OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for improving postoperative cognitive function in senior patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS). METHODS: From January to December 2020, 97 participants were randomly assigned to the TEAS group (49 cases) and the control group (48 cases) by a random number table. The patients in the TEAS group received TEAS, at the bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) acupoints. The control group received sham TEAS. The stimulation was started from 30 min before surgery until the end of the operation. The primary outcome was the incidence of pstoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), diagnosed based on the changes in the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. The secondary outcomes were plasma levels of S100β protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). RESULTS: The incidence of POCD on day 1 and 3 after surgery in the TEAS group was significantly lower than that in the control group [day 1 after surgery: 28.3% (13/46) vs. 52.3% (23/44), P=0.028; day 3 after surgery: 21.7% (10/46) vs. 40.9% (18/44), P=0.043]. Compared with baseline, the MMSE and MoCA scores decreased to various extents in both groups. The MMSE scores on day 1, 3, and 5 after surgery and MoCA scores on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 after surgery in the TEAS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05) in both groups. Compared with baseline, the plasma levels of S100β and NSE were significantly increased at 4, 8, 12, 24 h after surgery (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the plasma levels of S100β and NSE were lower in the TEAS group at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after surgery (all P<0.05). No obvious adverse events were found during the trial. CONCLUSION Application of TEAS in senior patients after VATS could reduce incidence of POCD and improve postoperative cognitive function.
Acupuncture Points ; Cognition ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Patients with pulmonary nodules are treated by minimally invasive surgery, and postoperative symptoms have become the main factors affecting patients' emotion and quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the changes of postoperative symptoms in lung cancer patients with pulmonary nodules. METHODS: The clinical data of eighty-eight lung cancer patients admitted to the same medical group of Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2021 to September 2021 were prospectively collected and analyzed. The types and severity of clinical symptoms before operation, on discharge day, 30-day and 90-day after operation were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative symptoms in lung cancer patients was 79.5%, and most patients suffered from mild (54.3%) and moderate (32.9%) symptoms. The main postoperative symptoms of lung cancer patients were pain (55.7%) and cough (37.2%). The incidence of pain at discharge (55.7%) was significantly higher than that at 30-day (23.7%, P=0.01) and 90-day (12.0%, P=0.01) after discharge. The incidence of cough was significantly higher at 30-day (66.1%) and 90-day (66.0%) than that at discharge (37.2%) (P=0.01, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS The main postoperative symptoms of lung cancer patients with pulmonary nodules are pain and cough. The incidence and severity of pain decreases with time, and the incidence of cough increases but the severity decreased gradually.
Cough/etiology* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Pain/etiology* ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Quality of Life ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects*

Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Fatigue ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Lung Diseases ; surgery ; Pneumonectomy ; adverse effects ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Pain ; etiology ; Pneumonectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Safety ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; methods

BACKGROUND: Segmentectomy can retains more healthy lung tissue than lobectomy, but it remains controversial in oncology for early stage lung cancer. The aim of this study is to discuss the problems of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy in early stage lung cancer, by analyzing the clinical and pathological data of 35 cases and reviewing the literature. METHODS: There were 35 patients who received segmentectomy by complete video-assisted thoracic surgery, from May 2013 to July 2017, in single operation group in the Third Hospital of Peking University. We analyzed the patient's clinical and pathological data, intraoperative and postoperative complications, lymph node number and metastasis its situation, and compared postoperative pathology and preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging type. In 35 cases of segmentectomy, there were 11 males and 24 females, with an average age of 57.7 years old. The lesions located in the right upper lobe were 8 cases, in the right lower lobe were 8 cases, in the left upper lobe were 13 cases, in the left lower lobe were 6 cases. The mean maximum diameter of CT imaging was 12.7 mm, and the largest diameter of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes was less than 10 mm. 23 of them were ground glass predominating and 12 were solid components predominating. RESULTS: All 35 cases were successfully completed VATS anatomical segmentectomy. The average operation time was 153 minutes, the amount of bleeding was 51 mL. There were 10 cases of air leakage after operation, all of which were not more than 3 days. There was contralateral atelectasis in 1 case, chylothorax in 1 case. The average length of hospitalization was 6.1 days. There was no other complications outpatient related to surgery, in 30 days after discharge. The pathological changes were as follow, 2 cases of metastatic tumor, 8 cases of benign lung disease and 25 cases of primary lung cancer. In the 25 cases of primary lung cancer, there were 14 cases of invasive lung adenocarcinoma (7 cases were groundglassopacity (GGO) predominating in CT imaging), 4 cases of micro-invasive adenocarcinoma (3 cases were GGO predominating in CT imaging), 6 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (all were pure GGO in CT imaging), 1 case of lung squamous cell carcinoma (mainly composed of solid in CT imaging). An average of 7.2 lymph nodes were removed in 25 cases of lung cancer, and all lymph nodes had no metastasis. CONCLUSIONS VATS anatomical segmentectomy is technically safe and reliable, and the indications for lung cancer need to be strictly controlled. Its advantages still need to be confirmed by prospective randomized controlled trials.
Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVE To estimate the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in diagnosis and treatment of children with chest diseases. METHODS From May 1997 to October 2001, forty-one children (25 boys and 16 girls) with chest diseases received VATS under general anesthesia in our hospital. Their average age was 6.9 years (range 9 days to 16 years) and their median body weight was 22.5 kg (2.8-54.0 kg). Operative procedures included fibrinopurulent empyema with debridement and decortication in 15 children, biopsy and(or) resection of mediastinal tumor in 11, bullectomy and cystectomy of the lung in 6, lobectomy with huge cyst of the lung or sequestration in 5, clearance of hemothorax in 2, and exploration, and repair of diaphragmatic hernia in 2. RESULTS The mean operative time was 74 minutes (range 30 to 220 minutes). The lost blood volume was 33 ml (range 10 to 150 ml). The mean duration of chest drainage and hospital stay after surgery was 2.4 days and 7.0 days (range 4 to 15 days) respectively. One infant born after 9 days with congenital diaphragmatocele died of respiratory failure due to left pulmonary hypoplasia 10 days after operation. Postoperative morbidity was 7.3% (3 patients). Forty patients were followed up for an average of 15.6 months, 38 patients lived and developed normally, and 2 received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for children with chest disease, and this approach has an important place in pediatric thoracic surgery.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; methods

