac, in which the retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal organs prolapsed into the thoracic cavity at the same time. The patient was a 7-month-old female with no comorbidities. She presented with cough and fever, and chest radiography revealed a right diaphragmatic hernia. Computed tomography showed that the right kidney, intestine, colon, and liver had prolapsed into the thoracic cavity. The patient underwent thoracoscopic surgery, which showed that the abdominal and retroperitoneal organs prolapsed into the thoracic cavity through the Bochdalek hernia. The herniated organs were spontaneously reduced using thoracoscopic insufflation. The defect hole was closed with artificial mesh. We adopted a thoracoscopic approach, in terms of easy reduction of herniated organs and accurate evaluation of the hernia orifice, which was useful.

Perceptions and Life Experiences of Patients With Wound Healing by Secondary Intention After the Removal of Thoracic Drainage Tube: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of patients with wound healing by secondary intention after the removal of a thoracic drainage tube. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: After removal of the tube, patients who were attending a nursing clinic that provides WOC care to a population of around 1 million people in Suzhou, China, were invited to participate. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of data was performed using Colaizzi's 7-step thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from the interviews, namely, emotional stress response, impaired social function, and increased disease burden. CONCLUSION: Patients with wound healing by secondary intention after the removal of the drainage tube perceived they experienced an emotional stress reaction accompanied by increased psychological and economic burden. They also experienced impaired social function. There is a critical need to develop health education plans for use during the pre- and postoperative periods to reduce emotional, social, and economic consequences associated with delayed wound healing.

Critical appraisal on the impact of preoperative rehabilitation and outcomes after major abdominal and cardiothoracic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in the prehabilitation of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery to improve perioperative outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate and compare the current literature on prehabilitation in major abdominal surgery and cardiothoracic surgery METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for studies reporting prehabilitation in patients undergoing major abdominal and cardiothoracic surgery. Meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes (overall and major complications, pulmonary and cardiac complications, postoperative pneumonia, and length of hospital stay) was performed using random effects models. RESULTS: Five thousand nine hundred and twenty-one patients underwent prehabilitation in 61 studies, of which 35 studies (n = 3,402) were in major abdominal surgery and 26 studies were in cardiothoracic surgery (n = 2,519). Only 45 studies compared the impact of prehabilitation versus no prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes (abdominal, n = 26; cardiothoracic, n = 19). Quality of evidence for prehabilitation in major abdominal and cardiothoracic surgery appear equivalent. Patients receiving prehabilitation for major abdominal surgery have significantly lower rates of overall (n = 10, odds ratio: 0.61, confidence interval 95%: 0.43-0.86, P = .005), pulmonary (n = 15, odds ratio: 0.41, confidence interval 95%: 0.25-0.67, P < .001), and cardiac complications (n = 4, odds ratio: 0.46, confidence interval 95%: 0.22-0.96, P = .044). Sensitivity analysis including randomized controlled trials only did not alter the findings of this study. CONCLUSION: Prehabilitation has the potential to improve surgical outcomes in patients undergoing major abdominal and cardiothoracic surgery. However, current evidence from randomized studies remains weak owing to variation in prehabilitation regimes, limiting the assessment of current postoperative outcomes.

Adequate nephroprotection reduces renal complications after hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITOC) is used for the treatment of malignant pleural tumors. Although HITOC proved to be safe, postoperative renal failure due to nephrotoxicity of intrapleural cisplatin remains a concern. METHODS: This single-center study was performed retrospectively in patients who underwent pleural tumor resection and HITOC between September 2008 and December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients (female n = 33; 39.3%) with malignant pleural tumors underwent surgical cytoreduction with subsequent HITOC (60 minutes; 42°C). During the study period, we gradually increased the dosage of cisplatin (100-150 mg/m2 BSA n = 36; 175 mg/m2 BSA n = 2) and finally added doxorubicin (cisplatin 175 mg/m2 BSA/doxorubicin 65 mg; n = 46). All patients had perioperative fluid balancing. The last 54 (64.3%) patients also received perioperative cytoprotection. Overall 29 patients (34.5%) experienced renal insufficiency. Despite higher cisplatin concentrations, patients with cytoprotection showed significantly lower postoperative serum creatinine levels after 1 week (P = .006) and at discharge (P = .020). Also, they showed less intermediate and severe renal insufficiencies (5.6% vs 13.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate perioperative fluid management and cytoprotection seem to be effective in protecting renal function. This allows the administration of higher intracavitary cisplatin doses without raising the rate of renal insufficiencies.

