Giant tumors of the posterior mediastinum: a narrative review of surgical treatment.

Background and Objective: The posterior mediastinum is a potential space along the paravertebral sulci or between the posterior aspect of the pericardium and the vertebrae. This compartment is classically the most frequent location site of neurogenic tumors. Whereas neurofibroma and schwannoma are neurogenic tumors that commonly arise from peripheral nerves, sympathetic nerves are the origin of ganglioneuroma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, and neuroectodermal cells closely associated with autonomic nerves are the origin of paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas. Additionally, tumors from the esophagus, tumors of mesenchymal origin, lymphoma, ectopic goiter, and diseases with lymph node hyperplasia may also settle on this compartment. The objectives are to identify term "giant posterior mediastinal tumor" and the etiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods, pathological types, surgical methods applied, and technical details of these methods for the treatment of these tumors. Methods: In this review, the term "giant tumor" was used to define tumors larger than 10 cm settled in the posterior mediastinum. PubMed database was searched with keywords "posterior mediastinum, giant mass" or "posterior mediastinum, tumor, giant" limited to English language and full-text available studies published between years 1984-2021. Key Content and Findings: As a result of the literature review with the relevant terms, 23 case reports were found in accordance with the inclusion criteria. We detected the most common giant posterior mediastinum tumors were neurogenic origin (schwannoma, ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma, triton tumor) in that review. The most common surgical approach was posterolateral thoracotomy. Treatment response to surgical total excision was good in most of cases. Conclusions: The definitive diagnosis and treatment of giant posterior mediastinal tumors is made by surgical excision. Diagnostic procedures and subsequent surgical planning may vary depending on the origin and localization. Adjuvant treatment and follow-up should be conducted on the histopathological features.

Single versus multiple video-assisted thoracocopic lung biopsy for suspected interstitial lung disease: a perspective on diagnostic efficacy and length of hospital stay.

Background: Nearly one-third of the patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) require surgical biopsy for a definite diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) biopsy has replaced open lung biopsy, but the number of biopsy required to achieve an accurate diagnose is controversial. Objectives: Our study aims to show that a well-planned single VATS biopsy is as effective as multiple biopsies for the accurate diagnosis of ILD by reduced days of hospital stay. Methods: We included 111 patients with suspected ILD who underwent VATS biopsy in our study. Patients were separated into three groups according to the number of biopsies obtained. The differences between groups for diagnostic yield, mean time for chest tube removal, perioperative complications, and approximate volume per biopsy were analyzed statistically. Results: Eighteen single, 74 double, and 19 triple biopsies were made. Mean times of chest tube removal and hospital stay for single, double, and triple biopsy were 3.5, 4.8, and 6.1 days respectively. The number of biopsy and length of hospital stay was strongly related (p = 0.02), but there was no difference for diagnostic yield between single and multiple biopsy groups (p > 0.05). There was no intraoperative complication or perioperative mortality. In postoperative period, eight patients with multiple biopsies had prolonged air leak. Conclusion: Although classical knowledge suggests multiple biopsies from different locations of the lung are essential, recent reports have shown that the site and the number of biopsy are not as effective as previously thought in achieving the diagnosis for ILD. Our results show that a "single" biopsy, decided with multidisciplinary evaluation, is an effective and safe diagnostic tool, with lesser days of hospital stay. Main novel aspects: 1. The classical knowledge that multiple biopsies should be taken from different regions of the lung in the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases has changed over time.2. Diagnostic concordance between multiple biopsy specimens is above 85%.3. A "single" biopsy, decided with multidisciplinary evaluation, is an effective and safe diagnostic tool with lower days of hospital stay.

Non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery under combination of erector spinae plane block and thoracic paravertebral block.