BACKGROUND: The relationship between quality of life at three months after lung cancer surgery and different surgical approaches is remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the quality of life of patients three months after uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy. METHODS: Data from patients who underwent lung surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital between April 2021 and October 2021 were collected. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 29 (EORTC QLQ-LC29) were used to collect quality of life data of the patients. Potential confounding factors in the baseline data were included in a multivariate regression model for adjustment, and the quality of life of the two groups three months postoperatively was compared with traditional clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 130 lung cancer patients were included, with 57 males (43.8%) and 73 females (56.2%), and an average age of (57.1±9.5) yr. In the baseline data of the two groups, there was a statistical difference in the number of chest drainage tubes placed (P<0.001). After adjustment with the regression model, at three months postoperatively, there were no significant differences in all symptoms and functional status scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). The multiportal group had longer surgery time (120.0 min vs 85.0 min, P=0.001), postoperative hospital stay (6.0 d vs 4.0 d, P=0.020), and a higher incidence of early ≥ grade 2 complications (39.0% vs 10.1%, P=0.011) compared to the uniportal group. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing uniportal and multiportal thoracoscopic lobectomy have similar quality of life at three months postoperatively. The uniportal group may have certain advantages in terms of traditional clinical outcome indicators such as operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and early postoperative complications.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility, safety and prospect application value of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy utilized in the treatment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

METHODSEighteen patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis underwent sympathectomy from January 2003 to December 2004, including 10 cases combined with palmar hyperhidrosis. There were 17 males and 1 females with a mean age of 36.5 years (ranges, 25-42). Sympathetic chain was transected just below the stellate ganglion in pure craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Additional T(3) sympathectomy was performed in those patients combined with palmar hyperhidrosis.

RESULTSThere were no surgical complication or surgical mortality cases. Seventeen patients achieved improvement of craniofacial hyperhidrosis without recurrent symptoms, but one had partial remission due to thoracic adhesion and false location of the ganglions. The effective rate was 97% (35/36). No recurrent symptoms occurred after a mean of 8.3 months of follow-up. No relapse occurred. Fifteen patients (83%) developed compensatory sweating of the trunk and lower limbs. Six patients (33%) presented palmar dry (severe hypohidrosis) and they all can tolerate the condition. All patients were satisfied with the outcomes of their operations.

CONCLUSIONThe initial results show that thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

Adult ; Face ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; surgery ; Male ; Sympathectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDCompensatory sweating (CS) is one of the most common postoperative complications after thoracic sympathectomy, sympathicotomy or endoscopic sympathetic block (ESB) for palmar hyperhidrosis. This study was conducted to examine the relevance between CS and the sympathetic segment being transected in the surgical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, and thus to detect the potential mechanism of the occurrence of CS.

METHODSBetween October 2004 and June 2006, 163 patients with primary hyperhidrosis were randomly divided into two groups, T(3) sympathicotomy (78 patients) and T(4) sympathicotomy (85), who were operated upon under general anesthesia via single lumen intubation and intercostal video-mediastinoscopy (VM).

RESULTSNo morbidity or mortality occurred. Palmar hyperhidrosis was cured in all patients. Follow-up (mean (13.8 +/- 6.2) months) showed no recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis. The difference of rates of mild CS in groups T(3) and T(4) was of no statistical significance. The rate of moderate CS was significantly lower in group T(4) than in group T(3). No severe CS occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe rates of occurrence and severity of CS are lowered with the lower sympathetic chain being transected.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

BACKGROUNDThymectomy is an established treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy has become an acceptable surgical procedure. This study aimed to compare the results of VATS thymectomy and open thymectomy and to identify the prognostic factors after thymectomy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 187 consecutive thymectomies performed between July 2000 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 75 open thymectomies and 112 VATS thymectomies. Clinical efficacy and variables influencing outcome were assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTSThe operative blood loss in the VATS group was significantly less than that in the open group ((62.14 ± 55.43) ml vs. (137.87 ± 165.25) ml, P < 0.05). The postoperative crisis rate increased with the severity of preoperative MG and the prescription dose of anticholinesterase. Complete follow-up information of patients more than 12 months after the thymectomy was obtained on 151 cases, 89 cases from the VATS group and 62 cases from the open group, with a mean follow-up period of 59.3 months, range from 12 to 117 months. Complete stable remission (CSR) was the end point for evaluation of the treatment results. The overall five-year CSR rate was 57.5%. Two good prognostic factors were identified; preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone (P = 0.035) and non-thymomatous MG (P = 0.003). The five-year CSR rate of the ocular type of MG reached a high level of 67.4%.

CONCLUSIONSThymectomy can achieve good long-term CSR in MG, and VATS is an ideal alternative method. High-dose prescription of anticholinesterase and the advanced stage by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification have higher risks of postoperative crisis. Preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone and non-thymomatous MG are good prognostic factors. Thymectomy should also be considered for the ocular type of MG.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thymectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome