Impact of indocyanine green on prolonged air leak in minimally invasive segmentectomy.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomies have become the gold standard for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer less than two centimeters. The main difficulty is the identification of intersegmental boundary lines which dictate postoperative morbidities. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent minimally invasive segmentectomy using the traditional deflation-inflation method or the novel indocyanine green (ICG) technique. Using a prospectively maintained database, we performed a retrospective analysis of 197 consecutive anatomical segmentectomies, from 2020 to 2023. Clinical effectiveness, postoperative complications, and histological data were compared. RESULTS: A total of 73 (37%) patients had the inflation-deflation method and 124 (63%) had the intravenous ICG method. There were no significant differences in chest tube duration, prolonged air leak, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stays. Surgical margin width was also similar between the two groups. The multivariable analysis confirmed these results. Lastly, intravenous ICG brought no additional value in complex segmentectomies. CONCLUSION: This monocentric and retrospective analysis found no added value of the intravenous ICG on the perioperative results of minimally invasive segmentectomies. The place of this novel technique in the surgical armamentarium remains to be defined. Specific indications such as complex segmentectomy or patients with chronic pulmonary disease require further study.

Lack of correlation between MET and PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer revealed by comparative study of matched biopsies and surgical resection samples.

INTRODUCTION: Both MET expression and the PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) are companion diagnostics for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (aNSCLC) patients. We evaluated the rate of correlation between MET expression and the PD-L1 TPS in matched biopsies and surgically resected specimens from NSCLC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis assessed the prevalence and correlation between MET expression (SP44 clone) and the PD-L1 TPS (22C3 clone) by immunohistochemistry together with molecular alterations determined by targeted next-generation sequencing in matched lung biopsy and surgically lung resected specimens from 70 patients with NSCLC. RESULTS: The study found a significant correlation between the MET H-score in surgical samples and matched biopsies (P-value < 0.0001), as well as between the PD-L1 TPS in paired biopsies and surgical samples (P-value < 0.0001). However, there was no significant correlation between the MET H-score or expression subgroups and the PD-L1 TPS in both types of paired samples (P-value = 0.47, and P-value = 0.90). The MET H-score was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma compared to squamous cell carcinoma (P-value < 0.0001). A mutational analysis showed that the MET H-score was significantly higher in NSCLC cases with targetable molecular alterations (P-value = 0.0095), while no significant correlation was found for the PD-L1 TPS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no significant correlation between PD-L1 and MET expression in samples from NSCLC patients, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment strategies based on individual expression profiles. These findings provide valuable insight into the development of effective immunotherapy and targeted therapy for NSCLC patients.

Pseudoaneurisma iatrogénico de arteria pulmonar segmentaria por neumonía necrosante tras colocación de sonda nasogástrica intrapulmonar / Iatrogenic Segmental Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm Due to Necrotizing Pneumonia After Intrapulmonary Nasogastric Tube Placement

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[Translated article] Iatrogenic Segmental Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm Due to Necrotizing Pneumonia After Intrapulmonary Nasogastric Tube Placement / Pseudoaneurisma iatrogénico de arteria pulmonar segmentaria por neumonía necrosante tras colocación de sonda nasogástrica intrapulmonar

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Deep Learning Facilitates Distinguishing Histologic Subtypes of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors on Digital Whole-Slide Images.

The histological distinction of lung neuroendocrine carcinoma, including small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and atypical carcinoid (AC), can be challenging in some cases, while bearing prognostic and therapeutic significance. To assist pathologists with the differentiation of histologic subtyping, we applied a deep learning classifier equipped with a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize lung neuroendocrine neoplasms. Slides of primary lung SCLC, LCNEC and AC were obtained from the Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology (University Hospital Nice, France). Three thoracic pathologists blindly established gold standard diagnoses. The HALO-AI module (Indica Labs, UK) trained with 18,752 image tiles extracted from 60 slides (SCLC = 20, LCNEC = 20, AC = 20 cases) was then tested on 90 slides (SCLC = 26, LCNEC = 22, AC = 13 and combined SCLC with LCNEC = 4 cases; NSCLC = 25 cases) by F1-score and accuracy. A HALO-AI correct area distribution (AD) cutoff of 50% or more was required to credit the CNN with the correct diagnosis. The tumor maps were false colored and displayed side by side to original hematoxylin and eosin slides with superimposed pathologist annotations. The trained HALO-AI yielded a mean F1-score of 0.99 (95% CI, 0.939-0.999) on the testing set. Our CNN model, providing further larger validation, has the potential to work side by side with the pathologist to accurately differentiate between the different lung neuroendocrine carcinoma in challenging cases.

Intrathoracic transposition of the omentum.

Complex chest and lung infections with bronchial fistula are life-threatening situations with a mortality rate of up to 20%. If medical treatment fails, these patients require aggressive procedures to heal. Transposition of the omentum is a valuable, nonstandard option in these complex cases with aggressive infection involving the pleural space, with or without a bronchial fistula, when medical treatment is unsuccessful. We present a 29-year-old female patient diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency and invasive fungal infection with involvement of the left upper lobe and mediastinal and vertebral bodies treated with a lobectomy and intrathoracic transposition of the omentum.

Tracheal replacement.

Tracheal reconstruction is one of the greatest challenges in thoracic surgery when direct end-to-end anastomosis is impossible or after this procedure has failed. The main indications for tracheal reconstruction include malignant tumours (squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma), tracheoesophageal fistula, trauma, unsuccessful surgical results for benign diseases and congenital stenosis. Tracheal substitutes can be classified into five types: 1) synthetic prosthesis; 2) allografts; 3) tracheal transplantation; 4) tissue engineering; and 5) autologous tissue composite. The ideal tracheal substitute is still unclear, but some techniques have shown promising clinical results. This article reviews the advantages and limitations of each technique used over the past few decades in clinical practice. The main limitation seems to be the capacity for tracheal tissue regeneration. The physiopathology behind this has yet to be fully understood. Research on stem cells sparked much interest and was thought to be a revolutionary technique; however, the poor long-term results of this approach highlight that there is a long way to go in this research field. Currently, an autologous tissue composite, with or without a tracheal allograft, is the only long-term working solution for every aetiology, despite its technical complexity and setbacks.

Heterotypic paracrine signaling drives fibroblast senescence and tumor progression of large cell carcinoma of the lung.

Senescence in cancer cells acts as a tumor suppressor, whereas in fibroblasts enhances tumor growth. Senescence has been reported in tumor associated fibroblasts (TAFs) from a growing list of cancer subtypes. However, the presence of senescent TAFs in lung cancer remains undefined. We examined senescence in TAFs from primary lung cancer and paired control fibroblasts from unaffected tissue in three major histologic subtypes: adenocarcinoma (ADC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and large cell carcinoma (LCC). Three independent senescence markers (senescence-associated beta-galactosidase, permanent growth arrest and spreading) were consistently observed in cultured LCC-TAFs only, revealing a selective premature senescence. Intriguingly, SCC-TAFs exhibited a poor growth response in the absence of senescence markers, indicating a dysfunctional phenotype rather than senescence. Co-culturing normal fibroblasts with LCC (but not ADC or SCC) cancer cells was sufficient to render fibroblasts senescent through oxidative stress, indicating that senescence in LCC-TAFs is driven by heterotypic signaling. In addition, senescent fibroblasts provided selective growth and invasive advantages to LCC cells in culture compared to normal fibroblasts. Likewise, senescent fibroblasts enhanced tumor growth and lung dissemination of tumor cells when co-injected with LCC cells in nude mice beyond the effects induced by control fibroblasts. These results define the subtype-specific aberrant phenotypes of lung TAFs, thereby challenging the common assumption that lung TAFs are a heterogeneous myofibroblast-like cell population regardless of their subtype. Importantly, because LCC often distinguishes itself in the clinic by its aggressive nature, we argue that senescent TAFs may contribute to the selective aggressive behavior of LCC tumors.

Type II endoleak prevention with coil embolization during endovascular aneurysm repair in high-risk patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated endoleak level and size decrease of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with coil embolization in patients at high risk for type II endoleak. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2013, 83 of 187 patients (44.3%) who underwent EVAR for AAA also underwent coil embolization of the aneurysm sac immediately after complete stent graft release because of risk factors for type II endoleak, including absence of a circumferential thrombus, two or more pairs of patent lumbar arteries, or a patent inferior mesenteric artery. Coil embolization was achieved using a 4F catheter with a microcatheter placed between the stent graft and the aneurysm wall. Computed tomography and color duplex ultrasound imaging were performed 1, 6, 12, and 24 months later to look for an endoleak and assess aneurysm sac diameter. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 24 ± 11 months (range, 6-53 months). A mean of 12 coils (range, 4-23) was used. Technical success was achieved in all patients, with no procedurally related complications. Follow-up computed tomography showed type II endoleak in one patient. Aneurysm sac diameter was significantly decreased after 6 months (P = .001), 12 months (P = .001), and 24 months (P = .001). Surgery was required in one patient for common femoral artery occlusion unrelated to the procedure and in another patient for distal type I endoleak. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm sac coil embolization during EVAR for patients at risk for type II endoleak is technically feasible, safe, and effective in preventing type II endoleak. This procedure leads to rapid AAA shrinkage. Thus, coil embolization could be used routinely to improve EVAR outcomes for patients at risk for type II endoleak.

