Clinical Efficacy of Da Vinci Robot-assisted Subxiphoid Versus Lateral Thoracic Approach for Treatment of Anterior Mediastinal Tumors / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To compare the perioperative efficacy and safety of da Vinci robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) for treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors through subxiphoid versus lateral thoracic approaches under the laryngeal mask anesthesia. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 102 patients with anterior-mediastinal tumors treated by RATS under laryngeal mask anesthesia completed by the same operator. Forty-five patients underwent the subxiphoid approach (subxiphoid group), and 57 patients were treated with the lateral thoracic approach (lateral thoracic group). The operating time, intraoperative bleeding, and total postoperative drainage volume in the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results All patients successfully completed resection of the anterior mediastinal tumor without the occurrence of perioperative death. In terms of total postoperative drainage volume, postoperative drainage time, postoperative hospital stay, and VAS pain on postoperative days 2 and 3, the subxiphoid group was more advantages (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of operative time, docking time, total operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative day 1 VAS pain score, or postoperative complications (P > 0.05). Conclusion The subxiphoid approach of RATS is safe and feasible for resection of anterior mediastinal tumors. Compared with the lateral thoracic approach, the subxiphoid approach has advantages in terms of rapid postoperative recovery and postoperative pain.

Comparative analysis on biomechanical stability of the lateral fixation of the upper thoracic vertebrae through the middle Axillary approach and the traditional anterior plate fixation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: With the comprehensive promotion of spinal internal fixation technology, the remodeling of spinal mechanical stability has attracted more and more attention. Lateral internal fixation via axillary midline transthoracic approach for the treatment of upper thoracic vertebra lesion is a new surgical approach. Currently, the research on the biomechanics of upper thoracic vertebra after fixation is relatively rare. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the reconstruction of upper thoracic vertebrae via axillary midline transthoracic approach can achieve the requirements of biomechanical stability by biomechanical analysis of three-dimensional motion stability and load-bearing strength of upper thoracic vertebrae in lateral and anterior internal fixation models. METHODS: The C7-T6 spine and bilateral rib cage joint specimens were obtained from 12 human cadaveric bodies, and the three-dimensional motion stability test of the complete upper thoracic vertebrae model was performed and recorded as a complete vertebral body group. Subsequently, the specimens were randomly divided into two groups, and the traditional front plate internal fixation (front internal fixation group) and the axillary line into the thoracic cavity side plate internal fixation models (lateral internal fixation group) were established, respectively, with six specimens in each group. Three-dimensional motion test, vertical pressure test and vertical pressure failure test were performed. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (approval No. 2017(KY-0080)). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The load of left vertebral body group under left/right flexion, flexion/posterior extension and left/right rotational motion was smaller than that of lateral internal fixation group and anterior internal fixation group (P 0.05). (2) When the load reached 600 N, the vertebral body sinking displacement of the front internal fixation group was smaller than in the lateral internal fixation group [(1.39±0.20), (2.15±0.17) mm, P< 0.01]. (3) There was no significant difference in the maximum intensity load between the anterior internal fixation group and the lateral internal fixation group [(1 839.70±122.45), (1 798.65±120.21) N, P=0.571], (4) Results showed that the axillary midline transthoracic approach was in the lateral steel plate. The fixation is stable and meets the biomechanical needs of spinal reconstruction.

The Abdominal Approach for Epiphrenic Esophageal Diverticulum as an Alternative to the Thoracic Approach / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: There is no established surgical procedure for the treatment of epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of esophageal diverticulectomy using abdominal and thoracic approaches. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients who underwent esophageal diverticulectomy through the thoracic or abdominal approach for an epiphrenic diverticulum at a single center between 1996 and 2018. We compared clinical outcomes, including the postoperative length of stay, time from the operation to oral feeding, leakage rate, and reoperation rate between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The median age was 56 years. Of the 30 patients, 18 (60%) underwent diverticulectomy via the thoracic approach and 12 (40%) underwent the abdominal approach. The median hospital stay was 10 days (range, 5–211 days) in the thoracic approach group and 9.5 days (range, 5–18 days) in the abdominal approach group. The median time from the operation until oral feeding was 6.5 days (range, 3–299 days) when the thoracic approach was used and 5 days (range, 1–11 days) when the abdominal approach was used. In the thoracic approach group, the leakage rate was 16.67% and the reoperation rate was 27.78%. However, there were no cases of leakage or reoperation in the abdominal approach group. CONCLUSION: The abdominal approach for esophageal diverticulectomy is a feasible and appropriate alternative to the thoracic approach.

