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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Thoracoscopy: assessment of a physician service and comparison of a flexible bronchoscope used as a thoracoscope with a rigid thoracoscope.

The practicality of physicians performing thoracoscopy for diagnostic purposes was assessed in 30 patients with pleural effusions of unknown cause. A rigid thoracoscope was compared with a fibreoptic bronchoscope used as a flexible thoracoscope and the diagnostic adequacy of biopsy specimens obtained with the two instruments assessed. The two instruments were inserted by a physician in the bronchoscopy suite using local anaesthesia. The procedure proved safe, acceptable, and diagnostically effective. The rigid thoracoscope proved a more satisfactory instrument but the fibreoptic bronchoscope, with minor adaptations, may be used for thoracoscopy.

Biopsy

[Thoracoscopic anatomy, significance of pathologic findings in thoracoscopic open lung biopsy, and pleural mesothelioma].

To better understand diseases of the thoracic space, pathologic findings of thoracoscopic open lung biopsy are described based on thoracoscopic anatomy and pleural mesothelioma. A positive colloidal iron stain in the plasma membrane of the mesothelial cells indicates the presence of hyaluronic acid, which appeared to decrease the friction between the lung and thoracic cavity. Excess fluid in the pleural cavity was removed from specific sites in the parietal pleura with stomas. We evaluated the pathologic features of 57 video-thoracoscopic open lung biopsies. Specific diagnoses were established in 89%, and of these half were pneumothorax. Nonspecific pathologic changes were found in 11%, of which interstitial pneumonia was the most common. This procedure is useful in taking a large number of specimens for diagnosis, and to evaluate the degree and progress of fibrosis. The differential diagnosis of mesothelioma from pulmonary adenocarcinoma, reactive mesothelial hyperplasia, and sarcoma of the pleura are described. Also, to understand mutations of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in mesothelioma, mesothelial lesions were studied with immunostaining for p53 antibody (DO-7) and with in situ hybridization for p53 mRNA. In immunohistochemical staining for DO-7, all reactive mesothelial cells were positive, and 75% of mesotheliomas including epithelial, biphasic, and sarcomatous types were positive, and 75% of mesotheliomas including epithelial, biphasic, and sarcomatous types were positive. mRNA for p53 was expressed in all reactive mesothelial cells, and in 55% of allmesotheliomas.

Biopsy

[TV-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with a lung forceps combined with thoracoscope under local anesthesia for spontaneous pneumothorax with a persistent air leak--a single access port approach].

TV-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed under local anesthesia by through a single access port to control a continuing air leak in spontaneous pneumotorax. A 75-year-old man was admitted with severe dyspnea and right-sided chest pain. The chest X-ray film showed right lung collapse. A right spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed and was treated by chest tube drainage. However, the lung did not re-expand because of a continuing air leak and subcutaneous emphysema developed. TV-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed under local anesthesia to treat the persistent air leak on day 12. By endoscopy, the ruptured bulla was double-ligated with an Endoloop through a single access port using lung forceps combined with endoscope. The air leak subsequently ceased and the lung re-expanded. This method is minimally invasive and is very suitable for controlling a continuing air-leak causing spontaneous pneumothorax in a patient.

Aged

Video-assisted thoracoscopic placement of paravertebral catheters: a technique for postoperative analgesia for bilateral thoracoscopic surgery.

Paravertebral catheters were placed bilaterally through a Tuohy needle under direct video control in a patient undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) surgery for recurrent, bilateral pneumothoraces. Postoperative analgesia was produced by infusing bupivacaine through the catheters. This provided good analgesia. VAT placement of paravertebral catheters is easily accomplished and may be a part of the surgical procedure.

Adult

Efficacy of video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy: an historical comparison with open lung biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsies were compared with historical controls undergoing open lung biopsy to determine the diagnostic accuracy, effect on length of postoperative stay, and cost effectiveness of the new thoracoscopic technique. METHODS: The first 25 video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsies performed in the Edinburgh Thoracic Unit were compared with 25 historical controls for complications, diagnostic accuracy, and length of postoperative stay. RESULTS: Statistical comparison showed equal diagnostic accuracy in both groups (96% v 92%), but mean (SD) inpatient stay was reduced in the video assisted thoracoscopic group (1.4 (0.7) days) compared with those undergoing open lung biopsy (3.1 (1.8) days). No postoperative complications were reported in the group which underwent video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsies but three patients had postoperative complications in the open lung biopsy group. CONCLUSIONS: Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is as effective in providing histological diagnosis as is open lung biopsy. All postoperative complications were related to post thoracotomy pain and occurred only in patients undergoing open lung biopsy. Reduced postoperative disability in the video assisted thoracoscopic group decreased hospital stay, offsetting the increased cost in disposables. The overall cost of video assisted thoracoscopic and open lung biopsy was 712 pounds and 1114 pounds, respectively.

