Based on the improved design of the existing thoracic cavity closed drainage system, a new multi-functional device is developed and is described here in detail. The device is more convenient and more efficient than the existing system. Besides, it has a function of autotransfusion. Animal experimental results show that it has attained the goal of the improved design.
Drainage ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation

Minimal invasive surgery with short operation time and enhanced recovery after surgery can truly achieve biological minimal invasiveness. The minimal invasive lung cancer surgery includes several kinds, such as uni-portal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and multi-portal VATS. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) can be categorized into multi-portal VATS. As a frontier technology of minimal invasive surgical technique, surgical robotic system has been broadly applied in many areas. The average RATS operation time is (91.51±30.80) min among our team, which is much shorter than reported uni-portal VATS operation time. For now, RATS has some drawbacks and is lacking of national practice guidelines, which, we believe, will be solved by technology development and large-scale randomized controlled trials. 
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Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Robotics ; instrumentation ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To review the management of NUSS procedure by video-assisted thoracoscopy for the correction of pectus excavatum in 18 patients, and to prevent and treat some complications. METHODS: Eighteen patients with severe pectus excavatum underwent NUSS procedure by video-assisted thoracoscopy from December 2006 to September 2007. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 30 to 70 min ( average 45 min). Good Results were achieved for all patients after the operation. All of them recovered and were discharged 5 approximately 7 days after the operation. Minor complications occurred in 2 patients. CONCLUSION NUSS procedure is microinvasive and has beautiful outlook with shorter operation time and simple handling.The minimally invasive technique has a low complication rate with satisfactory short-term result. Proper management is important for the recovery at the early postoperative stage.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Funnel Chest ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thoracoscopy ; methods

We evaluated the safety and stability of the less-invasive submuscular bar fixation method in the Nuss procedure. One hundred and thirteen patients undergoing the Nuss procedure were divided into three groups according to the bar fixation technique employed. Group 1 consisted of 25 patients who had undergone bilateral pericostal bar fixation, group 2 consisted of 39 patients with unilateral pericostal one, and group 3 included 49 patients with bilateral submuscular one. The patients' age ranged from 2 to 25 yr, with an average of 7.2+/-5.67 yr. Bar dislocation occurred in 1 patient (4%) in Group 1, 2 patients (5.1%) in Group 2, and 1 patient (2.0%) in Group 3 (p=0.46). Hemothorax was noted in 2 patients (8%) in Group 1, 2 (5.1%) in Group 2, and none (0%) in Group 3 (Group 1 vs. Group 3, p=0.028). The mean operation time was shorter in Group 3 than Group 1 (50.1+/-21.00 in Group 3 vs. 67.2+/-33.07 min in Group 1, p=0.041). The submuscular bar fixation results in a decrease in technique-related complications and operation time and is associated with favorable results with regard to the prevention of bar dislodgement.
Treatment Outcome ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures/*instrumentation/*methods ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive/instrumentation/methods ; Ribs/surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/*instrumentation/*methods ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Male ; Humans ; Funnel Chest/*surgery ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Abdominal Muscles/surgery

The aim of this study was to assess whether a 2 mm mini-videothoracoscope could be used as a conventional videothoracoscope in the management of pneumothorax. Thirty patients of ages from 15 to 35 years with recurrent or persistent pneumothorax were involved in this study. The subjects consisted of 27 males and three females. The indications for videothoracoscopic surgery were ipsilateral recurrent pneumothorax in 12 (40%), persistent air leakage in 15 (50%), visible bullae in 2 (6%), and 1 bilateral pneumothorax (3%). The mean operation time was 42.9+/-12.9 min. The average number of uses for Endo-GIA was 1.9+/-1.3 times and chest tube indwelling time was 3.8+/-2.7 days. The average amount of keptoprofen (100 mg/2 mL/ampule) used on the first postoperative day was 1.2+/-1.1 ampules. No parenteral opioids were given to the patients for pain control after the procedures. After a follow up of 8 to 20 months, there was only one recurrence among the patients. In conclusion, a 2 mm videothoracoscope, in selective cases, can be successfully used as conventional videothoracoscope to manage persistent or recurrent pneumothorax with cosmetically excellent results.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Pneumothorax/surgery* ; Recurrence ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive/methods ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive/instrumentation ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/instrumentation* ; Thoracoscopes* ; Treatment Outcome

Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Injuries ; complications

Chest wall defect may be caused by many factors such as the resection of tumor and trauma, and the reconstruction of bone-defection is still the key point of thoracic surgery. With the development of material science, more and more new materials have been used in medical practice, which makes huge progress in the surgery of chest wall. However, none of these materials satisfy all the practical needs of the reconstruction. Recently, with the development of the capacity of computer, 3D-printing technology has been gradually used in clinical work, and the idea of individual treatment has been accepted by more and more people. The weakness of these materials may be solved by the new material and the application of individual treatment, which could also make great advance in chest wall surgery. This article will make a summary of the research on the reconstruction of chest wall.
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Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Thoracic Wall ; surgery ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo compare the precision of the vertebral screw insertion in treating idiopathic thoracic scoliosis by thoracoscopy with that by mini anterior thoracotomy.

METHODSTen patients with an average Cobb angle of 52.9 degrees were operated thoracoscopically (group A), and twenty-one patients with an average Cobb angle of 45.4 degrees were operated by mini anterior thoracotomy (group B). In order to determine the accuracy of screw placement, several parameters were measured postoperatively on each instrumented level of CT scan, including the entry point and entry direction of screw, the relationships between the screw tip and aorta as well as spinal canal. The safety of screw placement was determined at the position of screw to the vertebral canal and the aorta, and the results of CT analysis were designated as; D, the screw tip was distant from the aorta (> or = 1 mm); A, the screw tip was adjacent to the aorta (< 1 mm); C, the screw tip was felt to be against the aorta and creating contour deformity. The screw which had a bi-cortical purchase but was distant from the aorta and vertebral canal was defined as a satisfied screw.

RESULTS73 screws were inserted into patients of Group A, and 162 into patients in Group B. Parameters measured on CT image and X-ray showed no difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). There is no difference (P > 0.05) between A and B group of percentages in D (89.0% vs. 80.2%), in bi-cortical purchase (89.0% vs. 87.0%), and in satisfaction of screw placement (74.0% vs. 66.0%).

CONCLUSIONThoracoscopic and mini-open thoracotomic anterior correction are safe and effective to correct idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis with satisfied correction. Vertebral screws placed by both techniques have the same satisfied accuracy, safety, bi-cortical purchase and the satisfaction rate either in total screws or in the corresponding area.

Adolescent ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracoscopy ; methods

Adult ; Angiography ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz ; instrumentation ; Device Removal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Equipment Failure ; Foreign-Body Migration ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Heart Atria ; injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) and arterial oxygenation between selective left lower lobar blockade by Coopdech endobronchial blocker tubes (BB) and one lung ventilation (OLV) by left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLT) in patients with normal pulmonary function.

METHODSThirty-six patients (aged 32-64 years) scheduled for lower esophageal surgery were allocated randomly into BB and DLT groups (n=18). Anesthesia was induced and maintained with Propofol by target controlled infusion with intravenous administration of sufentanil and cisatracurium if needed. A 35 to 39 French tube was placed in the DLT group, and an 8.0-mm (internal diameter) single-lumen endotracheal tube was used in the BB group where a 9 French Coopdech BB was advanced into the left lower lobar bronchus guided by a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The variables recorded were blood gas analysis data from the venous and arterial blood samples at 20 min after two-lung ventilation in supine position (T(1)), 20 min after initiation of one-lung ventilation or selective left lower lobar blockade by inflating BB balloons in the right lateral decubitus position (T(2)), total collapse of the left lung or the left lower lobe after the pleura was opened (T(3)), and before tracheal extubation (T(4)). Qs/Qt was calculated using a standard formula based on the three-compartment model. Upon pleura opening, the effectiveness of lung collapse was evaluated by the surgeon who performed the surgery. Chest radiograph and arterial blood gas analyses were performed the day after the operation.

RESULTSBoth of the groups were similar with regard to rank of the surgical exposure, pH, PaCO(2), hemoglobin from T(1) to T(4), Qs/Qt, PaO(2), PO(2), and oxygenation index at T1. In BB group, a significant reduction of Qs/Qt and greater improvements in PaO(2), PO(2), oxygenation index at T(2), T(3) and T(4) were observed in comparison with those in DLT group (P<0.05 or <0.01). No lobe collapse was observed postoperatively in BB group, but 2 patients in DLT group showed left lower lobe atelectasis. The patients in BB group showed better postoperative arterial oxygenation and shorter postoperative hospital stay (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSelective left lower lobar blockade by Coopdech endobronchial blocker tube during lower esophageal surgery provides a lower intraoperative intrapulmonary shunt and a better intra- and postoperative arterial oxygenation..

Adult ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchoscopes ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; instrumentation ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Fiber Optic Technology ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Lung ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacology ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods