Evolution of a minimally invasive oesophagectomy program - effective complication management is key.

Introduction: Despite improvements in patient selection, operative technique, and postoperative care, oesophagectomy remains one of the most morbid oncologic resection types. Introduction of minimally invasive practice has been shown to have a greater marginal benefit for oesophagectomy than most of the other types of procedures. Aim: To evaluate early surgical outcomes through the adoption of totally minimally invasive oesophagectomy and accumulating experience in perioperative management. Material and methods: All patients with mid and distal oesophageal carcinoma who underwent oesophagectomy and gastric conduit construction between June 2004 and December 2021 were recorded prospectively. Demographic information, neoadjuvant treatment, operative data, and perioperative mortality/morbidity were evaluated. Patients were classified depending on the timeline and predominant surgical approach: Group 1 (2004-2011, open surgery), Group 2 (2011-2015, adoption period of minimally invasive surgery), and Group 3 (2015-2021, routine minimally invasive surgery). Results: In total, 167 patients were identified (Group 1, n = 48; Group 2, n = 44; Group 3, n = 75). Group 3 was significantly older (59.5 ±11.6 vs. 54.1 ±10.6 years and 56.2 ±10.8 years; p = 0.031).The likelihood of successful completion of a totally minimally invasive esophagectomy was increased as well as the preference for intrathoracic anastomosis (p < 0.0001 for both). The major morbidity rate was stable across the groups, but 90-day mortality significantly decreased for the most recent cohort. Conclusions: Accumulating experience led to enhanced success in completion of minimally invasive oesophagectomy, and intrathoracic anastomosis was increasingly the preferred modality. Surgical mortality decreased over time despite the older patients and comparable perioperative morbidity including anastomotic leaks. Improvement in the management of complications is an apparent contributor to good perioperative outcomes as well as technical development.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery esophagectomy outcomes in 40 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive esophagectomy has improved over time becoming faster and less invasive. We have changed our technical approach from multiportal to uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) esophagectomy over the years. In this study, we analysed our results with uniportal VATS esophagectomy technique. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive patients with the intent to perform uniportal VATS esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between July 2017 and August 2021. Demographic criteria, comorbidities, neoadjuvant therapy, intraoperative data, complications, length of stay, pathological data, 30- and 90-day mortality and 2-year survival data were recorded. RESULTS: Forty patients (21 female) were operated (median age 62.9 [53.5-70.25]). Eighteen patients (45%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The chest part of all cases was started with uniportal VATS and 31 (77.5%) was completed uniportally (34 Ivor Lewis, 6 McKeown). The median thoracic operation time in minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy was 90 min (77.5-100). The median time for uniportal side-to-side anastomosis was 12 min (11-16). Five (12.5%) patients had leak, and 4 were intrathoracic. Twenty-eight (70%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 11 adenocarcinoma and 1 squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation. Thirty-seven (92.5%) patients had R0 resection. The mean number of lymph nodes dissected was 24 ± 9.5. Thirty- and ninety-day mortality was 2.5% (n = 1). The mean follow-up was 44 ± 2.8 months. Two-year survival was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Uniportal VATS esophagectomy is a safe, fast and feasible alternative to other minimally invasive and open approaches. Comparable results to contemporary series are observed in perioperative and oncologic outcomes.

Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis through a total of five ports.

Situs inversus totalis is inverse placement of intra-thoracic and abdominal organs identical with a mirror image. Herein, we present a rare case of situs inversus totalis and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma treated with minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. A 73-year-old male patient presented with dysphagia and a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was made. He underwent three-port laparoscopic gastric conduit preparation without using a liver retractor. Esophageal mobilization in the chest was completed with biportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery technique and a completely side-to-side stapled anastomosis. The patient is still alive without recurrence four years after surgery. Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy can be performed in these cases; however, a careful planning and rethinking of the anatomy for correct intraoperative orientation are needed. Similar surgical and oncological outcomes are expected in this patient population.

Endobronchial coils in treatment of advanced emphysema: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to present our experience with endobronchial coils in patients who underwent endobronchial lung volume reduction due to advanced emphysema. METHODS: The study included 46 patients (45 males, 1 female; mean age 61.7±8 years; range, 43 to 80 years) who underwent endobronchial lung volume reduction with endobronchial coils for advanced emphysema. Patients" age, gender, pulmonary function tests, post-treatment morbidity, mortality, pre- and post-treatment (6 months) six-minute walking distance, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were recorded. RESULTS: Patients had an average of 65 pack/year smoking history. An average of 11 (range, 9-15) coils were placed per lobe (right upper lobe=35, left upper lobe=19, right lower lobe=2, left lower lobe=4). Mean follow-up duration was 12.6 months (±5.6 months). Post-treatment forced expiratory volume in one second, residual volume and six-minute walking distance values were improved with statistical significance. Also, significant improvement was seen in quality of life, quantified by modified Medical Research Council, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores. While no immediate major postoperative complications occurred, three patients developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, two developed pneumonia, and one developed recurrence of previous neurologic disorder within 30 days. CONCLUSION: Endobronchial coil administration provides lower morbidity and mortality compared to lung volume reduction surgery as well as significant improvement in pulmonary functions and quality of life in selected patients with advanced emphysema.

Risk of serious perioperative complications with removal of double bars following the Nuss procedure.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to present our experience with Nuss bar removal and evaluate potential risk factors. The Nuss procedure requires an operation to remove the bar 2-3 years after the initial correction. Although removal of the bar is generally believed to be safe, perioperative complications including major bleeding can occur. Methods: All cases involving removal of the Nuss bar done since April 2007 were recorded in a prospective database. Data were collected on the amount of blood loss, the number of diagnostic interventions, operative management and postoperative course. Results: Of a total of 246 (162 with single bars, 80 with double bars, 4 with triple bars) cases, 43 patients (17.5%) experienced perioperative complications. Five patients underwent secondary postoperative interventions; one patient required same-session emergency video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) due to major bleeding. Patients who had complications were significantly older than patients with no complications (20.5 ± 6.5 years vs 17.2 ± 5.9 years, P = 0.002). People having double bars removed were significantly more likely to have perioperative complications (12% vs 27%, P = 0.03) and complications requiring secondary interventions (n = 1 for a single bar, n = 5 for double bars, P = 0.01). Conclusions: Major complications after removal of the Nuss bar occur with some frequency. Although the double-bar removals in our cohort were associated with major complications, the reasons are poorly understood. Immediate management of the complications may require multidisciplinary care. Multicentric pooling of cases is needed for better risk stratification.