Titanium Implant Failure After Chest Wall Osteosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess potential contributing factors to implant failure (displacement or rupture) after titanium chest wall osteosynthesis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and preoperative and postoperative computed tomographic scans of patients undergoing chest wall osteosynthesis with titanium implants: the Stratos or the Matrix Fixation System in two European departments of thoracic surgery. The indications for titanium chest wall osteosynthesis, the type and number of implants, the topography of the reconstruction, surgical site infection, and role of associated flap and mesh were assessed. RESULTS: Between January 2009 and January 2013, 54 patients underwent osteosynthesis after surgical correction of chest wall deformities (n = 25, 46.2%) or to bridge the defect after tumor removal (n = 29, 53.7%). The topography of osteosynthesis was anterior (n = 20), lateral (n = 3), or posterior (n = 1), an average of 1.9 ± 0.9 implants (range, 1 to 5 implants) being used. A combined mesh restored continuity of the chest wall in 15 patients, and muscle flap coverage was performed in 20. The mean follow-up time was 20.2 ± 8.4 months (range, 3 to 48 months). Among these 54 patients, 24 (44%) experienced an implant failure. Seven (29%) were symptomatic. Broken (n = 20, 83.3%) or displaced (n = 4, 16.7%) implants were removed with or without replacement. In patients with broken or displaced implants, the mean duration without implant failure was 6.6 ± 3.1 months (range, 1 to 12 months). There was a significant relationship between the anterior topography of osteosynthesis and implant failure (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up after chest wall osteosynthesis using titanium implants is required, especially in anteriorly placed implants. The high rate of implant failure at 1 year advocates for early removal whenever possible and suggests the need for improvements in design.

Matrix stiffening and ß1 integrin drive subtype-specific fibroblast accumulation in lung cancer.

UNLABELLED: The crucial role of tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) in cancer progression is now clear in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, therapies against TAFs are limited due to a lack of understanding in the subtype-specific mechanisms underlying their accumulation. Here, the mechanical (i.e., matrix rigidity) and soluble mitogenic cues that drive the accumulation of TAFs from major NSCLC subtypes: adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were dissected. Fibroblasts were cultured on substrata engineered to exhibit normal- or tumor-like stiffnesses at different serum concentrations, and critical regulatory processes were elucidated. In control fibroblasts from nonmalignant tissue, matrix stiffening alone increased fibroblast accumulation, and this mechanical effect was dominant or comparable with that of soluble growth factors up to 0.5% serum. The stimulatory cues of matrix rigidity were driven by ß1 integrin mechano-sensing through FAK (pY397), and were associated with a posttranscriptionally driven rise in ß1 integrin expression. The latter mechano-regulatory circuit was also observed in TAFs but in a subtype-specific fashion, because SCC-TAFs exhibited higher FAK (pY397), ß1 expression, and ERK1/2 (pT202/Y204) than ADC-TAFs. Moreover, matrix stiffening induced a larger TAF accumulation in SCC-TAFs (>50%) compared with ADC-TAFs (10%-20%). In contrast, SCC-TAFs were largely serum desensitized, whereas ADC-TAFs responded to high serum concentration only. These findings provide the first evidence of subtype-specific regulation of NSCLC-TAF accumulation. Furthermore, these data support that therapies aiming to restore normal lung elasticity and/or ß1 integrin-dependent mechano regulation may be effective against SCC-TAFs, whereas inhibiting stromal growth factor signaling may be effective against ADC-TAFs. IMPLICATIONS: This study reveals distinct mechanisms underlying the abnormal accumulation of tumor-supporting fibroblasts in two major subtypes of lung cancer, which will assist the development of personalized therapies against these cells.