The role of surgical resection in Unicentric Castleman's disease: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Castleman's disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. The disease occurs in two clinical forms with different prognoses, treatments and symptoms: a unicentric form (UCD), which is solitary, localized, and a multicentric form characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms. This article aims to review the current literature to consolidate the evidence surrounding the curative potential of surgical treatment to the unicentric type. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of English-language literature was performed and databases (Medline, Pubmed, the Cochrane Database and grey literature) were searched to identify articles pertaining to the treatment of unicentric form of Castleman's disease. Each article was critiqued by two authors using a structured appraisal tool, and stratified according to the level of evidence. RESULTS: After application of inclusion criteria, 14 studies were included. There were no prospective randomized control studies identified. One meta-analysis including 278 patients with UCD reported that resective surgery is safe and should be considered the gold standard for treatment. Seven retrospective studies enhance this standpoint. Radiotherapy (RT) has been used in six studies with controversial results. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that surgical resection appears to be the most effective treatment for Unicentric Castleman's Disease of the thoracic cavity. Radiotherapy can also achieve clinical response and cure in selected patients.

Intrathoracic versus cervical anastomosis and predictors of anastomotic leakage after oesophagectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing the anastomotic leak rate in patients with an intrathoracic versus a cervical anastomosis after oesophagectomy are equivocal. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcome after oesophagectomy in patients with an intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis, and to identify predictors of anastomotic leakage in a nationwide audit. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2015, all consecutive patients who underwent oesophagectomy for cancer were identified from the Dutch Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Audit. For the comparison between an intrathoracic and cervical anastomosis, propensity score matching was used to adjust for potential confounders. Multivariable logistic regression modelling with backward stepwise selection was used to determine independent predictors of anastomotic leakage. RESULTS: Some 3348 patients were included. After propensity score matching, 654 patients were included in both the cervical and intrathoracic anastomosis groups. An intrathoracic anastomosis was associated with a lower leak rate than a cervical anastomosis (17·0 versus 21·9 per cent; P = 0·025). The percentage of patients with recurrent nerve paresis was also lower (0·6 versus 7·0 per cent; P < 0·001) and an intrathoracic anastomosis was associated with a shorter median hospital stay (12 versus 14 days; P = 0·001). Multivariable analysis revealed that ASA fitness grade III or higher, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus and proximal oesophageal tumours were independent predictors of anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSION: An intrathoracic oesophagogastric anastomosis was associated with a lower anastomotic leak rate, lower rate of recurrent nerve paresis and a shorter hospital stay. Risk factors for anastomotic leak were co-morbidities and proximal tumours.

Successful combined surgical approach in a rare case of retrotracheal goitre in a patient with anatomical impediments.

Diving goitres can descend the cervical region expanding directly into the thoracic cavity. In most cases, diving goitres extend into the anterosuperior compartment, but they may also extend behind the trachea. We herein present a case of a male patient with retrotracheal goitre and history of left thyroid lobectomy and median sternotomy for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with graft placement. After detailed preoperative evaluation, the patient underwent surgical resection of the mass through a combined approach; the existing cervical incision and a right posterolateral mini-thoracotomy. The postoperative course of the patient was uncomplicated. One year after surgery, the patient is asymptomatic and disease-free. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 166-169).

A comparison of the left thoracoabdominal and Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the oncological outcomes of a large multicenter series of left thoracoabdominal esophagectomies, and compare these to the more widely utilized Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy. With ethics approval and an established study protocol, anonymized data from five centers were merged into a structured database. The study exposure was operative approach (ILE or LTE). The primary outcome measure was time to death. Secondary outcome measures included time to tumor recurrence, positive surgical resection margins, lymph node yield, postoperative death, and hospital length of stay. Cox proportional hazards models provided hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for age, pathological tumor stage, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, and neoadjuvant treatment. Among 1228 patients (598 ILE; 630 LTE), most (86%) had adenocarcinoma (AC) and were male (81%). Comparing ILE and LTE for AC patients, no difference was seen in terms of time to death (HR 0.904 95%CI 0.749-1.1090) or time to recurrence (HR 0.973 95%CI 0.768-1.232). The risk of a positive resection margin was also similar (OR 1.022 95%CI 0.731-1.429). Median lymph node yield did not differ between approaches (LTE 21; ILE 21; P = 0.426). In-hospital mortality was 2.4%, significantly lower in the LTE group (LTE 1.3%; ILE 3.6%; P = 0.004). Median hospital stay was 11 days in the LTE group and 14 days in the ILE group (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this is the largest series of left thoracoabdominal esophagectomies to be submitted for publication and the only one to compare two different transthoracic esophagectomy strategies. It demonstrates oncological equivalence between operative approaches but possible short- term advantages to the left thoracoabdominal esophagectomy.

Robotic paravertebral schwannoma resection at extreme locations of the thoracic cavity.

