Single-incision video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery left-lower lobe anterior segmentectomy (S8).

Unusual anatomical segmentectomies are technically demanding procedures that require a deep knowledge of intralobar anatomy and surgical skill. In the other hand, these procedures preserve more normal lung parenchyma for lesions located in specific anatomical segments, and are indicated for benign lesions, metastasis and also early stage adenocarcinomas without nodal involvement. A 32-year-old woman was diagnosed of a benign pneumocytoma in the anterior segment of the left-lower lobe (S8, LLL), so we performed a single-incision video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SI-VATS) anatomical S8 segmentectomy in 140 minutes under intercostal block. There were no intraoperative neither postoperative complications, the chest tube was removed at 24 hours and the patient discharged at 5th postoperative day with low pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Final pathologic exam reported a benign sclerosant pneumocytoma with free margins. The patient has recovered her normal activities at 3 months completely with radiological normal controls at 1 and 3 months.

Cost and effectiveness of lung lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) emerged as a minimally invasive surgery for diseases in the field of thoracic surgery. We herein reviewed our experience on thoracoscopic lobectomy for early lung cancer and evaluated Health System use. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness study was performed comparing VATS vs. open thoracic surgery (OPEN) for lung cancer patients. Demographic data, tumor localization, dynamic pulmonary function tests [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), diffusion capacity (DLCO) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)], surgical approach, postoperative details, and complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen patients underwent lung resection by VATS (n=42, 36%; age: 63±9 years old, 57% males) or OPEN (n=75, 64%; age: 61±11 years old, 73% males). Pulmonary function tests decreased just after surgery with a parallel increasing tendency during first 12 months. VATS group tended to recover FEV1 and FVC quicker with significantly less clinical and post-surgical complications (31% vs. 53%, P=0.015). Costs including surgery and associated hospital stay, complications and costs in the 12 months after surgery were significantly lower for VATS (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The VATS approach surgery allowed earlier recovery at a lower cost than OPEN with a better cost-effectiveness profile.

Single-incision video-assisted thoracoscopic evaluation and emergent surgery for severe lung and chest wall injury after thoracic trauma in a water park.

Thoracic trauma is a challenging situation with potential severe chest wall and intrathoracic organ injuries. We present a case of emergent surgery in a 23-year-old man with hemorrhagic shock due to massive lung and chest wall injury after thoracic trauma in a water slide. We performed a SI-VATS approach in order to define intrathoracic and chest wall injuries, and once checked the extension of the chest wall injury, we added a middle size thoracotomy just over the affected area in order to stabilize rib fractures with Judet plates, that had caused massive laceration in left lower lobe (LLL) and injured the pericardium causing myocardical tear. After checking bronchial and vascular viability of LLL we suggested a lung parenchyma preserving technique with PTFE protected pulmonary primary suture in order to avoid a lobectomy. Chest tubes were removed on 3rd postoperative day and patient was discharged on 14th postoperative day. He has already recovered his normal activity 6 months after surgery.

Single-incision video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy with handsewn bronchial closure for endobronchial lipoma.

Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors whose symptoms are usually confused with recurrent infections or even asthma diagnosis, and mostly caused by endobronquial obstructive component which also conditions severity. We report a case of a 60-year-old man with a right-lower lobe upper-segment endobronchial myxoid tumor with uncertain diagnosis. We performed a single incision video-assisted anatomical segmentectomy and wedge bronchoplasty with handsewn closure to achieve complete resection and definitive diagnosis. During the postoperative air leak was not observed and there was no complication, with low pain scores and complete recovery. Final pathological exam showed endobronchial lipoma. Single-incision (SI) anatomical segmentectomies are lung-sparing resections for benign or low-grade malignancies with diagnostic and therapeutic value, and the need for a wedge bronchoplasty is not a necessary indication for conversion to multiport or open thoracotomy.

