ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims at describing the feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in benign diseases such as pulmonary sequestrations (PSs) and report the surgical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of 25 patients who were operated for PS over 7 years at a dedicated thoracic surgery centre in India. Pre-operative details, operative technique and details, post-operative details and complications were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: There were 15 (60%) males and 10 (40%) females, with a median age of 22.28 years (range, 16-28 years). All patients had intra-lobar type of sequestration. The most commonly involved was left lower lobe (n = 15 patients, 60%) followed by the right lower lobe (n = 10 patients, 40%). The origin of blood supply was from the descending thoracic aorta in 18 patients (72%), the abdominal aorta in 5 (20%) and the coeliac trunk and the inferior phrenic artery in one patient (4%) each. All patients underwent complete lobar resection. One patient was converted because of dense hilar adhesion. The average duration of surgery was 179 min and the average blood loss was 204 ml. The median hospital stay and chest tube duration were 4 and 3 days, respectively. One patient was re-explored because of post-operative bleeding. Only one patient had an air leak for >7 days. The median follow-up was 42 months (range, 6-90 months) without any recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: VATS is a safe, feasible and effective option for PS at experienced centres.
ABSTRACT
Bronchial carcinoids are slow-growing tumours of the neuroendocrine family. Most of them have a benign course with excellent outcome after complete resection. Due to their location in the primary bronchi, adequate resection with lung preservation requires considerable technical expertise. In this paper we present our surgical experience with endobronchial carcinoids and analyse the factors that predict possibility of lung preservation surgery. Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients operated for endobronchial carcinoids for the period March 2012 to September 2019 was carried out. Demographic factors and peri-operative variables were recorded and analysed. Factors that influence surgical outcome and possibility of lung preservation surgery were analysed. A total of 137 patients underwent surgery for resection of carcinoid tumours, out of which 100 had endobronchial carcinoids whereas 37 had peripheral carcinoids. The surgical procedure in 100 patients with endobronchial carcinoids included 14 left main bronchus sleeve resections, 13 pneumonectomies (7 right sided and 6 left sided), 10 right lower and middle bi-lobectomies, 10 lobectomies (4 left upper, 2 left lower and 4 right upper), and 53 sleeve lobectomies (18 left upper lobe sleeves, 8 left lower lobe sleeves, 20 right upper lobe sleeves, 5 right middle lobe sleeves and 2 right lower lobe sleeve lobectomies). There was no operative mortality. Median tumour size was 3.9 cm (range 5-130 mm). On univariate analysis, longer duration of symptoms was associated with poor surgical outcomes. On multivariate analysis, tumour in the main bronchus, duration of disease < 3 months (p = 0.006), left-sided disease (p = 0.03), and presence of healthy distal lung parenchyma (p < 0.001) were associated with successful lung preservation. Majority of endobronchial carcinoid tumours can be managed with lung-sparing procedures with minimal morbidity and mortality and excellent immediate and short-term outcomes. Early referral and experience of team performing these complex procedures are the key to success.