Robotic Resection of Ectopic Thyroid Tissue of the Mediastinum - Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare cause of mediastinal masses, representing less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors (1). ETT could be detected anywhere along the path of the first embryonic descent of the thyroid gland from the primordial foregut floor to its usual pre-tracheal position. ETT mediastinal localization accounts for fewer than 1% of all ectopic thyroid cases (2,3). Various surgical methods for approaching mediastinal masses have been documented in the literature, including median sternotomy, posterolateral thoracotomy, and, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (4). More recently, robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) has been proposed for these masses. The aim of this article is to present the use of robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) for a rare case of a mediastinal ETT. Case presentation: We present the case of a 40-year-old male with no significant medical history who discovered a mediastinal mass on a thoracic CT scan following COVID-19 infection. Symptoms were dysphagia and anterior thoracic pain with cervical extension. Scintigraphy confirmed the presence of ectopic thyroid tissue in the mediastinum as well as a normal cervical thyroid gland. ETT was histologically confirmed by endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsy. Robotic assisted surgery was the chosen approach to surgically treat this mass and the technical details are presented. The mass was extracted through the cervical incision. Total surgical time was 230 minutes, and the blood loss was 60 ml. The patient was discharged after 48 hours with follow up showing a full recovery with no residual pain or respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare cause of mediastinal masses, and the diagnosis is always a challenge. Robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery was proved to be safe and efficient in this rare case of ETT developed in the superior mediastinum.

Robotic Assisted Thoracoscopic Repair of Iatrogenic Tracheal Rupture.

Introduction: Tracheal rupture is a rare condition, and its most common cause is head and neck trauma. Iatrogenic rupture is extremely rare and has multiple causes of which orotracheal intubation is the most common (1). Its importance derives from the associated high morbidity and mortality. The specific therapy is either conservatory or surgical, either through a posterolateral thoracotomy or minimally invasive (VATS). Robotic assisted surgery to repair the postintubation iatrogenic tracheal rupture after elective surgery has not been described so far in the literature. Case presentation: We present a 54-year-old female patient with no significant underlying conditions, who presented subcutaneous emphysema of the supraclavicular fossa less than 24 hours after surgery for an L5-S1 disc herniation. The CT and bronchoscopy confirmed the suspicion of tracheal rupture in the membranous area, revealing a lesion of more than 5 cm, with minimal chances of healing through a conservative attitude. Surgery was decided and a robotically assisted approach was offered by a team with experience in applying this technology for thoracic/mediastino-pulmonary pathology. Using the DaVinci Xi platform, the mediastinal dissection was performed, the 5 cm tracheal breach was revealed at the lateral border of the membranousa, azygos vein and vagus nerve, followed by closing the defect with resorbable PDO 4-0 monofilament thread and the application of co-polymer adhesive (Coseal) on the suture line. The operative time was 220 minutes and the intraoperative bleeding was minimal, (50 ml), without intraoperative complications. The robotic approach demonstrated the advantages of a generous exposure of the operative field, with a clear visibility of the meticulously dissected structures and facilitated the efficient suturing of the tracheal defect. Favorable post-operative outcome with both bronchoscopy and follow-up radiographs showed no signs of recurrence. Conclusion: The presented case demonstrates the advantages of an efficient use of robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery to treat a very rare complication, the iatrogenic rupture of the trachea. Although the good results are obvious, the large-scale application of robotic technology for tracheal surgery requires prospectively analyzed comparative studies.

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery - Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery: Technique and Indications.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) is already practised worldwide, in almost every condition addressed by open thoracic surgery. As part of minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS), VATS offers to patients and to healthcare providers excellent results and great satisfactions. Learning and performing VATS use different pathways in trainees and in experienced surgeons. This article presents VATS in its essence: classification, indications, contraindications, instruments and tools, incisions and access, troubleshooting, learning curve and training. We wish that the information helps our colleagues, both trainees and experienced thoracic surgeons, to start and continue performing VATS as standard care in thoracic surgery.

Giant Cavernous Hemangioma of the Right Atrium - A Rare Case and Literature Review.

A 52 years old woman, asymptomatic, with no significant medical history, presented to a thoracic surgery department for excision of a giant mediastinal mass that was incidentally detected during a routine abdominal ultrasound. Various imaging methods (echocardiography, chest X-ray, CT-scan, MRI) located the mediastinal mass as paracardiac and the excision using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was proposed, in general thoracic surgery department. Although initially considered a paracardiac mass, intraoperatively the tumor location proved to be intrapericardial. Reaching the limits of VATS, a median sternotomy and longitudinal pericardiotomy were performed, demonstration a right atrium tumor with intrapericardial extension. At this stage, the excision was considered impossible without cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest. Having this information, the case was deferred to cardiovascular surgery, one week after and, a complete resection of the tumor was performed without incidents. Both atria were reconstructed with patches of autologous and bovine pericardium. The postoperative outcome of the patient was very good and the histopathology report showed that the tumor was a cavernous hemangioma. The literature was reviewed for this pathology. a rare case of a giant cavernous hemangioma of the heart, with diagnostic pitfalls had a successful multidisciplinary staged approach.