Project description:Background and objectiveThe increasingly widespread application of computed tomography (CT) in the screening and follow-up of patients with lung disease has concomitantly increased the detection rate of pulmonary nodules. Currently, minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) has become the preferred method of surgery for patients with pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) due to its advantages minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery. However, target nodule identification during MITS is sometimes challenging due to the inherent characteristics of these nodules, especially when they are small and distant from the pleura. This review details the many methods used for the intraoperative localization of pulmonary nodules.MethodsLiterature published in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, ClinicalTrials, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 1990 to 2022 were searched and analyzed to obtain a comprehensive review of the different methods of identifying pulmonary nodules. Literature related to animal testing were excluded.Key content and findingsAn overview of the recent progress in the clinical methods for intraoperative localization of pulmonary nodules [including CT-guided percutaneous placement of markers; bronchoscopy-guided placement of markers; intraoperative ultrasonography; three-dimensional (3D) printing technology; artificial intelligence (AI); and intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI)] was conducted. The advantages and disadvantages, as well as the complications associated with existing research methods, were summarized to assist doctors in the development of optimized clinical strategies.ConclusionsClinicians can communicate with the multidisciplinary team and select the appropriate positioning method according to each patient's individual situation and the available support of the equipment and technology of the institution. Certain non-invasive and specific identification methods may have clinical potential in pulmonary nodule localization in the future.
Project description:PurposeTo evaluate CF800, a novel lipid-based liposomal nanoparticle that co-encapsulates indocyanine green (ICG) and iohexol, for CT imaging of pulmonary vasculature in minimally-invasive thoracic surgery planning.MethodsCF800 was intravenously administered to 7 healthy rabbits. In vivo CT imaging was performed 15 min post-injection, with a subset of animals imaged at 24h, 48h, and 72h post injection. Signal-to-background ratios (SBR) were calculated at the inferior vena cava and compared across time-points. A similar protocol was applied to 2 healthy pigs to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy in a large animal model. To evaluate the feasibility of clinical application, a survey was completed by 7 surgical trainees to assess pre- and post-injection CT images of rabbits and pigs. Responses on the discernibility of pulmonary vasculature sub-branches and comfort level to use the images for pre-operative planning were collected and analyzed.ResultsCF800 injection improved visualization of pulmonary vessels in both rabbit and pig models. The SBR of rabbit pulmonary vasculature was significantly higher after CF800 injection (range 3.7-4.4) compared to pre-injection (range 3.3-3.8, n = 7; p<0.05). SBR remained significantly different up to 24 hours after injection (range 3.7-4.3, n = 4; p<0.05). Trainees' evaluation found the post-injection CT images had significantly higher discernibility at the second vessel branch generation in both rabbit and pig models. Trainees identified smaller vasculature branch generations in the post-injection images compared to the pre-treatment images in both rabbit (mean 6.7±1.8 vs 5.4±2.1; p<0.05) and pig (mean 6.7±1.8 vs 5.4±2.1; p<0.05). Trainees were significantly more comfortable using post-injection images for surgical planning compared to the pre-injection images (rabbit: 8.1±1.1 vs. 4.7±2.1; pig: 7.6±2.1 vs. 4.9±2.2; p<0.05).ConclusionCF800 provides SBR and contrast enhancement of pulmonary vasculature which may assist in pre-surgical CT planning of minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
Project description:(1) We describe the boundary conditions for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) with the aim to reduce procedure-related patient injury and discomfort. (2) The analysis of the MICS work process and its demand for improved tools and devices is followed by a description of the relevant sub-specialties of bio-medical engineering: electronics, biomechanics, and materials sciences. (3) Innovations can represent a desired adaptation of an existing work process or a radical redesign of procedure and devices such as in transcutaneous procedures. Focused interaction between engineers, industry, and surgeons is always mandatory (i.e., a therapeutic alliance for addressing 'unmet patient or professional needs'. (4) Novel techniques in MICS lean heavily on usability and safe and effective use in dedicated hands. Therefore, the use of training and simulation models should enable skills selection, a safe learning curve, and maintenance of proficiency. (5) The critical technical steps and cost-benefit trade-offs during the journey from invention to application will be explained. Business considerations such as time-to-market and returns on investment do shape the cost-benefit room for commercial use of technology. Proof of clinical safety and effectiveness by physicians remains important, but establishing the technical reliability of MICS tools and warranting appropriate surgical skills come first.
Project description:This article reviews the principles and different techniques used to perform minimally invasive strabismus surgery (MISS). This term is used for strabismus surgeries minimizing tissue disruption. Muscles are not accessed through one large opening, but using several keyhole openings placed where needed for the surgical steps. If necessary, tunnels are created between cuts, which will allow performing additional surgical steps. To keep the keyhole openings small, transconjunctival suturing techniques are used. The cuts are always placed as far away from the limbus as feasible. This will reduce the risk for postoperative corneal complications and it will ensure that all cuts will be covered by the eyelids, minimizing postoperative visibility of surgery and patient discomfort. Benefits from minimizing anatomical disruption between the muscle and the surrounding tissue are a better preservation of muscle function, less swelling, and pain, and more ease to perform reoperations. MISS openings allow to perform all types of strabismus surgeries, namely rectus muscle recessions, resections, plications, reoperations, retroequatorial myopexias, transpositions, oblique muscle recessions, or plications, and adjustable sutures, even in the presence of restricted motility.
