Uniportal video-assisted versus open pneumonectomy: a propensity score-matched comparative analysis with short-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Uniportal (U-VATS) pneumonectomy in lung cancer patients remains disputed in terms of oncological outcomes, and has not been compared to open approaches previously. We evaluated U-VATS versus open pneumonectomy at a high-volume centre. METHODS: Patients undergoing pneumonectomy for lung cancer between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups based on surgical approach. Propensity-score matching was performed (1:1), and intention-to-treat analysis applied. Overall survival, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital-stay and readmission, pain, time to adjuvant therapy, morbidity and mortality were tested. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc. NC) RESULTS: 341 patients underwent pneumonectomy; 23 patients with small-cell lung cancer were excluded, thus 318 patients were submitted to surgery by either U-VATS (n = 54) or open (n = 264). After matching, 52 patients were selected from each group. Five patients (9.2%) in the uniportal group required conversion. There was no significant difference in intraoperative outcomes, complication rates, readmission rates or mortality. The U-VATS group experienced significantly shorter hospital stay (mean ± SD; 6.7 ± 2.7 vs 9.1 ± 2.3 days, p < 0.001) and reported less pain postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Adjuvant chemotherapy was initiated sooner after U-VATS (38.1 ± 8.4 vs 50.8 ± 11.5 days, p < 0.0001). Overall survival appeared to be superior in U-VATS when pathology stage was aligned (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Uniportal VATS is a safe and effective alternative approach to open surgery for pneumonectomy in lung cancer. Complications and oncologic outcomes were comparatively similar. U-VATS showed lower postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and superior overall survival. The study is a preliminary analysis.

Perioperative risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) pneumonectomy versus open thoracotomy: single center experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate perioperative risk factors for AF in patients undergoing uniportal VATS pneumonectomy versus open thoracotomy, and to investigate mediastinal lymph nodes dissection (MLND) on the occurrence of AF. METHODS: Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the surgical approach: uniportal VATS and open pneumonectomy. Analysis was done using chi-square test. Multiple variables were tested using univariate analysis. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Three-hundred and forty-one patients underwent pneumonectomy between 2014 and 2018 in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. Fifty-eight patients underwent uniportal VATS, and 283 underwent thoracotomies. AF was the most common event observed. The overall occurrence of peri-operative AF was 33/341 (9.67%). In the uniportal, converted, and open group the incidence of AF was: 3/52 (5.76%), 1/6 (16.6%), and 29/283 (10.42%), respectively. Overall, there was no specific surgical technique correlated with increased incidence of AF (p = 0.432). By univariate analysis; large tumor size > 4.5 cm (p < 0.010), operative time (OT) > 125 min (p < 0.002), and greater volume of blood loss (p < 0.001) increased the risk of AF. Additionally, patients who experienced higher post-operative pain (p < 0.002) were more vulnerable to developing AF. Mortality occurred in one AF patient (1/33, 3%). Number of lymph nodes harvested was not related to AF incidence (p = 0.520). CONCLUSIONS: Although AF incidence was lower in uniportal group, it was not statistically significant. Large tumor size, long operative time, and increased blood loss were associated with increased risk of perioperative AF. These results need to be confirmed by larger studies.

Subxiphoid versus intercostal uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral lung resections: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: Subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SUVATS) is a technically difficult and challenging operation that can help decrease pain around the incision after traditional intercostal uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (IUVATS), and can also treat bilateral lesions through the same incision. We aimed to compare perioperative outcomes and pain scores after SUVATS and IUVATS in patients receiving synchronous treatment of bilateral lung lesions. METHODS: Patients who received SUVATS and IUVATS bilateral lung resections from September 2014 to February 2018 were analysed. Ultimately a total of 381 cases were analysed after using one-to-one propensity score matching to match baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The 381 patients included 56 with SUVATS and 325 with IUVATS. After matching, 54 SUVATS and 54 IUVATS cases were analysed. The 2 groups had similar preoperative factors and did not differ with respect to duration of chest tube placement, length of stay in hospital and incidence of postoperative complications. SUVATS was associated with a significantly longer operative time (212.3 vs 154.6 min, P < 0.001) and more blood loss (190.9 vs 72.7 ml, P < 0.001), lower pain score on the first day after operation (2.6 vs 3.0, P = 0.03) and before discharge (0.8 vs 1.4, P < 0.001). Furthermore, less patients in group SUVATS requested for additional analgesic therapy (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with IUVATS, despite the longer operative time and greater blood loss, SUVATS for bilateral lung lesions is a safe surgical procedure associated with significantly less postoperative pain and a similar incidence of postoperative complications in selected patients.