Anterior mediastinal tracheostomy as salvage operation.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess early and long-term results after anterior mediastinal tracheostomy (AMT) as a salvage operation for recurrent neck malignancies. METHODS: Between October 2006 and February 2013, 12 patients (mean age, 57 years) underwent AMT. All patients had experienced stomal recurrence, with or without esophageal involvement, after laryngectomy. All patients had undergone previous radiotherapy (50.3 ± 6.2 [43-60] Gy) and previous surgical treatment: total laryngectomy (n = 11) and thyroidectomy (n = 2). RESULTS: The mean length of resected trachea was 3.7 ± 2.7 (2.5-6) cm. Resection was complete in 10 patients. All patients required relocation of the remaining trachea below the innominate artery and myocutaneous flap for coverage/stoma construction. AMT was associated with esophagectomy (n = 4) and supraaortic trunk resection (innominate artery, n = 2; carotid artery, n = 3). Seven patients required resection of the pharyngoesophageal region, and 4 patients underwent reconstruction, including primary closure of a pharyngeal remnant (n = 1) and gastric pull-up (n = 3). There was 1 operative death (8.3%) resulting from an infectious process leading to bypass fistulization. Major complications were partial tracheal necrosis (n = 3), pharyngeal fistula (n = 1), pneumonia (n = 4), and flap dehiscence (n = 2). Length of hospital stay was 30 ± 22.8 (13-86) days. Actuarial overall 5-year survival was 58.3%, and median estimated disease-free survival was 53 (31-75) months. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with AMT as salvage therapy has shown acceptable long-term results if complete resection is achieved. This procedure is not risk free, and very careful patient selection is required because of a tortuous postoperative course, especially in combined pharyngeal-esophageal and vascular reconstruction.

Extended sleeve lobectomy: one more step toward avoiding pneumonectomy in centrally located lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical outcomes of extended sleeve lobectomy (ESL) in centrally located non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), sparing lung tissue and aggressively avoiding pneumonectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent ESL between January 2006 and January 2013 were included prospectively. An atypical bronchial anastomosis was used for sleeve lobectomy involving additional lobes or segments. RESULTS: We included 27 patients, aged 62.7 ± 8.2 years (range, 49-83 years), with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 2.27 ± 0.6 (range, 1.6-2.7). According to the Okada classification, 16 cases were type A (right upper lobe + middle lobe ± segment 6), 7 cases were type B (left upper lobe + segment 6), and 2 cases were type C (left lower lobe + segments 4-5); we additionally classified 2 patients with right lower lobe tumors involving the right main bronchus as type D (right lower lobe + middle lobe). Anastomosis was performed between the right superior and right main bronchial stumps. Eleven patients underwent combined pulmonary angioplasties. Complete resection was achieved in all cases. There were no operative deaths. Mean segment reimplantation was 4.5 ± 0.84 (range, 3-6), resulting in a mean FEV1 improvement of 0.620 ± 0.16 (right-sided ESL) and 0.393 ± 0.21 (left-sided ESL). The complication rate was 25% (no immediate anastomosis-related complications; 1 case of delayed bronchial stenosis). No local recurrence was reported. At 6 months, mean FEV1 was 1.5 ± 0.4 (right-sided ESL) and 1.4 ± 0.3 (left-sided ESL). Mean follow-up time was 28 ± 19 months (range, 7-72 months). Overall 5-year survival was 62%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with centrally located NSCLC, lung-sparing ESL, whose safety and reliability rival that of pneumonectomy, should be considered. Functional effectiveness is higher with right-sided than with left-sided ESL.

Pulmonary sleeve resection in locally advanced lung cancer using cryopreserved allograft for pulmonary artery replacement.

