Usefulness of near-infrared fluorescence for identifying the segmental bronchus in minimally invasive segmentectomy.

Minimally invasive anatomical sublobar resections have gained relevance in recent years mainly due to advances in imaging techniques, screening programs and the increase in second neoplasms. Accurate identification of the segmental or subsegmental bronchus is vital to guarantee optimal results in segmentectomies and subsegmentectomies. Given the complexity and the possibility of anatomical variations, several authors have published different methods to identify the target bronchus. However, these methods have certain limitations. This article describes a new rapid and effective technique, with a low risk of complications and without additional cost, for the identification of segmental bronchi in minimally invasive segmentectomies.

Robotic anatomical lung resections: Analysis of the learning curve.

INTRODUCTION: Robotic surgery has become a safe and effective approach for the treatment of pulmonary surgical pathology. However, the adoption of new surgical techniques requires the evaluation of the learning curve. The objective of this study is to analyze the learning curve of robotic anatomical lung resections. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all robotic anatomical lung resections performed by the same surgeon between June 2018 and March 2020. The learning curve was evaluated using CUSUM charts to estimate trend changes in surgical time, surgical failure and the occurrence of post-operative cardiorespiratory complications throughout the sequence of cases. RESULTS: The study included a total of 73 cases. The median duration of all complications was 120 min (interquartile range: 90-150 min), the prevalence of surgical failure was 23.29%, while 4/73 patients had any postoperative cardiorespiratory complication. Based on the CUSUM analysis, the learning curve was divided into 3 different phases: phase i (from the first to the 14th intervention), phase ii (between the 15th and 30th intervention) and phase iii (from the 31st intervention). CONCLUSIONS: The learning curve for robotic anatomical lung resections can be divided into 3 phases. The technical competence that guarantees satisfactory perioperative outcomes was achived in phase iii from the 31st intervention.

Mortality predictors in complicated patients after anatomical lung resection.

INTRODUCTION: Failure to rescue (FTR), defined as the mortality rate among patients suffering from postoperative complications, is considered an indicator of the quality of surgical care. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with FTR after anatomical lung resections. METHOD: Patients undergoing anatomical lung resection at our center between 1994 and 2018 were included in the study. Postoperative complications were classified as minor (grade I and II) and major (grade IIIA to V), according to the standardized classification of postoperative morbidity. Patients who died after a major complication were considered FTR. A stepwise logistic regression model was created to identify FTR predictors. Independent variables included in the multivariate analysis were age, body mass index, cardiac, renal, and cerebrovascular comorbidity, ppoFEV1%, VATS approach, extended resection, pneumonectomy, and reintervention. A non-parametric ROC curve was constructed to estimate the predictive capacity of the model. RESULTS: A total of 2.569 patients were included, of which 223 (8.9%) had major complications and 49 (22%) could not be rescued. Variables associated with FTR were: age (OR: 1.07), history of cerebrovascular accident (OR: 3.53), pneumonectomy (OR: 6.67), and reintervention (OR: 12.26). The area under the ROC curve was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.77-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 22% of patients with major complications following anatomical lung resection in this series did not survive until discharge. Pneumonectomy and reintervention are the most significant risk factors for FTR.

Sirolimus on Gorham-Stout disease. Case report.

BACKGROUND: Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by vascular proliferation that produces destruction of bone matrix. CASE DESCRIPTION: This case is about 43 year old woman who begins with pain in sternum, dyspnea, abdominal mass and, serous-hematic pleural effusion. Imaging tests were performed showing lesions on 6th and 10th left ribs archs. Later, a thoracotomy was performed observed absence of the end of the 6th and lung, pleural and costal biopsy was token. The histologic features described lymphatic vascular proliferation in bone tissue of chest wall. Other pathologies were excluded and in view of the findings, GSD diagnosis was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: treatment was initiated with sirolimus achieving remission of the disease after the first month; however, because the presence of metrorrhagia the treatment was discontinued, reappearing symptoms afterwards. For that reason the treatment was restarted getting disappearance of the symptoms again, 4 weeks later. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: we present the first clinical cases of EGS with pleural effusion with response to sirolimus treatment that could be an alternative to the current therapy.

ANTECEDENTES: La enfermedad de Gorham-Stout (EGS), es una enfermedad poco común, de etiología desconocida, caracterizada por la proliferación vascular que produce destrucción de la matriz ósea. CASO CLÍNICO: Se presenta el caso de mujer de 43 años que comienza con dolor en el esternón, disnea y tumoración abdominal junto con derrame pleural izquierdo de características serohemáticas como forma de presentación de una EGS. En pruebas de imagen que mostraron lesiones líticas en el 6º y 10º arcos costales izquierdos. Posteriormente se realizó toracotomía con biopsia pulmonar, pleural y costal observándose ausencia del extremo de la 6ª costilla. En el estudio histopatológico se describe proliferación vascular linfática en tejido óseo de pared costal. Se excluyeron otras patologías y se diagnosticó EGS. TRATAMIENTO Y RESULTADO: Se inició tratamiento con sirolimus consiguiendo remisión completa desde el primer mes. Sin embargo, tras la suspensión del tratamiento por metrorragias, presentó reaparición de los síntomas. Se decide entonces reiniciar el tratamiento, consiguiendo nuevamente desaparición de los síntomas, tras 4 semanas de tratamiento. RELEVANCIA CLÍNICA: Se presenta el primer caso clínico de EGS en edad adulta con derrame pleural asociado y con respuesta clínica a sirolimus, fármaco que podría ser una alternativa a la terapéutica actual.

