Postoperative day 1 discharge following subxiphoid thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection: a single-centre, postoperative enhanced recovery experience.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the safety and quality of recovery (QOR) after discharge on postoperative day (POD) 1 following subxiphoid thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection within an advanced Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted. Characteristics, perioperative and outcome data, compliance with ERAS pathways and a home-transition QOR survey were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: From January 2020 to January 2022, a total of 201 consecutive patients underwent subxiphoid multiportal thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection, comprising 108 lobectomies and 93 sublobar resections (SLRs) (59 complex SLRs and 34 simple SLRs). Among them, 113 patients (56%) were discharged on POD 1, 49% after a lobectomy, 59% after a simple sublobar resection and 68% after a complex sublobar resection. In the multivariable analysis, age > 74 years and duration of the operation were associated with discharge after POD 1, whereas forced expiratory volume in 1 s and complex SLRs were associated with discharge on POD 1. Chest tube removal was achieved on POD 0 in 58 patients (29%), and 138 patients (69%) were free from a chest tube on POD 1. There were 13% with in-hospital morbidity, 10% with 90-day readmission (7% after POD 1 discharge and 14% in patients discharged after POD 1), and 0.5% with 90-day mortality. Patients discharged on POD 1 showed better compliance with the ERAS pathway with early chest tube removal and opioid-free analgesia. The home-transition QOR survey reported a better experience of returning home after discharge on POD 1 and similar pain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative day 1 discharge can be safely achieved in appropriately selected patients after subxiphoid thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection, with excellent outcomes and high quality of recovery, supported by early chest tube removal as a determinant ERAS pathway.

Anatomic lung resection after immune checkpoint inhibitors for initially unresectable advanced-staged non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Patients with initially unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might experience prolonged responses under immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this setting, Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MTB) seldomly suggest surgical resection of the primary tumor with the ultimate goal to eradicate macroscopic residual disease. Our objective was to report the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent anatomic lung resection in these infrequent circumstances. Methods: We set a retrospective multicentric single arm study, including all patients with advanced-staged initially unresectable NSCLC (stage IIIB to IVB) who received systemic therapy including ICIs and eventually anatomical resection of the primary tumor in 10 French thoracic surgery units from January 2016 to December 2020. Coprimary endpoints were in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Secondary endpoints were the rate of complete resection of the pulmonary disease, major pathologic response, risk factors associated with post-operative complications, and overall survival. Results: Twenty-one patients (median age 64, female 62%) were included. Eighteen patients (86%) progressed after first line chemotherapy and received second line ICI. The median time between diagnosis and surgery was 22 months [interquartile range (IQR) 18-35 months]. Minimally-invasive approach was used in 10 cases (48%), with half of these requiring conversion to open thoracotomy. Nine patients (43%) presented early post-operative complications, and one patient died from broncho-pleural fistula one month after surgery. Rates of complete resection of the pulmonary disease and major pathologic response were 100% and 43%, respectively. In univariable analysis, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was the only factor associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications (P=0.027). After a median follow-up of 16.0 months after surgery (IQR, 12.0-30.0 months), 19 patients (90%) were still alive. Conclusions: Anatomic lung resections appear to be a reasonable option for initially unresectable advanced NSCLC experiencing prolonged response under ICIs. Nonetheless, minimally invasive techniques have a low applicability and post-operative complications remains higher in patients who had lower DLCO values. The late timing of surgery may also contribute to complications.

Post-Traumatic Arteriovenous Fistula of Left Renal Vessels: Case Report of a Silent Complication for 23 Years.

Abdominal trauma leads rarely to severe renal injury such as acquired arterioveinous fistula. Here, we present the case of a 46-year-old man with a history of suicide attempt by a gunshot in the abdomen. At that time, explorative laparotomy was unremarkable. He consulted 23 years later for chronic left lumbar pain and was diagnosed with an arterioveinous fistula of left renal vessels with a-10-cm aneurysm of the left renal artery. We performed a left nephrectomy and endovascular clamping was the best option to manage this giant aneurysm in a hostile abdomen.