Adult

[Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax by electrocoagulation via a fiberoptic bronchoscope with a hysteroscope irrigation outer sheath as a thoracoscope].

Since 1981 in Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, the authors performed electro-coagulation therapy for air leakage from bullae (blebs) via a rigid thoracoscope in 31 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Among these patients, this treatment was unsuccessful in 14 patients (45.2%) because of 5 multiple or giant bullae and 9 cases in which it was impossible to visualize the bullae in the mediastinum or because of pleural adhesion. In order to widen the visual field and increase the mobility of the thoracoscope, we employed a fiberoptic bronchoscope with a hysteroscope outer sheath used for irrigation as a flexible thoracoscope. This method makes it possible to examine both mediastinal pleura and adhesive pleural space, and to electrocoagulate bullae which cannot be visualized by a rigid thoracoscope. It was possible to visualize the blebs in all 13 cases with spontaneous pneumothorax in which this examination was attempted. This therapeutic procedure causes the patients less pain and the hospitals more economical because no new thoracoscope is necessary. This method of thoracoscopic therapy of spontaneous pneumothorax using a fiberoptic bronchoscope is more successful, effective, economical and painless than by rigid thoracoscope and should be attempted before thoracotomy.

Adolescent

Comparison of open versus thoracoscopic lung biopsy for diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates often require biopsy for a diagnosis. Standard operative therapy, open wedge resection via thoracotomy, is associated with known morbidity. We hypothesized that closed thoracoscopic wedge resection may result in reduced morbidity and decreased duration of hospital stay. This retrospective study compares open resection with thoracoscopic wedge resection in patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates underwent diagnostic lung biopsy. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation and high levels of pressure support before biopsy were excluded from the study. Between March 1987 and September 1991, a total of 28 patients underwent open wedge resection via lateral thoracotomy. Since April 1991, a total of 47 patients underwent thoracoscopic resection. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in age, sex, presence of immunosuppression, or final pathologic diagnosis. Adequate tissue was obtained for pathologic diagnosis in all patients of both groups. All surgeons believed that thoracoscopic biopsy provided better visualization of the entire lung than did a limited thoracotomy. Mean operative time was 69 minutes for open biopsies and 93 minutes for thoracoscopic biopsies [p = 0.038]. Mean duration of chest tube drainage was not significantly different between the two groups. Duration of hospital stay was significantly less for thoracoscopic biopsy (4.9 days) than for open biopsy (12.2 days) (p = 0.018). Fourteen of 28 open biopsies resulted in complications compared with 9 of 47 closed biopsies (p = 0.009). There were 6 deaths among patients having open biopsies and 3 deaths among those having closed biopsies (p = not significant). CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in hospital stay was noted with thoracoscopic biopsy when compared with lung biopsy via the standard open approaches. Thoracoscopy provided excellent visualization and allowed for wedge resection that provided adequate tissue for diagnosis in patients with diffuse pulmonary interstitial disease.

Adult

Thoracoscopy. A safe, accurate diagnostic procedure using the rigid thoracoscope and local anesthesia.

A thoracoscopic examination was performed in 41 patients under local anesthesia in the lateral decubitus position. Prior thoracocentesis (38 patients) and blind biopsy with an Abrams' needle (32 patients) had been nondiagnostic. The initial nine patients were examined with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, yielding a diagnostic accuracy of 56 percent (five cases). This technique was discontinued when two patients had normal findings on biopsies, despite the visual observation of later diagnosed carcinoma. Subsequent thoracoscopic procedures were performed with a rigid 11-mm single-puncture thoracoscope (Storz), which was diagnostic in 28 (88 percent) of the remaining 32 patients. A hemothorax (400 ml) was the only potentially serious complication. Twelve patients were prospectively monitored during the thoracoscopic procedure for changes in cardiac rhythm and oxygen saturation. Sinus tachycardia was the only arrhythmia observed. The mean fall in oxygen saturation was 1.4 percent. We conclude that thoracoscopic examination with the rigid thoracoscope is diagnostically superior to the fiberoptic bronchoscope and is a safe procedure which can be performed under local anesthesia.