Effect of implementing the European guidelines for functional evaluation before lung resection on cardiorespiratory morbidity and 30-day mortality in lung cancer patients: a case-control study on a matched series of patients.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that postoperative cardiorespiratory morbidity and/or 30-day death rates decreased after implementing the new European ERS/ESTS guidelines for functional evaluation before lung resection and tested the hypothesis by means of a case-control study. METHODS: The analysis included a series of 916 consecutive patients who underwent an anatomical pulmonary resection for non-small-cell lung cancer in our centre. Patients were divided into cases (September 2009-August 2012) and controls (December 2002-August 2009). We reviewed the records from a prospective computerized database; the final dataset included no missing data. The primary studied outcomes were the occurrence of cardiorespiratory morbidity or 30-day death after surgery. The patients were 1:1 propensity score matched according to the following variables age, ppoFEV1% and the need of pneumonectomy. RESULTS: After the matching process, 670 cases (335 cases and 335 controls) entered into the study. The rates of pneumonectomy in cases and controls were 5.7 and 13.2%, respectively, (P < 0.0001) in the whole series and 5.7 and 6.9% after matching (P = 0.52). Cardiorespiratory morbidity was 8.1% (27 of 308) in cases and 9.8% (33 of 335) in controls [odds ratio (OR): 0.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-1.4]. Thirty-day mortality was 0.90% (3/335) in cases and 1, 2% (4 of 335) in controls (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.1-4.4). CONCLUSIONS: Although we have observed a trend towards lower cardiorespiratory morbidity and 30-day mortality after implementing ERS/ESTS guidelines, the benefit of the guidelines remains unclear. Multicentric analysis including a very large number of cases is needed to demonstrate statistically the effectiveness of the guidelines to reduce operative mortality and cardiorespiratory morbidity. Maybe the effect could be easier demonstrated in series with higher operative mortality or morbidity.

Sirolimus on Gorham-Stout disease. Case report / Sirolimus en la enfermedad de Gorham-Stout. Caso clínico

Abstract Background: Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by vascular proliferation that produces destruction of bone matrix. Case description: This case is about 43 year old woman who begins with pain in sternum, dyspnea, abdominal mass and, serous-hematic pleural effusion. Imaging tests were performed showing lesions on 6th and 10th left ribs archs. Later, a thoracotomy was performed observed absence of the end of the 6th and lung, pleural and costal biopsy was token. The histologic features described lymphatic vascular proliferation in bone tissue of chest wall. Other pathologies were excluded and in view of the findings, GSD diagnosis was made. Treatment and outcome: treatment was initiated with sirolimus achieving remission of the disease after the first month; however, because the presence of metrorrhagia the treatment was discontinued, reappearing symptoms afterwards. For that reason the treatment was restarted getting disappearance of the symptoms again, 4 weeks later. Clinical relevance: we present the first clinical cases of EGS with pleural effusion with response to sirolimus treatment that could be an alternative to the current therapy.

Resumen Antecedentes: La enfermedad de Gorham-Stout (EGS), es una enfermedad poco común, de etiología desconocida, caracterizada por la proliferación vascular que produce destrucción de la matriz ósea. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso de mujer de 43 años que comienza con dolor en el esternón, disnea y tumoración abdominal junto con derrame pleural izquierdo de características serohemáticas como forma de presentación de una EGS. En pruebas de imagen que mostraron lesiones líticas en el 6º y 10º arcos costales izquierdos. Posteriormente se realizó toracotomía con biopsia pulmonar, pleural y costal observándose ausencia del extremo de la 6ª costilla. En el estudio histopatológico se describe proliferación vascular linfática en tejido óseo de pared costal. Se excluyeron otras patologías y se diagnosticó EGS. Tratamiento y resultado: Se inició tratamiento con sirolimus consiguiendo remisión completa desde el primer mes. Sin embargo, tras la suspensión del tratamiento por metrorragias, presentó reaparición de los síntomas. Se decide entonces reiniciar el tratamiento, consiguiendo nuevamente desaparición de los síntomas, tras 4 semanas de tratamiento. Relevancia clínica: Se presenta el primer caso clínico de EGS en edad adulta con derrame pleural asociado y con respuesta clínica a sirolimus, fármaco que podría ser una alternativa a la terapéutica actual.