Robotic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy: technical approach and outcomes. / Segmentectomia pulmonar anatômica robótica: aspectos técnicos e desfechos.

OBJECTIVE: to report our initial experience with pulmonary robotic segmentectomy, describing the surgical technique, the preferred positioning of portals, initial results and outcomes. METHODS: we collected data, from a prospective robotic surgery database, on patients undergoing robotic segmentectomy between January 2017 and December 2018. All patients had lung cancer, primary or secondary, or benign diseases, and were operated on with the Da Vinci system, by the three portals technique plus one utilitarian incision of 3cm. We dissected the hilar structures individually and performed the ligatures of the arterial and venous branches, of the segmental bronchi, as well as a parenchymal transection, with endoscopic staplers. We carried out systematic dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. RESULTS: forty-nine patients, of whom 33 were women, underwent robotic segmentectomy. The average age was of 68 years. Most patients had NSCLC (n=34), followed by metastatic disease (n=11) and benign disease (n=4). There was no conversion to laparoscopic or open surgery, or to lobectomy. The median total operative time was 160 minutes, and the median console time, 117 minutes. Postoperative complications occurred in nine patients (18.3%), of whom seven (14.2%) had prolonged hospitalization (>7 days) due to persistent air fistula (n=4; 8.1%) or abdominal complications (n=2.4%). CONCLUSION: robotic segmentectomy is a safe and viable procedure, offering a short period of hospitalization and low morbidity.

OBJETIVO: relatar nossa experiência inicial com a segmentectomia robótica, descrevendo a técnica operatória, a colocação preferencial dos portais, os resultados iniciais e desfechos. MÉTODOS: dados clínicos de pacientes submetidos à segmentectomia robótica, entre janeiro de 2017 e dezembro de 2018, foram obtidos de um banco de dados prospectivo de cirurgia robótica. Todos os pacientes tinham câncer de pulmão, primário ou secundário, ou doenças benignas, e foram operados usando o sistema Da Vinci com a técnica de três portais mais uma incisão utilitária de 3cm. As estruturas hilares foram dissecadas individualmente e as ligaduras dos ramos arteriais e venosos, dos brônquios segmentares, assim como, a transecção do parênquima, realizadas com grampeadores endoscópicos. Dissecção sistemática dos linfonodos mediastinais foi realizada para os casos de câncer de pulmão não de pequenas células (CPNPC). RESULTADOS: quarenta e nove pacientes, dos quais 33 mulheres, foram submetidos à segmentectomia robótica. A média de idade foi de 68 anos. A maioria dos pacientes tinha CPNPC (n=34), seguido de doença metastática (n=11) e doenças benignas (n=4). Não houve conversão para cirurgia aberta ou vídeo, ou conversão para lobectomia. A mediana do tempo operatório total foi de 160 minutos e do tempo de console foi de 117 minutos. Complicações pós-operatórias ocorreram em nove pacientes (18,3%), dos quais sete (14,2%) tiveram internação prolongada (>7 dias) devido à fístula aérea persistente (n=4; 8,1%) ou complicações abdominais (n=2; 4%). CONCLUSÃO: a segmentectomia robótica é um procedimento seguro e viável, oferecendo curto período de internação e baixa morbidade.

Segmentectomia pulmonar anatômica robótica: aspectos técnicos e desfechos / Robotic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy: technical approach and outcomes

RESUMO Objetivo: relatar nossa experiência inicial com a segmentectomia robótica, descrevendo a técnica operatória, a colocação preferencial dos portais, os resultados iniciais e desfechos. Métodos: dados clínicos de pacientes submetidos à segmentectomia robótica, entre janeiro de 2017 e dezembro de 2018, foram obtidos de um banco de dados prospectivo de cirurgia robótica. Todos os pacientes tinham câncer de pulmão, primário ou secundário, ou doenças benignas, e foram operados usando o sistema Da Vinci com a técnica de três portais mais uma incisão utilitária de 3cm. As estruturas hilares foram dissecadas individualmente e as ligaduras dos ramos arteriais e venosos, dos brônquios segmentares, assim como, a transecção do parênquima, realizadas com grampeadores endoscópicos. Dissecção sistemática dos linfonodos mediastinais foi realizada para os casos de câncer de pulmão não de pequenas células (CPNPC). Resultados: quarenta e nove pacientes, dos quais 33 mulheres, foram submetidos à segmentectomia robótica. A média de idade foi de 68 anos. A maioria dos pacientes tinha CPNPC (n=34), seguido de doença metastática (n=11) e doenças benignas (n=4). Não houve conversão para cirurgia aberta ou vídeo, ou conversão para lobectomia. A mediana do tempo operatório total foi de 160 minutos e do tempo de console foi de 117 minutos. Complicações pós-operatórias ocorreram em nove pacientes (18,3%), dos quais sete (14,2%) tiveram internação prolongada (>7 dias) devido à fístula aérea persistente (n=4; 8,1%) ou complicações abdominais (n=2; 4%). Conclusão: a segmentectomia robótica é um procedimento seguro e viável, oferecendo curto período de internação e baixa morbidade.