Anesthesia, Local

Can the morbidity of esophagectomy be reduced by the thoracoscopic approach?

Esophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. We have made a prospective study of the results of 29 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 20 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 22 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient, and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. There were five failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (one case), large tumor making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (two cases), and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (two cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in all but five patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (three cases), right purulent pleural effusion (one case), acute respiratory disease syndrome (one case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of five respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered difficult. Among the other complications, there were five anastomotic leakages and three cases of laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for esophageal dissection, especially with respect to difficult esophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.

Adenocarcinoma

Thoracoscopic pulmonary resection in two cases using an endoscopic linear stapler and loop ligature.

Recent advances in rigid endoscopic imaging capabilities, light sources, and instrumentation have dramatically expanded the potential role of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery. Moreover, the recent introduction of an endoscopic linear stapling device and loop ligature has made thoracoscopic pulmonary resection possible. We present herein two cases of peripheral pulmonary lesions which were resected thoracoscopically. Case 1 was a 19-year-old man with a history of recurrent pneumothorax due to a left apical bulla who underwent thoracoscopic lung resection using a new stapling device, and Case 2 was a 46-year-old man with a small pulmonary lesion on the left basal segment (S8) who underwent thoracoscopic lung resection using loop ligature. Postoperatively, there was no evidence of air leak in either patient and both were discharged 6 days after surgery. The technical procedures for thoracoscopic lung resection and the clinical courses of both patients are described in this paper.

Adenocarcinoma

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy: technique and initial results.

To reduce the high morbidity rate associated with esophageal surgery, we have developed a technique of thoracoscopic esophagectomy. A feasibility study was first carried out in an animal model and a specific instrument was developed for this purpose. Esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach was attempted in 15 patients, 13 males and 2 females whose average age was 48 years. Indications consisted of squamous cell carcinoma in 10 patients, adenocarcinoma in 1, and caustic stenosis in 4. We used a technique that consisted of double-lumen tracheal intubation and the creation of five ports. The whole esophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically and the esophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through, and the anastomosis was made in the neck. There were three failures: in 1 patient there was a large tumor, making the exposure unsafe, and, in 2 patients, incomplete lung collapse made exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult. These 3 cases were converted into a thoracotomy. The thoracoscopic dissection was successful in the remaining 12 patients. The average time of the thoracoscopic stage was 125 minutes. The postoperative course was uneventful in 10 patients. Two patients had a left atelectasis. Although our series is limited, these initial results indicate that thoracoscopic esophagectomy is feasible. However, further evaluation of the technique is needed to assess its benefit in terms of respiratory morbidity.

Burns, Chemical

[Thoracoscopic lung biopsy (author's transl)].

The authors start from the fact that till now was a declining attitude in face of the thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Under local anaesthesia any air embolism were happened with it. Moreover there was no optimal instrument for thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Beginning with pressure measurements of the intrathoracic cavity systems the authors research the conditions which can result in air embolism. They found that air embolism is excluded only by unilateral ventilation of the non-biopsied lung of the patient via a channel of Carlens' double-lumen catheter. The other channel of the cathetaer which is connected with the thoracoscopically biopsied lung must be aggreed with the atmosphere in the same way as the pleural space via the open thoracoscope tube. Further it was developed the suction punch, a special instrument for thoracoscopic lung biopsy. In this instrument the proceedings of catch and detache the tissue from the parenchyma are divided contrarily to the forcepslike devices. With this new instrument 63 patients were examined. The thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed under general anaesthesia with side-separated ventilation through Carlens' catheter. The histologically verified diagnostic yielded was 89 per cent. There aren't serious complications.

Biopsy

[Thoracoscopic treatment of intrathoracic diseases].

Recently developed thoracoscopic surgical equipment and related instruments have enabled us to perform two groups of advanced thoracoscopic surgical procedures. Group 1: procedures formerly performed by open thoracotomy, and group 2: procedures performed by thoracoscopic surgery only. Group 1 includes bullectomy for spontaneous pneumothorax, wedge resection for lung nodules, resection of benign tumors of the mediastium or chest wall, lung lobectomy, and resection of giant bullae. Because thoracoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, intrathoracic surgical procedures should be performed by thoracoscopic surgery if the results are the same. Group 2 consists of surgery in patients with poor pulmonary reserve and laser ablation of the bullous lung in advanced emphysema. Until recently, surgical intervention was not an option in the patients in groups 2 because of the invasiveness of open thoracotomy. Thoracoscopic surgery allows resection of tumors in early stage lung cancer in patients with poor pulmonary reserve. Severely emphysematous lungs can be ablated with a laser and shrunk, to normalize pulmonary compliance, residual volume and total lung capacity, and thus relieve symptoms.