Early postoperative day 0 chest tube removal using a digital drainage device protocol after thoracoscopic major pulmonary resection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of early chest tube removal on postoperative day 0 (POD 0) on the basis of a digital drainage device protocol in patients undergoing thoracoscopic major lung resection and its contribution as a component of an enhanced recovery after surgery programme. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy were submitted to the following criteria for chest tube removal: Air flow ≤20 ml/min for at least 4 h without fluid threshold, except if haemorrhagic or chylous. Two groups were defined according to chest tube removal on POD 0 (G0) or POD ≥1 (G1). Primary outcome was pleural complication and secondary outcomes were cardiopulmonary complication, length of drainage, length of stay (LOS), compliance with opioid-free analgesic protocol and readmission. The follow-up was 90 days from discharge. RESULTS: The chest tube was removed on POD 0 in 45% of patients (G0). None of them required tube reinsertion for pneumothorax and 1 patient was readmitted for a delayed pleural effusion. Among the 55% remaining patients (G1), the median length of drainage was 2 days, including 3 prolonged air leaks (>5 days). G0 and G1 were not different in terms of cardiopulmonary complication and readmission (6.6% vs 9% and 4.4% vs 7.2%, respectively). The median LOS was 1 day in G0 and 2 days in G1. The compliance with opioid-free analgesic protocol was significantly higher (75% vs 45%, P = 0.004) in G0 compared to G1. CONCLUSIONS: Early POD 0 chest tube removal after thoracoscopic major pulmonary resection is safe in selected patients on the basis of a digital drainage device protocol. Also, it may contribute, by reducing early postoperative pain, to enhance postoperative recovery as part of an advanced enhanced recovery after surgery programme.

Multiportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic major pulmonary resections.

BACKGROUND: New subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SVATS) approaches are emerging for major pulmonary resection. The underlying concept is to reduce invasiveness and morbidity, by minimising intercostal nerve trauma, without any concession on safety and carcinologic issues. This study describes and evaluates our initial experience in multiportal SVATS, compared to conventional VATS (CVATS). METHODS: Between June 2016 and October 2017, 75 consecutive patients underwent major pulmonary resection with an original multiportal SVATS approach developed through a single or double access under the costal arch, unsystematically associated with intercostal ports for 5-mm instruments only. We retrospectively compared results of this SVATS group (n=75) against an historic CVATS group (n=75). RESULTS: Fifty-one lobectomies, 20 segmentectomies and 4 pneumonectomies were achieved through multiportal SVATS. Sixty-eight malignant lesions and 7 benign lesions were noted. All patients with primary lung cancer underwent R0 resection and complete lymphadenectomy, with 11% of clinical N0 upstaging. When compared, the SVATS and CVATS groups were similar in terms of demographics and pathology. No statistical differences were observed in terms of conversion (9% vs. 12%), mean operative time (157 vs. 155 min), morbidity (24% vs. 32%) and 30-day mortality (0% vs. 1.3%). The SVATS group had a significantly shorter length of drainage (median: 1 vs. 3 days, P<0.001), and a shorter postoperative length of stay (median: 2 vs. 4 days, P<0.001). Comfortable pain relief on postoperative day 1 (Numeric Rating Scale ≤3) was equally achieved (96% vs. 93%) with a significantly simplified SVATS analgesic protocol (local block and opioid-free oral analgesia) compared to the CVATS analgesic protocol (paravertebral catheter and opioid-free oral analgesia). SVATS group presented significantly less patients with persistent morphine use at day 7 (4% vs. 15%, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Multiportal SVATS is a safe, carcinologic and reproducible approach for major pulmonary resection. By avoiding intercostal strains, it enables a high compliance to opioid-free analgesic protocol, contributing to significantly shorter hospitalisation and better recovery, compared to CVATS.

Surgical resection of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors: long-term outcome.