Uniportal Subcostal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Feasible Approach for a Challenging Middle Lobectomy in an Obese Patient.

Subcostal access is a novel approach for anatomical lung resection. To perform surgery via this access, specially designed long instruments are required. Subcostal access provides excellent visualization of the mediastinum and anterior lung hilum. We exhibit here a subcostal middle lobectomy with systematic en-block mediastinal lymphadenectomy in an obese 52-year-old male patient with body mass index (BMI=37.7) performed via this single incision. The operation was completed efficiently within 30 minutes with negligible postoperative pain.

Behavior of primary tracheal glomus tumor, uncertain malignant potential subtype.

The behavior of the pathological subtypes of tracheal glomus tumor (benign, uncertain malignant potential UMP, malignant) is vague. In a 51-year-old gentleman, suffering from cough for 4 months, computed tomography scan showed a mass at lower third of the trachea and the bronchoscope revealed exophytic mass at the tracheal lumen. Segmental tracheal resection was done using special modified endotracheal tube for the distal lung ventilation. The tracheal glomus tumor was also diagnosed based on the immunohistochemical staining. The tumor was 2 cm in diameter, deeply located, mitotic phase was difficult to identify, and a diagnosis of UMP subtype was made. There was no recurrence after 2 years follow-up. This is the first reported case of UMP subtype in lower trachea and we studied the treatment options with the clinic-pathological behavior of this tumor and its sequel by regular follow-up.

Resistin is not an appropriate biochemical marker to predict severity of acute pancreatitis: a case-controlled study.

AIM: To assess levels of serum resistin upon hospital admission as a predictor of acute pancreatitis (AP) severity. METHODS: AP is both a common and serious disease, with severe cases resulting in a high mortality rate. Several predictive inflammatory markers have been used clinically to assess severity. This prospective study collected data from 102 patients who were diagnosed with an initial acute biliary pancreatitis between March 2010 and February 2013. Measurements of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were obtained and serum resistin levels were analyzed at the time of hospital admission using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, resistin levels were measured from a control group after matching gender, BMI and age. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients (60 females and 42 males) were diagnosed with acute gallstone-induced pancreatitis. The mean age was 45 years, and mean BMI value was 30.5 kg/m(2) (Obese, class I). Twenty-two patients (21.6%) had severe AP, while eighty-eight patients had mild pancreatitis (78.4%). Our results showed that BMI significantly correlated with pancreatitis severity (P = 0.007). Serum resistin did not correlate with BMI, weight or WC. Furthermore, serum resistin was significantly higher in patients with AP compared to control subjects (P < 0.0001). The mean resistin values upon admission were 17.5 ng/mL in the severe acute biliary pancreatitis group and 16.82 ng/mL in the mild AP group (P = 0.188), indicating that resistin is not an appropriate predictive marker of clinical severity. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that obesity is a risk factor for developing severe AP. Further, although there is a correlation between serum resistin levels and AP at the time of hospital admission, resistin does not adequately serve as a predictive marker of clinical severity.

Does the presence of obesity and/or metabolic syndrome affect the course of acute pancreatitis?: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is rising with increased prevalence of obesity, which exacerbates pancreatic injury. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is defined as a cluster condition of cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity. We analyze if the presence of obesity and/or MS affects the course of pancreatitis. METHODS: Data were collected from 140 patients with AP between January 2010 and February 2013. Anthropometric data, including body mass index and waist circumference, were measured. Biochemical tests were used including fasting glucose, triglyceride, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and total cholesterol level. Atlanta criteria, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, and Ranson scoring system were used to define severe AP. Patients were classified as having MS based on the International Diabetic Federation criteria. RESULTS: The mean body mass index was 30.15 kg/m(2). Sixteen (11.4%) patients had severe AP, whereas 124 (88.6%) patients had mild AP. We found that 62.8% of patients with AP fulfilled the criteria of MS (P = 0.000). Body weight can be used to predict clinical severity of AP with significant P value (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MS in patients with pancreatitis is noticeable, but it does not affect the course of disease severity, whereas obesity correlates with pancreatitis severity.

Behavior of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a patient with von-Recklinghausen disease: Case report.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a malignant gastrointestinal tumor of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) Von Recklinghausen disease. In the current case, we report a 27-year-old woman with NF1, who presented with a lower abdominal mass, symptomatic anaemia, and significant weight loss. We employed multiple approaches to assess the tumor behavior, including computed tomography (CT) scan, surgical tumor resection, histological and immunohistochemical analysis and gene sequencing. Additionally, the patient was given Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) as adjuvant therapy. CT scan delineated a large thick wall cavity lesion connecting to the small bowel segment. Resection of the tumor yielded a mass of 17 cm × 13 cm with achievement of safety margins. The diagnosis was GIST, confirmed by immunohistochemical expression of CD117, CD34, and Bcl-2. Sequencing revealed no mutations in either KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha, genes which are mutated in over 85% of sporadic GIST cases. Further, there was no evidence of recurrence, metastasis or metachronous GIST for over three years in our patient. From our analyses, we believe selective genotyping is advisable for high risk patients to predict potential tumor behavior.

Phyllodes tumor of the breast: a retrospective study of the impact of histopathological factors in local recurrence and distant metastasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The challenging issue for the breast surgeons is local recurrence of phyllodes tumor. The histological criteria to predict local recurrence has been a controversial issue. The objective of this study was to determine pathological parameters and surgical margins that influence outcome of local recurrence and distant metastasis in phyllodes tumor (PT). DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review between January 2003 to August 2008 at King Hussein Cancer Center-Jordan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two female patients diagnosed as having PT were classified to benign, borderline and malignant. The medical records were reviewed in relation to the surgical management, recurrence, follow-up, the histological features of the tumor and grading of tumors based on the following histological parameters: mitotic count, stromal cellularity, stromal overgrowth, cellular pleomorphism, nuclear grade, tumor necrosis, tumor margin, and surgical margin status. All patients underwent wide local excision of the tumor or mastectomy. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with PT (16 benign, 9 borderline, 17 malignant PT) were followed up for 30 months. The mean age was 39.8 years, and the average tumor size was 6.6 cm. The recurrence rate of PT in our study was 21% at a mean time of 11 months. Nine patients had local recurrence; 2 benign, 6 malignant and 1 borderline. Cellular pleomorphism had correlation with recurrence rate (P=.045). We had six patients (14%) with distant metastasis. All had malignant PT. Metastasis in PT has a relationship with histological grade (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients with moderate and severe cellular pleomorphism had higher local recurrence, while metastatic PT occur more in patients with high nuclear grade.

Phyllodes tumor of the breast: role of CD10 in predicting metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Phyllodes tumors are classified as benign, borderline, and malignant according to a group of histological features. The expression of many biological markers has been explored to discriminate between different grades of phyllodes tumor and to predict their behavior. The immunohistochemical expression of CD10 has been shown to discriminate between benign and other grades of phyllodes tumor but has not been evaluated as a predictor of metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of immunohistochemical staining of stromal CD10 in predicting the likelihood of metastasis in phyllodes tumors. METHODS: The expression of CD10 was studied in 43 phyllodes tumors (16 benign, 10 borderline, and 17 malignant) using immunohistochemistry to evaluate whether differences in expression correlated with the presence of, and or, development of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Metastasis occurred in six malignant phyllodes tumors. The expression of CD10 significantly (P<0.05) correlated with the occurrence of distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of CD10 can be used to predict the occurrence of distant metastasis in phyllodes tumors of the breast.

Mesenteric Castleman's disease: case report and literature review.

A 41-year-old man was discovered to have a pelvic mass during investigation for hypertension 2 years ago. Otherwise, he was asymptomatic, and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a highly vascular solid mass superior to the urinary bladder. A 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine whole body scan was reported as normal, which ruled out the possibility of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma. No definitive preoperative diagnosis could be established. Surgical resection of the tumour revealed mesenteric Castleman's disease, hyaline vascular type. Such a diagnosis should be considered for any abdominal vascular mass.