Benchmarking en cirugía torácica. Tercera edición / Benchmarking in Thoracic Surgery. Third Edition

Introducción: Benchmarking hace referencia a la comparación continuada de la eficiencia y la calidad entre productos y actividades con el objetivo fundamental de alcanzar la excelencia. Objetivo: Analizar los resultados del benchmarking realizado en 2013 con la actividad asistencial de Cirugía Torácica en el año 2012 en 17 servicios de Cirugía Torácica españoles participantes. Métodos: La fuente de información para el estudio ha sido el conjunto mínimo básico de datos de hospitalización correspondiente al año 2012. Los datos han sido proporcionados por los centros participantes, a partir de los informes de alta hospitalaria, sin intervención de los responsables de los correspondientes servicios asistenciales. Los casos objeto del estudio han sido todas las altas de hospitalización registradas en los centros participantes. Los episodios incluidos han sido los de enfermedad quirúrgica respiratoria (CDM4-Q) y los del servicio de Cirugía Torácica. La identificación de estos casos se realizó usando los códigos de la novena edición de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, Modificación Clínica. Para valorar las diferencias en gravedad y complejidad de los casos se ha utilizado la clasificación de los grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico refinados. Resultados: Los diversos parámetros generales estudiados (casuística, estancia media, complicaciones, readmisiones, mortalidad y actividad) han tenido una gran variabilidad entre los participantes. El análisis concreto de intervenciones (lobectomía, neumonectomía, resecciones atípicas y neumotórax), también han oscilado considerablemente. Conclusiones: Se observa, al igual que en ediciones previas, una considerable variabilidad entre los grupos participantes. Existen áreas de mejora evidentes: estandarización de los procesos de admisión, evitando ingresos urgentes y mejorando la estancia preoperatoria; agilización de las altas hospitalarias y mejora de los informes de alta, reflejando toda la actividad y las complicaciones habidas. Algunas unidades de Cirugía Torácica deben hacer una revisión profunda de sus procesos porque pueden tener algunos parámetros con una desviación excesiva de la norma. También deben mejorarse los procesos de codificación de diagnósticos y comorbilidades

Introduction: Benchmarking entails continuous comparison of efficacy and quality among products and activities, with the primary objective of achieving excellence. Objective: To analyze the results of benchmarking performed in 2013 on clinical practices undertaken in 2012 in 17 Spanish thoracic surgery units. Methods: Study data were obtained from the basic minimum data set for hospitalization, registered in 2012. Data from hospital discharge reports were submitted by the participating groups, but staff from the corresponding departments did not intervene in data collection. Study cases all involved hospital discharges recorded in the participating sites. Episodes included were respiratory surgery (Major Diagnostic Category 04, Surgery), and those of the thoracic surgery unit. Cases were labelled using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. The refined diagnosis-related groups classification was used to evaluate differences in severity and complexity of cases. Results: General parameters (number of cases, mean stay, complications, readmissions, mortality, and activity) varied widely among the participating groups. Specific interventions (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, atypical resections, and treatment of pneumothorax) also varied widely. Conclusions: As in previous editions, practices among participating groups varied considerably. Some areas for improvement emerge: admission processes need to be standardized to avoid urgent admissions and to improve pre-operative care; hospital discharges should be streamlined and discharge reports improved by including all procedures and complications. Some units have parameters which deviate excessively from the norm, and these sites need to review their processes in depth. Coding of diagnoses and comorbidities is another area where improvement is needed

Benchmarking in Thoracic Surgery. Third Edition.

