Uniportal robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for early-stage lung cancer with the Da Vinci Xi: Initial experience of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques, currently considered the gold standard in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), are mainly represented by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), both uniportal and multiportal, and by robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS). While multiportal RATS has been accepted as a valid alternative to VATS, carrying the advantages of three-dimensional high-definition visualisation and improved maneuverability, very few reports exist in literature on the application of uniportal RATS (U-RATS). Therefore, we describe our initial experience with this recently developed method in the treatment of early-stage NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: U-RATS was conducted through a single 4 cm long antero-lateral mini-thoracotomy (ALMT) in the sixth intercostal space at the mid-axillary line. Three 8 mm robotic trocars were positioned and connected, from back to front, to robotic arms as follows: 30° camera arm, robotic arm 2 (bipolar fenestrated grasper) and 1 (Maryland bipolar forceps). Assistant access was identified as the most anterior part of ALMT. RESULTS: Case 1: an 82-year-old woman (American Society of Anaesthesiologists [ASA III]) underwent a left S6 segmentectomy for a clinical stage IA2 NSCLC, complicated by an air leak that resolved spontaneously by postoperative day three (POD 3). Case 2: a 75-year-old man (ASA III) underwent an uncomplicated right lower lobectomy for a clinical stage IA3 NSCLC. Case 1 and 2 were discharged on POD 5 and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From what emerged in our small series, U-RATS with the Da Vinci Xi surgical system might be considered a safe, reliable, and effective alternative to other MIS techniques. Larger prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Postoperative outcomes, lymph node dissection and effects on costs among thoracotomy, video-assisted and robotic-assisted lobectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS)-lobectomy are widely accepted procedures for the surgical treatment of clinical (c)stage I non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current literature which procedure gives more benefits is still debated. We present a comparison between these three procedures in term of advantages and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: A multicentric study about 259 lobectomies from 2013 to 2019: 128 patients underwent TL, 96 VATS and 35 RATS. Different variables were retrospectively analyzed among these three cohorts of patients with diagnosis of cStage I NSCLC. RESULTS: Rate of major complications comparable in VATS, RATS and TL; Advantages for RATS in minor complications (TL 34.4% vs. VATS 18.75% vs. RATS 8.57%. P=0.0015), postoperative days in Intensive Care Unit, days to chest tube removal, length of postoperative hospitalization (P<0.0001) and number of lymph nodes dissected (P=0.0257). Operating times are shorter in VATS than RATS (P<0.05). Pain (NRS Scale) is comparable. CONCLUSIONS: TL remains the conventional approach for stage II-IIIA(N2) NSCLC. RATS showed great advantages, but its higher operating time and costs, mostly, today don't justify its adoption as gold standard for the surgical treatment of cStage I NSCLC, instead of VATS.

CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy: advantages in histopathological and molecular tests.

Aim: The present study aimed to demonstrate that computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) is a safe procedure that gives a more accurate pre-operative tissue diagnosis for peripheral lung nodules than transthoracic needle aspiration, obtaining suitable samples for molecular test in lung adenocarcinomas. Patients & methods: Between December 2016 and March 2018 at Thoracic Surgery Department of the University of Palermo - Policlinico Paolo Giaccone hospital, TTNB was performed in 42 patients with computed tomography-detected peripheral lung nodules >10 mm, using 16-18-Gauge Tru-Cut needles. Results: With TTNB, we have estimated an accuracy for tissue diagnosis of 97.6%. At the molecular test, EGFR overexpression and ALK mutation resulted positive for 12/23 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: TTNB has showed a low rate of complications and it is adoptable as standard diagnostic procedure for peripheral lung nodules.

Intrapulmonary solitary fibrous tumour: a rare neoplasm of the lung and a challenging pre-operative diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Case report of a 78-year-old male who came to our observation for a growing pulmonary mass of the left upper lobe without a pre-operative diagnosis. Post-operative histopathology revealed an intrapulmonary Solitary Fibrous Tumour (SFT) of the lung. CASE REPORT: The pulmonary lesion was an ovoid mass centrally located in the left upper lobe; it had been known and stable in size for two years; the last Chest Computed Tomography (CT) Scan highlighted a marked increase in maximum diameter (35 versus 22 mm) with contrast enhancement. In view of the growth of the lesion, the patient was referred for surgery after multidisciplinary team evaluation, although a pre-operative diagnosis had not been reached. The patient underwent Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) left upper lobectomy by a biportal approach. The pulmonary nodule consisted of a proliferation of bland-looking spindle cells intermingled with fibrotic stroma and alternating sclerotic and cellular areas. At immunohistochemistry, the spindle cells expressed CD34, bcl2 and CD99. A final diagnosis of intrapulmonary SFT was reached. The 36-month follow-up was negative for relapses. CONCLUSIONS: Primary intrapulmonary SFTs are extremely rare neoplasms, generally with benign biological behaviour; surgical resection is safe and essential in order to be curative and can be achieved by a minimally invasive approach. Pre-operative diagnosis is challenging, due to aspecific clinical and radiological features. KEY WORDS: Lung, Solitary Fibrous Tumour, Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy.

The Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Treatment of Lung Metastases.

INTRODUCTION: The ideal surgical approach for pulmonary metastasectomy remains controversial. Thoracoscopic surgery may offer advantages in quality of life outcomes, with equivalent oncologic long-term results. This study aimed to demonstrate the validity of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of lung metastases. METHODS: In all 224 patients who underwent 300 VATS metastasectomies from January 2000 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-nine patients underwent major resection (68 thoracoscopic lobectomies and one pneumonectomy) and 155 patients underwent a wedge resection/segmentectomy. Complete curative pulmonary resections were performed in 219 (97%) cases. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival curves. Univariate and subsequent multivariate Cox model regression were performed to identify independent factors of overall survival. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six patients developed lung metastases from epithelial tumors, 28 from sarcomas, seven from melanomas, and three from germ cell tumors. The final pathological examination revealed no cases of R1 disease. After a mean follow-up of 40 months, 118 patients (53%) had died. According to a multivariate analysis, a better prognosis was not observed for patients with a particular histological type; in addition, disease-free interval time, age, number of metastases, and type of surgery did not have any statistical influence on long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic surgery is a safe and efficacious procedure, with a five-year overall survival that is equivalent to open surgery.

Ruptured aneurysm of replaced left hepatic artery.

Hepatic artery aneurysm is an uncommon and potentially fatal form of vascular disease. We report the case of a 53-year-old man with an isolated, nontraumatic rupture of an aneurysm of a replaced left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery. This case is unusual because the ruptured aneurysm involved an hepatic artery with a rare vascular pattern.

Thoracoscopic lung metastasectomies: a 10-year, single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: The ideal surgical treatment for pulmonary metastasectomy remains controversial. Minimally invasive surgery may offer advantages for quality of life outcomes, with equivalent oncologic long-term results. The purpose of our study was to confirm the validity of the thoracoscopic approach for pulmonary metastasectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 164 patients who underwent 212 lung metastasectomies from January 2000 to December 2010. Complete curative pulmonary resections were performed in 159 (96.95 %) cases; 126 patients developed lung metastases from epithelial tumors: 28 from sarcoma, 7 from melanoma, and 3 from germ cell tumors. The mean disease-free interval (DFI) was 38.75 months. Fifty-four patients underwent a major VATS resection (53 thoracoscopic lobectomies and 1 pneumonectomy), and 110 patients underwent a wedge resection/segmentectomy. Lymph node sampling was performed in 117 cases. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 38 months, 87 patients (53 %) had died. All resection margins were tumor-free at final pathological examination. Multivariate analysis not confirmed in our series a better prognosis for patients with a particular histologic type and also DFI, age, number of metastases, and type of surgery did not statistically influence long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic surgery is an acceptable procedure, safe and efficacious, with a 5-year overall survival that is equivalent to open surgery.

Extended lymph node dissection without routine spleno-pancreatectomy for treatment of gastric cancer: low morbidity and mortality rates in a single center series of 250 patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To verify the hypothesis that avoidance of routine splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy in a modified D-2 resection for gastric cancer can significantly lower the complications rate of this procedure in a population of Western patients. METHODS: A series of 250 consecutive Italian patients suffering from localized, histology-proven gastric cancer was submitted to gastrectomy and extended D-2 lymphadenectomy for treatment of their disease during an 8-year period (1994-2002) at the European Institute of Oncology in Milano, Italy. Caudal pancreas and spleen were routinely preserved, unless the tumor was not closely adjacent to or directly invading these organs. Postoperative morbidity, overall mortality, and length of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients underwent total gastrectomy and 110 a subtotal distal one; splenectomy was performed in 8 cases and spleno-pancreatectomy in 15. The postoperative morbidity rate was 18%, the mortality rate was 1.2% and 9 patients experienced re-operation. The median length of stay was 14.8 days. CONCLUSIONS: These results compete favorably with those reported after standard D-1 gastrectomy in Western patients series. D-2 gastrectomy with spleen and pancreas routine preservation can be considered a safe treatment for gastric cancer in Western patients, at least in experienced centers.