ABSTRACT Objective: to report our initial experience with pulmonary robotic segmentectomy, describing the surgical technique, the preferred positioning of portals, initial results and outcomes. Methods: we collected data, from a prospective robotic surgery database, on patients undergoing robotic segmentectomy between January 2017 and December 2018. All patients had lung cancer, primary or secondary, or benign diseases, and were operated on with the Da Vinci system, by the three portals technique plus one utilitarian incision of 3cm. We dissected the hilar structures individually and performed the ligatures of the arterial and venous branches, of the segmental bronchi, as well as a parenchymal transection, with endoscopic staplers. We carried out systematic dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Results: forty-nine patients, of whom 33 were women, underwent robotic segmentectomy. The average age was of 68 years. Most patients had NSCLC (n=34), followed by metastatic disease (n=11) and benign disease (n=4). There was no conversion to laparoscopic or open surgery, or to lobectomy. The median total operative time was 160 minutes, and the median console time, 117 minutes. Postoperative complications occurred in nine patients (18.3%), of whom seven (14.2%) had prolonged hospitalization (>7 days) due to persistent air fistula (n=4; 8.1%) or abdominal complications (n=2.4%). Conclusion: robotic segmentectomy is a safe and viable procedure, offering a short period of hospitalization and low morbidity.

Evaluation of quality of life over time among 453 patients with hyperhidrosis submitted to endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Current data do not provide enough information on how quality of life (QoL) evolves over time in cases of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the immediate improvement in QoL after the surgery was sustained until the fifth postoperative year. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonrandomized and uncontrolled study. From March 2001 to December 2003, 475 consecutive patients with hyperhidrosis submitted to ETS were included. A QoL questionnaire was applied at the preoperative day, around the 30th postoperative day, and after the fifth year. RESULTS: After excluding 22 patients who did not answer all the questions, we analyzed 453 patients. Their ages ranged from 11 to 57 years old, with a mean of 25.3 + 7.9 years, including 297 female patients (65.6%). All patients were assessed on three occasions: before surgery, around the 30th postoperative day, and after the fifth postoperative year. The QoL before surgery was considered to be poor or very poor for all patients. The QoL around 30 days after surgery was better in 412 patients (90.9%), the same in 27 patients (6.0%), and worse in 14 patients (3.1%). After 5 years, 409 patients (90.3%) were better, 27 (6.0%) were the same, and 14 (3.1%) were worse. There were no differences between these postoperative times according to the McNemar statistical test. CONCLUSION: The patients had an immediate improvement in QoL after ETS, and this improvement was sustained until the fifth postoperative year.

Sustained benefit lasting one year from T4 instead of T3-T4 sympathectomy for isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Level T4 video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy proved superior to T3-T4 treatment for controlling axillary hyperhidrosis at the initial and six-month follow-ups of these patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of two levels of sympathectomy (T3-T4 vs. T4) for treating axillary sudoresis over one year of follow-up. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with axillary hyperhidrosis were randomized to denervation of T3-T4 or T4 alone and followed prospectively. All patients were examined preoperatively and were followed postoperatively for one year. Axillary hyperhidrosis treatment was evaluated, along with the presence, location, and severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis and self-reported quality of life. RESULTS: According to patient reports after one year, all cases of axillary hyperhidrosis were successfully treated by surgery. There were no instances of treatment failure. After six months, compensatory hyperhidrosis was present in 27 patients of the T3-T4 group (87.1%) and in 16 patients of the T4 group (48.5%). After one year, all T3-T4 patients experienced some degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis, compared to only 14 patients in the T4 group (42.4%). In addition, compensatory hyperhidrosis was less severe in the T4 patients (p < 0.01). Quality of life was poor before surgery, and it improved in both groups at six months and one year of follow-up (p = 0.002). There were no cases of mortality, no significant postoperative complications, and no need for conversion to thoracotomy in either group. CONCLUSION: Both techniques were effective for treating axillary hyperhidrosis, but the T4 group showed milder compensatory hyperhidrosis and greater patient satisfaction at the one-year follow-up.