Abordaje alternativo torácico. Tratamiento quirúrgico de la hernia discal torácica. Caso clínico / Alternative thoracic approach. Surgical treatment of the thoracic disc hernia. Clinical case

Introducción El objetivo de este trabajo es describir una modificación en la técnica de la vía de abordaje posterior como alternativa viable en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la discopatía torácica. Materiales y métodos Paciente femenina de 29 años con diagnóstico de hernia discal torácica central (T11) sintomática. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico mediante discectomía por abordaje posterior modificado. Resultados Evolución favorable con reversión total de los síntomas y signos presentados, sin complicaciones perioperatorias, y seguimiento a los 3 y 6 meses con controles clínicos, radiográficos y tomográficos aceptables. Discusión Se describieron para el tratamiento de la discopatía torácica sintomática numerosos abordajes anteriores, posteriores y toracoscópicos. No hay precedente publicado en la bibliografía sobre por vía posterior modificada utilizada como alternativa de tratamiento de esta patología. En la actualidad, todas las técnicas descritas son opción válida para el tratamiento de las discopatías torácicas sintomáticas. A pesar de ser un solo caso tratado con el tipo de abordaje empleado, la intención es convertirlo en una alternativa válida para los cirujanos espinales no familiarizados con la vía anterior. Aún faltan estudios prospectivos, de mayor seguimiento y con mayor número de pacientes para validar la técnica quirúrgica empleada. Nivel de evidencia clínica Nivel IV.

Background The aim of this paper is to describe a modification in the posterior approach technique as a viable alternative in the surgical treatment of thoracic disc disease. Materials and methods A 29-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of a symptomatic central (T11) thoracic disc herniation. Surgical treatment was performed by discectomy by modified posterior approach. Results The outcome was favourable with total reversion of the signs and symptoms presented. There were no perioperative complications, and follow-up at 3 and 6 months was acceptable with clinical, radiographic and tomographic controls. Discussion Numerous anterior, posterior and thoracoscopic approaches have described for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic disc disease. There is no precedent published in the literature on the modified posterior route used as an alternative treatment of this pathology. At present, all the techniques described are a valid option for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic disc diseases. Despite being a single case treated with the type of approach employed, the intention is making it a valid alternative for spinal surgeons unfamiliar with the anterior route. There is a lack of prospective studies, with longer follow-up and a larger number of patients in order to validate the surgical technique used. Evidence level IV.

Cervical anastomosis by thoracic approach for the treatment of upper esophageal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Cervical anastomosis by the thoracic approach for the treatment of upper esophageal cancer can simplify surgical steps and reduce incidence of anastomotic leak. This approach has been used for 26 patients with upper esophageal cancer who were admitted to the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from July 2006 to August 2009. The mean length between lesion and incisor was 23.3 cm. General anesthesia and double-lumen intubation through left posterolateral incision in the fifth intercostal space was adopted. The stomach was dissociated with the technique of "in situ dissociation", and esophagus was dissociated conventionally. Double purse-string suture was adopted to fix the esophageal mucosa onto the supportive base of the stapler, and make purse-string suture to fix stomach on the center pole of the stapler. There was one failure case which has been converted to the manual cervical anastomosis, and the operations for the rest 25 cases were completed successfully, without anastomotic leakage and positive margin. The average blood loss was (352 ±211 )ml, and the average operation time was (3.7 ±0.6 )hours.

A Study on the Distance and Height of the Suprasternal Notch: Cervicothoracic Vertebrae in Normal Korean Adults

The upper thoracic vertebrae through anterior approach depends upon several variables; The diameter of the thoracic inlet, the height of the clavicles and manubrium anteriorly, and the extent of the cervicothoracic kyphosis. Preoperatively, the upper margin of the manubrium should be compaired with the vertebral body level on a standard lateral roentegenogam or mid-sagittal MRI of the upper thoracic spine. We measured the distance and the level of the corresponding vertebra of line A(horizontal line from the suprasternal notch to the corresponding vertebra) and line B(perpendicular line from the suprasternal notch to the corresponding vertebra ; thoracic inlet) on mid-sagittal MRI of normal subjects. The results were as follows: 1) In 95 cases(94 cumulative %), the line A fell to the T2 lower one third through T4 lower one third and the mean distance was 49.8+/-4.2mm(means standard deviation). 2) In 92 cases(91 cumulative %), the line B fell to the T1 lower one third to T3 middle one third and the mean distance was 45.5+/-4.9mm(means standard deviation). 3) The relation of the height and the distance with age, sex, weight, height, and body mass index were not statistically significant. We concluded that anatomical analysis of the mid-sagittal MRI of the cervicothoracic vertebrae will be helpful in selecting the access route to the cervicothoracic lesion.