Background Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors are rare lesions that remain problematic in several aspects, especially regarding the therapeutic strategy. The goal of this study was to evaluate long-term survival in a multicenter series of patients who required surgery for pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors. Methods Thirty-six cases of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors, operated on in 3 French thoracic surgery departments between 1989 and 2015, were studied retrospectively. We recorded pre-, peri- and postoperative data for each patient, and long-term survival was analyzed. Results There were 22 men and 14 women. Mean age was 53.5 years (range 14-81 years). Three pneumonectomies, 1 bilobectomy, 19 lobectomies, 2 segmentectomies, 10 wedge resections, and 1 biopsy were performed. Complete resection was carried out in 32 (88.8%) patients. Median follow-up was 76 months. Five-year and 10-year survival rates were respectively 86.8% and 81.7% (96% and 90% for patients with R0 resection). Conclusions Long-term survival was excellent for patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors who benefited from surgery, especially when surgical resection was complete. These results confirm that surgical resection must be proposed as the first-line treatment for patients with pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors.

Multiple lung cancers prognosis: what about histology?

BACKGROUND: Among multiple lung cancers (MLC), some may have similar histologic classification. Demonstrating that the second tumor is a metastasis would change the stage and consequently the management. Our purpose was to reconsider this consequence. METHODS: We reviewed 234 patients (194 male and 40 female, from 37 to 83 years of age) with synchronous and metachronous non-small cell MLC. Surgery consisted of a potentially curative complete resection with lymphadenectomy. Patients with similar histologic MLC (considered as metastasis) were compared with those with different histologic classification in terms of MLC chronology, type of resection, pT and pN, stage, and overall survival. RESULTS: There were 116 metachronous (ipsilateral, n = 48; contralateral, n = 68) and 118 synchronous MLCs (bilateral, n = 10; same lobe, n = 57; other lobe, n = 51). Pneumonectomy was performed in 77 patients, lobectomy in 103, and lesser resection in 54. Histologic classification was similar in 57.9% of patients and different in 42.1%. The 5-year survival rates tended to be lower in patients with synchronous MLCs (23.4% versus 31.6%; p = 0.07). They were higher when synchronous MLCs were located in the same lobe than if they were located in another lobe (29.9% versus 15.6%; p = 0.022). Whatever the type of MLC, the 5-year survival rates were not correlated with similar or different histologic classification. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports that surgery is safe and warranted in MLC patients even if synchronous MLCs present ominously. Changing the staging by establishing the diagnosis of metastasis is probably an important issue warranting further biologic research, but according to our results this diagnosis must not in any case preclude surgery.

Long-term evaluation of the replacement of the trachea with an autologous aortic graft.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal reconstruction after extensive resection remains a challenge in thoracic surgery. The goal of this experimental study was to analyze the long-term evolution of tracheal replacement using an autologous aortic graft. METHODS: In 21 sheep, a 5-cm segment of the cervical trachea was replaced by a segment of the descending thoracic aorta that was reconstructed to a prosthetic graft. Because of the airway collapse reported in a previous series, a permanent (n = 13) or temporary (n = 8) stent was systematically placed in the lumen of the graft. Clinical, bronchoscopic, and histologic examinations were performed up to 3 years after implantation. RESULTS: All animals survived the operation with no paraplegia. In the group with a permanent stent, three complications occurred: one stent displacement, one laryngeal edema, and one infection. Stent removal was tolerated after 6 months in the group with a temporary stent. Histologic examination showed a progressive transformation of the arterial segment into first extensive inflammatory tissue with a squamous epithelium, and after 6 to 36 months well-differentiated tracheal tissue including a continuous mucociliary epithelium and regular rings of newly formed cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: An autologous aortic graft used as a substitute for extensive tracheal replacement in sheep remained functional for periods up to 3 years. The progressive transformation of the graft into a structure resembling tracheal tissue seems to be a key factor in long-term patency. The mechanism of this regenerative process and the possibility of using arterial homografts, which would make clinical application easier, remain to be evaluated.