BACKGROUND: During lobectomy, resection of pulmonary artery, followed by reconstruction or replacement with or without concomitant sleeve bronchial resection, is feasible in selected cases. We report morbidity, mortality, and technical issues in pulmonary artery replacement using a cryopreserved arterial allograft after sleeve resection for centrally located non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS: We reviewed clinical and pathologic data of patients who underwent arterial sleeve lobectomy with pulmonary artery replacement in our institution from 2007 to 2012. RESULTS: Of 178 centrally located NSCLCs, sleeve resections were performed in 92 (51%), pneumonectomies in 33 (18%), and lobectomies in 53 (31%). Of the 32 (34.7%) pulmonary) reconstructions (excluding tangential suture), 20 (21.7%) were end-to-end anastomosis, 2 (2.1%) were pericardial patch reconstructions, and 10 (11%) were PA replacements. Clinical T staging was cT2a in 4 patients, cT2b in 3, cT3 in 2, and cT4 in 1. Four patients received concurrent induction chemoradiotherapy. Three patients underwent a double-sleeve right lobectomy. Cryopreserved allografts used were descending thoracic aorta (n = 3) and pulmonary arteries (n = 7). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in all patients. Final N staging was pN0 (n = 4), pN1 (n = 5), and pN2 (n = 1). There was no operative mortality. Four patients had major morbidity, including 1 early conduit thrombosis treated by pneumonectomy completion. Graft patency, assessed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, was 90%. Mean follow-up was 25 ± 14 (range, 8-47) months (30% for >36 months). Overall 5-year survival was 66.7%, and the estimated median disease-free survival was 42 months. CONCLUSIONS: In central NSCLCs, conservative surgery using a cryopreserved arterial allograft to replace the pulmonary artery after extended segmental resection could avoid pneumonectomy in selected patients.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la metástasis adrenal única en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón / Surgical treatment of solitary adrenal metastases in patients with lung cancer

Fundamento y objetivo: El cáncer de pulmón (CP) puede afectar a la glándula adrenal como metástasis única. El objetivo de este estudio es describir la experiencia en nuestro centro sobre pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de metástasis suprarrenal de CP en los últimos 11 años. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de los pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de adrenalectomía por metástasis de CP. Resultados: Se incluyen 7 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 64 años. A 5 de ellos se les realizó una lobectomía y a 2 una neumonectomía con tratamiento adyuvante según protocolo. La metástasis suprarrenal única se presentó de forma sincrónica en 3 pacientes y metacrónica en 4, entre 10 y 39 meses (mediana de 25 meses). Dos pacientes siguen vivos y con buena calidad de vida. La supervivencia media de los pacientes fue de 41 meses (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%] 7-74), y la supervivencia mediana, de 20 meses (IC 95% 7-32). Conclusiones: Se puede afirmar que la ciru ía de la metástasis adrenal por CP aumenta la esperanza de vida en determinados pacientes según la bibliografía disponible (AU)

Background and objective: Lung cancer (LC) can metastasize the adrenal gland. The objective of this study is to describe our experience in patients undergoing surgery for solitary adrenal metastasis of lung cancer in the past 11 years. Patients and methods: It is a retrospective study of patients who underwent the surgical resection of the lung primary tumor and the adrenal metastases. Results: We included 7 patients with a median age of 64 years. Five patients underwent lobectomy, and 2, pneumonectomy with adjuvant therapy according to protocol. The single adrenal metastasis appeared synchronously in 3 patients and metachronously in 4, between 10 and 39 months (median 25 months). Two patients are alive and with good quality of life. The mean survival of patients was 41 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 7-74) and median survival was 20 months (95% CI 7-32). Conclusions: We conclude that surgery adrenal metastases from lung cancer increases life expectancy in selected patients according to the available literatura (AU)

Lung incarceration after anterior mediastinal tracheostomy.

A 63-year-old man underwent anterior mediastinal tracheostomy for postradiotherapy stoma ulceration exposing the left anterolateral tracheal side, cervical vessels, and pharynx. An anterior chest wall defect (hemiclaviculectomy, manubriectomy, and resection of anterior third of first and second ribs bilaterally) was covered by a myocutaneous pectoral flap, and a new tracheostoma was constructed in the middle of the skin island. At postoperative day 7, a protrusion of the right upper lobe outside the thoracic cavity through the anterior chest wall defect was detected. Surgical repair by a right thoracotomy to reposition the lung and defect repair using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) internal prosthesis were successful. The patient was discharged home at 63 days after the first operation.

Chest-wall reconstruction in case of infection of the operative site: is there any interest in titanium rib osteosynthesis?