Humans

[A case of diffuse malignant mesothelioma diagnosed by thoracoscopic biopsy].

We report a case of diffuse malignant mesothelioma discovered by thoracoscopic examination undertaken while formulating a preoperative diagnosis. A 61-year-old male complained of coughing and sputum production, and was admitted because his chest roentgenogram indicated an abnormal shadow. Chest CT scanning demonstrated right pleural effusion and multiple nodules sited on the diaphragm. Because aspiration biopsy of such nodules was difficult, we performed a thoracoscopic examination. The thoracoscopic findings demonstrated bloody pleural effusion in the right thoracic cavity and multiple nodules on the diaphragm, parietal and pulmonary pleura. They were white and 0.5 to 2 cm in size. By excisional biopsy, these were diagnosed as epithelial-type diffuse malignant mesothelioma. We therefore performed panpleuropneumonectomy. Even though we completely resected the canal of thoracoscope and drainage tube, microscopic findings showed invasion of mesothelioma cells into this thoracoscopic canal. Although we suggest that, in preoperative diagnosis of pleural tumor, thoracoscopy is efficient to perform a pathological examination and confirm the extension of tumor, in the actual operation, we believe that the thoracoscopic canal should be resected.

Biopsy

[Can a reduction of morbidity of esophagectomy be expected with the thoracoscopic approach?].

OBJECTIVE: Oesophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of the results of 26 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 17 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 19 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole oesophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically, and the eosophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. RESULTS: There were 5 failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (1 case), large tumour making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (1 case) and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (2 cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The post-operative course was uneventful in all but 5 patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (3 cases), right purulent pleural effusion (1 case), acute respiratory distress syndrome (1 case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of 5 respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered as difficult. Among the other complications, there were 5 anastomotic leakages and 3 laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. CONCLUSION: These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for eosophageal dissection, especially for difficult oesophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.

Burns, Chemical

[Thoracoscopic surgery].

Thoracoscopic operations were performed on 91 patients. In 52 patients operated on by thoracoscopic pleurodesis for pneumothorax, the results were compared with the results in 41 patients previously operated on by transaxillary thoracotomy. The groups did not differ with respect to duration of stay in hospital or minor complications, but the duration of postoperative sick leave was significantly reduced after thoracoscopic operation. In nine cases lung metastasis or primary lung tumours were removed thoracoscopically. Thoracoscopic evacuation were performed in seven cases of empyema or pleural haematoma. Two of these patients were later operated on by open decortication. The main advantages of thoracoscopic surgery are less postoperative pain and a shorter time away from work after operation than with open procedures.

Adolescent

[Thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal tumors].

Thoracoscopic surgery was performed in nine patients with benign mediastinal tumors: four neurogenic tumors, three bronchogenic cysts, a foregut cyst and a mature teratoma. Four cystic masses located in para-esophageal lesion in inferior mediastinum and four neurogenic tumors located in posterior mediastinum. A mature teratoma was adjacent to thymus in anterior mediastinum. Under general anesthesia with unilateral ventilation, the patients were turned in the lateral decubitus position and we tilt the operative table to allow gravity assistance for the displacement of the lung. A rigid telescope was inserted through a thracoport. Masses were resected using the dissecting scissors with electric cautery through two other thracoports. Thoracoscopic complete resections were performed in eight patients. In one case that was suspected of malignant tumor by preoperative evaluation, thoracoscopic tumor biopsy was performed and diagnosed as a benign neurogenic tumor during operation histopathologically. But it was resected by thoracotomy, because of its larger size (8 cm in diameter). The average operation time was 122 minutes ranging from 80 to 184 minutes in 8 patients with thoracoscopic resection. No patient has a complication resulting from the thoracoscopic surgery. The chest drainage tubes were removed on 1 or 2-POD in all cases and the average length of postoperative hospitalization was 5.3 days ranging from 4 to 9 days. The thoracoscopic resection for benign mediastinal tumors is minimally invasive and effective procedure compared with classical thoracotomy operation.

Adolescent