Solitary paravertebral schwannomas in the thoracic spine and lacking an intraspinal component are uncommon. These benign nerve sheath tumors are typically treated using complete resection with an excellent outcome. Resection of these tumors is achieved by an anterior approach via open thoracotomy or minimally invasive thoracoscopy, by a posterior approach via laminectomy, or by a combination of both approaches. These tumors most commonly occur in the midthoracic region, for which surgical removal is usually straightforward. The authors of this report describe 2 cases of paravertebral schwannoma at extreme locations of the posterior mediastinum, one at the superior sulcus and the other at the inferior sulcus of the thoracic cavity, for which the usual surgical approaches for safe resection can be challenging. The tumors were completely resected with robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. This report suggests that single-stage anterior surgery for this type of tumor in extreme locations is safe and effective with this novel minimally invasive technique.

Use of the surgical Apgar score to enhance Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program surgical risk assessment in veterans undergoing major intra-abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the surgical Apgar score (SAS) may enhance the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) risk assessment for prediction of early postoperative outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated demographics, medical history, procedure, SAS, VASQIP assessment, and postoperative data for patients undergoing major/extensive intra-abdominal surgery at the Manhattan Veterans Affairs between October 2006 and September 2011. End points were overall morbidity and 30-, 60- , and 90-day mortality. Pearson's chi-square, ANOVA, and multivariate regression modeling were employed. RESULTS: Six hundred twenty-nine patients were included. Apgar groups did not differ in age, sex, and race. Low SASs were associated with worse functional status, increased postoperative morbidity, and 30-, 60- , and 90-day mortality rates. SAS did not significantly enhance VASQIP prediction of postoperative outcomes, although a trend was detected. Multivariate analysis confirmed SAS as an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: SAS effectively identifies veterans at high risk for poor postoperative outcome. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate the role of SAS in enhancing VASQIP risk prediction.

Naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage for postoperative anastomotic leak after thoracic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer.

Postoperative anastomotic leaks and subsequent mediastinal abscess are serious complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage after thoracic esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction using a posterior mediastinal route. About 50 of 365 patients (13.7%) with esophageal cancer and postoperative anastomotic leak after curative esophagectomy was investigated. Beginning in June 2009, naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage by inserting a naso-esophageal aspiration tube into the abscess cavity when percutaneous abscess drainage was introduced which was ineffective or technically impossible. Twenty-five patients underwent naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage concomitantly with enteral nutrition. Twenty-one (84%) patients had major leaks, one (4%) minor leak and three (12%) had endoscopically proven conduit necrosis. None of the naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage cases (100%) required reintervention or reoperation and all experienced complete cure (100%) during hospitalization. Endoscopic balloon dilatation was performed for four patients after discharge because of anastomotic stricture. Patients with leaks were divided into two groups: current group (n = 32), treated after June 2009, and preceding group (n = 18), treated prior to the introduction of naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage. Significantly more patients in the preceding group suffered respiratory failure (28% vs. 61%, p = 0.024), and higher reoperation rate (0% vs. 17%, p = 0.042) and hospital mortality (0% vs. 22%, p = 0.013). In the current group, 31 (97%) patients experienced complete cure during hospitalization. Naso-esophageal extraluminal drainage and concomitant enteral nutritional support are less invasive, and effective and powerful methods to treat even major leakage after esophagectomy. These methods may be an alternative management to improve mortality for patients with esophageal cancer.

The experimental validation of free fat grafts in thoracic surgery.

We evaluated the viability of free fat grafts in the thoracic cavity using 3-month old male swine (n = 2). After left caudal lobectomy, 1-3 g of subcutaneous fat tissue harvested via the thoracotomy site was implanted in the chest cavity. At re-thoracotomy 6 weeks after implantation, all of the implanted fat grafts (n = 15) were found to have closely adhered to the parietal pleura and visceral pleura. There was a significant decrease by ∼30% in the weight of the fat grafts after implantation. Regardless of the weight loss, the implanted fat graft showed normal structuring without scar formation in the central area. Our results may suggest that free fat pads, which weighed up to 3 g, were successfully cultured in the thoracic cavity until the implanted tissues integrated into the surrounding tissues. Therefore, the free fat pad can be used as a biomaterial for some purposes in thoracic surgery.

Single-Incision Thoracoabdominal Approach With Normothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass for the Management of Urologic Tumors Invading the Inferior Vena Cava.

Urologic tumors invading the inferior vena cava can be a difficult management problem. They are traditionally dealt with utilizing hypothermic circulatory arrest through central cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass performed through a median sternotomy in addition to the large abdominal incision for the kidney tumor. We describe a single incision approach utilizing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass to address this technical challenge.