OBJECTIVES: To describe the management of thoracic reconstructions in the presence of primary chest-wall infection (PCWI) or secondary deep chest-wall infection (SCWI), focussing on local tolerance of a titanium rib osteosynthesis system. METHODS: PCWI included infected chest wall tumours (CWT), infected T3 non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and open flail chest. SCWI was defined by deep infection of previous thoracic-wall reconstructions. Infection was identified by preoperative bacterial analysis of the tumour or surgical site. In PCWI, a one-step procedure combined extensive resection of infected tissues and rigid reconstruction of the defect; skeletal rigidity was achieved using titanium implants. In SCWI, we removed all synthetic material except titanium implants. In both groups, the surgical field was thoroughly cleaned and implants were wrapped or covered by flaps. RESULTS: From January 2005 to December 2011, 11 patients (54 ± 10.2 years) with either PCWI (3 CWT, 3 T3 NSCLC, 1 open flail chest) or SCWI (3 CWT, 1 funnel chest) were treated. Infection was polymicrobial in all but 1 case. Bacteria observed in PCWI patients were multidrug resistant. In PCWI, we resected 4.2 ± 0.6 ribs en bloc with the lung (n = 5), the skin and the pectoralis major and then used mesh and 2.1 ± 1.2 titanium implants for reconstruction (n = 6). The mean defect was 1154.4 ± 318 cm(3). Surgical SCWI management removed polytetrafluoroethylene-mesh and preserved the titanium implants. A Vicryl mesh (n = 3) and greater omentum flap (n = 3) were added. One of the 2 postoperative deaths in the PCWI group was related to infection recurrence. No other patient had infection at the 6-month follow-up with leucocyte-labelled scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: Titanium rib osteosynthesis is reliable in two complex and life-threatening situations: PCWIs and SCWIs. In combination with a flap, this allows rapid, reliable, rigid reconstruction of infected full-thickness chest-wall defects in a single-step procedure.

Localización de nódulos pulmonares con arpón guiado por tomografía axial computarizada previa a la resección videotoracoscópica. Experiencia en 52 casos / Locating pulmonary nodules with a computed axial tomography-guided harpoon prior to videothoracoscopic resection. Experience with 52 cases

Introducción La resección videotoracoscópica (VTC) de los nódulos pulmonares (NP) periféricos requiere en ocasiones la práctica de una minitoracotomía para su localización mediante palpación. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la eficacia como método de localización preoperatoria de los NP de la colocación de un arpón guiado por TAC. Material y métodos Desde noviembre de 2004 hasta enero de 2011, 52 pacientes fueron programados para localización preoperatoria de 55 NP mediante la colocación de un arpón guiado por TAC. Resultados Un total de 52 pacientes (31 hombres y 21 mujeres) con edades entre 28 y 84 años (media: 62,2 años) con NP < 20mm (media: 9,57mm). De ellos, 35 tenían historia oncológica. Se colocaron 55 arpones (a 3 pacientes, 2 arpones simultáneos). En la VTC, 52 arpones fueron hallados correctamente anclados al NP. No se observaron complicaciones. En el grupo de 35 pacientes con antecedentes oncológicos, los nódulos resultaron ser malignos en 26 (74,3%). En los 17 no oncológicos fueron malignos el 70,6%. La estancia hospitalaria osciló entre 4 y 72 h, con 19 pacientes incluidos en un programa de cirugía ambulatoria (36,5%).Conclusiones La identificación preoperatoria de los NP permite su resección VTC directa. La colocación de un arpón guiado por TAC en los NP constituye un procedimiento seguro y efectivo que puede llevarse a cabo en un programa de cirugía ambulatoria (AU)

Objective Videothoracoscopic (VTC) resection of peripheral pulmonary nodules (PN) occasionally requires performing a mini-thoracotomy to locate them using palpation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of inserting a CT-guided harpoon as a method for locating PN prior to surgery. Material and methods A study was conducted on a total of 52 patients who were scheduled for locating 55 PN prior to surgery by inserting a CT-guided harpoon, from November 2004 to January 2011.ResultsOf the 52 patients, of whom 35 had a history of cancer, 31 were male and 21 were female, with ages between 28 and 84 years (mean: 62.2 years) with a PN <20mm (mean: 9.57mm). A total of 55 harpoons were inserted (3 patients had 2 simultaneous harpoons). Using the VTC it was observed that 52 harpoons were correctly anchored to the PN. There were no complications. In the group of 35 patients with an oncology history, the nodules were malignant in 26 cases (74.3%), and there were 17 (70.6%) with malignant PN in those with no oncology history. The hospital stay varied between 4 and 72h, with 19 patients (36.5%) included in a one-day surgery program. Conclusions The preoperative identification of peripheral pulmonary nodules enables them to be removed directly with VTC. The insertion of a CT-guided harpoon in the PN is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed in a one-day surgery program (AU)