Project description:BackgroundThe effect of marginal lung function on outcomes after lung resection has traditionally been studied in the context of open thoracic surgery. Its impact on postoperative outcomes in the era of minimally invasive lung resection is unclear.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we included adult patients who underwent minimally invasive lung resection at our institution between January 2017 and May 2020 for known malignancy or lung nodule. Marginal lung function was defined as pre-operative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and/or diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide <60% of predicted. Our outcomes included a composite outcome of pulmonary morbidity and/or 30- and 90-day mortality, and hospital length of stay. We used multivariable logistic and Poisson regression models to identify associations with outcomes, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox models to estimate survival.ResultsOf 300 patients, 88 (29%) had marginal lung function. Patients in the marginal group were more likely to be female (69% vs. 56%; P=0.028), and more likely to have: hypertension (HTN) (83% vs. 71%; P=0.028), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (38% vs. 12%; P<0.001), interstitial lung disease (ILD) (9% vs. 3%; P<0.019), and ischemic heart disease (28% vs. 18%; P=0.033). Patients were similar in terms of age (68±8 vs. 68±10 years; P=0.932), and other comorbidities. Anatomic lung resection comprised 56.8% of the marginal group vs. 74% in the non-marginal group (P=0.003). The most common complication was prolonged air leak (18.2% vs. 11.8%; P=0.479). Marginal lung function had a trend toward increased composite respiratory complications (22.7% vs. 15.1%; P=0.112) and 90-day mortality (5.7% vs. 4.2%; P=0.591), although they did not reach statistical significance. There was a statistically significant 1-day average increase in length of stay in the marginal lung function cohort (4.6 vs. 3.4 days; P<0.015) with a stronger association with diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide than FEV1. Survival was similar (marginal function HR =1.0; P=0.994).ConclusionsIn the era of minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung resection in patients with marginal lung function may be considered in select patients. These findings aid in the selection consideration and counseling of this patient population.
Project description:ImportanceIn minimally invasive thoracic surgery, paravertebral block (PVB) using ultrasound (US)-guided technique is an efficient postoperative analgesia. However, it is an operator-dependent process depending on experience and local resources. Because pain-control failure is highly detrimental, surgeons may consider other locoregional analgesic options.ObjectiveTo demonstrate the noninferiority of PVB performed by surgeons under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), hereafter referred to as PVB-VATS, as the experimental group compared with PVB performed by anesthesiologists using US-guided technique (PVB-US) as the control group.Design, setting, and participantsIn this single-center, noninferiority, patient-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted from September 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, patients older than 18 years who were undergoing a scheduled minimally invasive thoracic surgery with lung resection including video-assisted or robotic approaches were included. Exclusion criteria included scheduled open surgery, any antalgic World Health Organization level greater than 2 before surgery, or a medical history of homolateral thoracic surgery. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intervention group after general anesthesia. They received single-injection PVB before the first incision was made in the control group (PVB-US) or after 1 incision was made under thoracoscopic vision in the experimental group (PVB-VATS).InterventionsPVB-VATS or PVB-US.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary end point was mean 48-hour post-PVB opioid consumption considering a noninferiority range of less than 7.5 mg of opioid consumption between groups. Secondary outcomes included time of anesthesia, surgery, and operating room occupancy; 48-hour pain visual analog scale score at rest and while coughing; and 30-day postoperative complications.ResultsA total of 196 patients were randomly assigned to intervention groups: 98 in the PVB-VATS group (mean [SD] age, 64.6 [9.5] years; 53 female [54.1%]) and 98 in the PVB-US group (mean [SD] age, 65.8 [11.5] years; 62 male [63.3%]). The mean (SD) of 48-hour opioid consumption in the PVB-VATS group (33.9 [19.8] mg; 95% CI, 30.0-37.9 mg) was noninferior to that measured in the PVB-US group (28.5 [18.2] mg; 95% CI, 24.8-32.2 mg; difference: -5.4 mg; 95% CI, -∞ to -0.93; noninferiority Welsh test, P ≤ .001). Pain score at rest and while coughing after surgery, overall time, and postoperative complications did not differ between groups.Conclusions and relevancePVB placed by a surgeon during thoracoscopy was noninferior to PVB placed by an anesthesiologist using ultrasonography before incision in terms of opioid consumption during the first 48 hours.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04579276.
Project description:Tricuspid valve disease carries a very unfavorable prognosis when medically treated. Despite that, surgical intervention is still underperformed for tricuspid valve disease due to the reported high morbidity and mortality from a sternotomy approach. This had led to a shift towards maximizing medical therapy for right ventricular failure and, as a result, a more significant delay in surgical referrals with surgical risks when patients are finally referred. Tricuspid valve patients usually have other co-morbidities resulting from their systemic venous congestion and low flow cardiac output. Minimally invasive tricuspid valve surgery provides less tissue injury and, as a result, less trauma during surgery. This provides a hope for both patients and treating doctors to be more open for providing this procedure with less complications. Isolated minimally invasive tricuspid valve surgery is still not performed as widely as expected. This can be partly due to the adverse outcomes historically labelled to tricuspid valve surgery or by the long journey of learning the surgical team would need to commit to with a minimal access approach. In this article we will review the perioperative pathway, and outcomes of isolated minimally invasive tricuspid valve surgery in the available English literature.