Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery versus Sternotomy - Pain Investigation

Abstract Background: Treatment of postoperative (PO) pain is essential after surgery, as it contributes to a faster rehabilitation. Assessment of PO pain after minimally invasive (MI) surgery has not been regularly addressed, especially when compared with median sternotomy (MS). Objective: This study aims to evaluate the intensity of thoracic pain in the PO period in patients subjected to MI surgery and MS. Methods: This study compared the intensity of thoracic pain in 34 patients subjected to minimally invasive (MI; n = 17) and median sternotomy (MS; n = 17) from June 2015 to June 2016. The intensity and sites of pain in the PO period, assessed using the visual numeric pain scale, and the need for pain medications were analyzed using the Student's t-test and the z test, with confidence level of 95% (p < 0.05). Results: Almost all patients reported pain on the third PO day (MS = 94.1% and MI = 88.2%; p = 0.5410). On the seventh PO day, there were significantly more patients free of pain in the group of patients subjected to the MI procedure (MS = 94.1% and MI = 64.7%; p = 0.0341). also, these patients reported fewer pain sites (3rd PO day: MS = 3.2 ± 1.5; MI = 1.5 ± 1.2; p = 0.001; 7th PO day: MS = 3.1 ± 1.4; MI = 0.9 ± 0.9; p = 0.000). Patients undergoing MS reported higher pain intensity and longer lasting pain (3rd PO: MS = 4.8 ± 2.2; MI = 3.0 ± 1.6; 7th PO: MS = 5.3 ± 2.0; MI = 1.2 ± 1.3; p = 0.001), with no difference in pain intensity between the third and the seventh PO days (p = 0.4931). In addition, patients subjected to MI procedure had a significant decrease in pain intensity from the third to the seventh PO days (p = 0.001). Conclusion: According to these results, we concluded that a MI procedure leads to lower intensity of pain in the PO period (from the third PO day on) when compared to a MS; also, patients undergoing MI patients reported fewer pain sites.

Thoracoscopic instruments do not interfere in the outcome of uncomplicated, experimental, video-assisted pulmonary lobectomy / Instrumentos toracoscópicos não interferem no desfecho da lobectomia pulmonar videoassistida experimental não complicada

ABSTRACT Objective: Since its first report, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung lobectomy was carried out with the use of conventional surgical instruments, used in laparoscopy and open thoracotomy. These instruments are expensive, not standardized and there are a variety of models and manufacturers. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the use of these instruments on the experimental pulmonary lobectomy. Methods: We used a modified surgical simulator that uses a porcine heart-lung block filled with tomato sauce, and tested specific (Group 1) and regular (Group 2) instruments. Each group includes 15 experiments. Results: The median total time, excluding the time spent to correct the lesions, was 45.08 and 45.81 minutes, respectively in Group 1 and Group 2. There was no statistical difference between the total times (p=0.58). The only statistically different was seen for partial times regarding the elapsed time to cut and suture of lung fissures (p=0.03 and 0.04, respectively). There were more direct lesions and indirect leaks in Group 2, but without statistical significance (p=1.000 and p=0.203, respectively). The mean time spent for the diagnosis and correction of these events was 1.77 minutes with a standard deviation of 1.18 for Group 1 and 2.72 ± 1.11 minutes for Group 2 (p=0.044). Conclusion: The use of minimally invasive instruments is not associated with time improvement spent with experimental video-assisted lung lobectomy and does not lead to a faster or safer surgery. The use of VATS instruments makes correction of adverse events faster when they occur.

RESUMO Objetivo: desde os primeiros registros, a lobectomia pulmonar por cirurgia torácica videoassistida (CTVA) foi feita usando instrumentos convencionais e de laparoscopia. Recentemente instrumentais específicos para CTVA surgiram. Esses instrumentais têm custo elevado, não são padronizados existindo uma variedade de modelos e fabricantes. Buscou-se determinar o impacto do uso desses instrumentais na realização da lobectomia pulmonar superior esquerda experimental. Métodos: foi usado simulador modificado com bloco de coração-pulmões preenchidos com molho de tomate para testar o uso de instrumental dedicado de CTVA e de cirurgia convencional (Grupo 1 e Grupo 2, respectivamente). Cada grupo inclui 15 experimentos. Resultados: a mediana do tempo total, excluído o tempo para corrigir vazamentos, foi de 45,8 e 45,81 minutos, respectivamente para o Grupo 1 e Grupo 2. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os tempos totais (p=0,58). Os únicos tempos parciais estatisticamente diferentes foram os para cortar e suturar a fissura pulmonar (p=0,03 e 0,04, respectivamente). Ocorreram mais lesões diretas e vazamentos indiretos no Grupo 2, mas sem significância estatística (p=1,000 e 0,203, respectivamente). A média de tempo gasto para diagnosticar e corrigir os eventos de lesão e vazamento foi de 1,77 minutos com desvio padrão de 1,18 para o Grupo 1 e 2,72±1,11 minutos para o Grupo 2 (p=0,044). Conclusão: o uso de instrumentos para CTVA não torna a cirurgia mais rápida, nem mais segura. O uso de instrumentos de CTVA permitiu uma correção mais rápida dos eventos adversos ocorridos.