BACKGROUND: The use of anesthetics and analgesic drugs and techniques in combination yields a multimodal effect with increased efficiency. In this case series, we aimed to evaluate the anesthetic effect of the thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) combination in patients, who underwent non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (NIVATS). METHODS: Medical records of 16 patients, who underwent NIVATS for wedge resection under the combination of ESPB and TPVB were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data of patients, duration of the sensory block, amount of the anesthetic agent used for premedication and sedo-analgesia, any presence of perioperative cough, operative times, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores in the postoperative follow-up period, the need for additional analgesia, and patient satisfaction were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the patients included in the study, 12 were men and 4 were women. The mean age was 48.6 years and the mean BMI was 24.7 kg/m2. The mean time needed for the achievement of the sensorial block was 14 min and the mean skin-to-skin operative time was 21.4 min. During the procedure, patients received 81.5 ± 27.7 mg of propofol and 30 ± 13.6 micrograms of remifentanil infusions, respectively. The mean dose of ketamine administered in total was 58.1 ± 12.2 mg. Only 2 patients needed an extra dose of remifentanil because of recurrent cough. No patients developed postoperative nausea vomiting. During the first 24 h, the VAS static scores of the patients were 3 and below, while VAS dynamic scores were 4 and below. Morphine consumption in the first postoperative 24 h was 13.2 mg. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, combined ESPB and TPVB with added intravenous sedo-analgesia in the presence of good cooperation between the surgical team and the anesthesiologist in the perioperative period can provide optimal surgical conditions including the prevention of cough in NIVATS. It is not sufficient to state that this combination is superior to alone ESPB or alone TPVB, as it is a preliminary study with a limited number of cases.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Treatment of Coelomic Cysts.

Background: Coelomic cysts are uncommon benign cyctic lesions of the mediastinum. Complete resection of the cyst with surgical treatment is indicated depending on whether the patient is symptomatic or whether the cyst grows during follow-up, or whether the diagnosis is uncertain. Surgical treatment prevents complications, relieves symptoms, and establishes diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the best method for excision of these cysts. This approach is safe and effective, has low morbidity, and shortens the length of hospital stay Objectives: We aimed to analyze our experience with coelomic cysts through VATS, reviewing clinical, radiological, and pathological features, early and long-term results of surgical management. Patients and Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2018, 20 patients with coelomic cysts who underwent VATS at our clinic were included in the study. Results: The study included 11 female and 9 male patients with a mean age of 45.6 years. Symptoms were present in 17 patients and 3 were asymptomatic. The average cyst diameter was 5.4 cm (range 2-8 cm). Fourteen of them were right sided, the others were left sided. There were no operative mortality and complications. Postoperatively there were no complications, in all cases course was uneventful, all of them were discharged after a mean of 3 days (range 2-6 days). Conclusions: Considering the low complication rate and hospital stay, excision of coelomic cysts through VATS is extremely safe and comfortable, so it should be considered the primary therapeutic procedure.

Prognostic significance of preoperative consolidation to maximum tumour diameter ratio and SUVmax in pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Consolidation/tumour (C/T) ratio means the maximum diameter of the consolidation is divided by the maximum diameter of the tumour and it is predictive for pathologic subtypes and prognosis after resection of the tumour. The purpose of this study is to clarify impact of C/T ratio along with maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) in pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Only patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by resection were included. Prognostic impact of C/T ratio and SUVmax were analysed by using regression analyses. RESULTS: Totally 156 patients (121 males, 35 females) were evaluated retrospectively. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were higher in patients with C/T ratio ≥0.5 (OS: 46.3 ± 23.7 vs 30.4 ± 14.6, P = 0.002 and PFS: 43.0 ± 25.4 vs 27.8 ± 15.8, P = 0.005). But PFS and OS curves did not reveal any significant differences with Kaplan-Meier method (P = 0.45 and P = 0.055 respectively). Resection type (limited vs anatomic) and C/T ratio were predictors for OS in multivariate analyses (resection type: HR: 2.21 (1.01-4.83), P = 0.045 and C/T ratio: HR: 0.44 (0.20-0.98), P = 0.045). For PFS, resection type and SUVmax had prognostic significance (resection type: HR: 3.56 (1.64-7.74), P = 0.001 and SUVmax: HR: 1.31 (0.82-2.99), P = .002). CONCLUSION: In pathological stage 1 lung adenocarcinomas, SUVmax and surgery type are important predictors for recurrence rates. For early stage, adenocarcinoma patients with high SUVmax value, tumour size ≥3 cm and high grade subtype, C/T ratio should not be considered significant alone on survival and recurrence.