Objective To evaluate the safety,effectivity and feasibility of Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) for the treatment of bronchiectasis.Methods The data of patients with bronchiectasis treated by surgery from January 2010 to September 2016 in Tangdu hospital,the Forth Military Medical University,were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 343 cases enrolled in this study,which were divided into Thoracotomy group(230 cases) and VATS group(113 cases,17 of them were converted into open surgery).There were 125 males and 105 females in Thoracotomy group,with the average age of(46.1 ± 14.4) years,and 45 males and 68 females in VATS group with the average age of(45.8 ± 13.4) years.Four patients died during the perioperative period and all of them were from Thoracotomy group.Compared with the Thoractomy group,the blood loss [(292.1 ± 301.7) ml vs(475.7 ± 525.4) ml,P =0.001],length of hospitalization [(6.4 ± 2.4) dvs.(9.1 ±6.6)d,P＜0.001],drainage time[(6.4 ±2.4)d vs.(9.1 ±6.6)d,P ＜0.001] were significantly lower in VATS group,but no difference in operation time.The cost in VATS group was higher [(4.5 ± 1.3) ten-thousand yuan vs (3.9 ± 1.8) ten-thousand yuan,P =0.001].For patients without comorbidities,the incidence of postoperative complications was lower in VATS group compared with that in Thoractomy group (P =0.003).There was no significant difference between two groups for patients with comorbidities (P =0.274),but there was a trend of declining in VATS group.Conclusion VATS is safe,effective and feasible to treat bronchiectasis,and should be a priority.

Airway management in complex tracheobronchial surgery(TBS)remains a challenge in thoracic sur-gery.The use of extracorporeal membrane pulmonary oxygenation(ECMO)in thoracic surgery is rather rare,except for lung transplantation.To report the safety and efficacy of ECMO in complex TBS,a total of 5 patients with tracheobronchial and bronchial reconstructive surgery supported by ECMO in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Tangdu Hospital,Air Force Medical University from May 2019 to June 2024 were collected.Among them,4 cases of tracheal tumor(including long-segment trachea resection and reconstruction,or carinal resection and reconstruction)and 1 case of acute airway obstruction caused by tracheal rupture were included,all of which were performed in veno-venous ECMO(V-V ECMO)mode.Systemic heparinization was used in 2 patients,and anticoagulation was not performed in 3 patients,which were maintained only by ECMO heparin-coated lines.4 patients recovered well after surgery,and 1 patient died 1 month after surgery due to immune-related pneumonia.For complex TBS,or in emergency situations(tracheal stenosis with risk of asphyxiation),ECMO can pro-vide adequate support and safeguard.