INTRODUCTION: Benchmarking entails continuous comparison of efficacy and quality among products and activities, with the primary objective of achieving excellence. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of benchmarking performed in 2013 on clinical practices undertaken in 2012 in 17 Spanish thoracic surgery units. METHODS: Study data were obtained from the basic minimum data set for hospitalization, registered in 2012. Data from hospital discharge reports were submitted by the participating groups, but staff from the corresponding departments did not intervene in data collection. Study cases all involved hospital discharges recorded in the participating sites. Episodes included were respiratory surgery (Major Diagnostic Category 04, Surgery), and those of the thoracic surgery unit. Cases were labelled using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification. The refined diagnosis-related groups classification was used to evaluate differences in severity and complexity of cases. RESULTS: General parameters (number of cases, mean stay, complications, readmissions, mortality, and activity) varied widely among the participating groups. Specific interventions (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, atypical resections, and treatment of pneumothorax) also varied widely. CONCLUSIONS: As in previous editions, practices among participating groups varied considerably. Some areas for improvement emerge: admission processes need to be standardized to avoid urgent admissions and to improve pre-operative care; hospital discharges should be streamlined and discharge reports improved by including all procedures and complications. Some units have parameters which deviate excessively from the norm, and these sites need to review their processes in depth. Coding of diagnoses and comorbidities is another area where improvement is needed.

Benefits of awake uniportal pulmonary resection in a patient with a previous contralateral lobectomy.

Surgical resection of a contralateral recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is indicated in patients without evidence of disseminated disease and considered functionally operable. General anesthesia and double-lumen intubation involves one lobe ventilation in a patient treated with a previous lobectomy, thus increasing the risks of ventilator-induced injuries and the morbidity. Awake procedures facilitate the surgery decreasing the anesthetic and surgical times, keeping the diaphragm motion and diminishing the ventilator-induced injuries into the remaining contralateral lobe. We present a 43-year-old woman with a previous left-lower lobectomy for a 3.1-cm mucinous adenocarcinoma 15 months before without nodal involvement, who presents a right-lower lobe 8-mm cavitated nodule, with evident radiological growth and fine-needle aspiration concordant with mucinous adenocarcinoma. We suggest an awake procedure with locoregional epidural anesthesia.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de los tumores neuroendocrinos de localización broncopulmonar / Surgical treatment of bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors

Introducción: El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar nuestra experiencia con los tumores neuroendocrinos de localización broncopulmonar, en especial el tipo de tratamiento quirúrgico aplicado en función del tipo histológico. Material y métodos: Hemos realizado un estudio retrospectivo sobre 45 pacientes: 35 casos de carcinoides típicos, 6 de carcinoides atípicos, 1 oat cell y 3 de carcinomas de células grandes. Los tumores fueron clasificados siguiendo los criterios de Travis. Resultados: El tratamiento quirúrgico practicado fue: 4 neumonectomías, 23 lobectomías, 6 bilobectomías, 3 resecciones atípicas por videocirugía, 7 broncoplastias con lobectomía y 2 broncoplastias sin resección pulmonar. En el 86 por ciento de los casos el estadio fue tipo I (9 IA y 30 IB), clasificándose 5 pacientes como IIIA, y 1 como IIIB. El estudio rutinario de los pacientes incluyó: radiología de tórax, analítica completa, tomografía computarizada toracoabdominal y broncoscopia. El seguimiento medio ha sido de 46,09 meses. Conclusiones: La gran mayoría de tumores neuroendocrinos tratables con cirugía son de bajo grado de agresividad (carcinoides típicos). El tratamiento quirúrgico también es el de elección en la mayoría de los carcinoides atípicos, aunque en éstos el grado de agresividad es mayor, al provocar diseminación ganglionar locorregional o metástasis en mayor proporción que los anteriores. En los carcinomas de célula grande con diferenciación neuroendocrina y en los cacinomas de células pequeñas, el tratamiento óptimo no está bien definido, aunque la cirugía parece ser una opción que debe plantearse siempre que sea posible, combinada o no con otras terapias (AU)

Bilateral chylothorax after thymectomy via median sternotomy and resolution through conservative treatment.

Thymectomy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of myasthenia gravis patients. Rarely, bilateral chylothorax, was noted as a complication of thymectomy via median sternotomy. Probably unseen division of mediastinal lymphatics, remote from thoracic duct, can explain this phenomenon. We report the case of a patient, female, who developed bilateral chylothorax after the former surgical approach, and our initial conservative policy to treat it (unilateral chest tube, total parenteral nutrition and subcutaneous administration of octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analog), with good results.