VATS lobectomy, history, indication, contraindication and general techniques.

VATS lobectomy is a respected modality of anatomic lung resections nowadays. Video-assisted lobectomies without rib extractor fulfil all current requirements for minimally invasive lung resections. This type of an anatomic pulmonary resection with a targeted treatment of hilar structures doesn't traumatize the intercostal space by using rib retractor. Videothoracoscope serves to visualize the surgical field on the screen. Assisted VATS (aVATS) lobectomy is a procedure using 3-5 cm working incision. Fully endoscopic resection (VTS) or complete VATS lobectomy (cVATS) are operations performed only through ports, without working incision. The authors supplement the article with a videorecord of VATS lobectomy general technique (Fig. 4, Ref. 11).

Our own method of fixation of biodegradable tracheal stent.

The authors present their own unique original method of fixation polydioxan biodegradable stents in the treatment of tracheal stenosis documented by pictures and video (Fig. 3, Ref. 12).

Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance in former smokers with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease relates to the presence of a chronic bronchitis phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Associations between nasal and bronchial impairment have been repeatedly described in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) in COPD patients is not yet fully understood. We studied nasal MCC parameters in COPD patients and compared them with healthy adults (HA) and with cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with compromised MCC. METHODOLOGY: An observational study of 98 COPD ex-smokers and subjects from control groups evaluated for nasal MCC time (NMCCt) and by digital video microscopy of nasal mucosa recording ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ciliary beat pattern. RESULTS: The NMCCt was decreased in HA compared to those with COPD and decreased in those with COPD compared to those with CF. CBF in COPD was lower compared to HA. The index of ciliary dyskinesia in COPD patients differed from HA. We detected higher NMCCt and lower nasal CBF in patients with chronic bronchitis phenotype (CB) compared to non-CB patients. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the presence of impaired nasal MCC in COPD ex-smokers. These impairments were apparent predominantly in the CB phenotype.