In recent years, the widespread application of chest computed tomography (CT) screening has led to a significant increase in the detection rate of pulmonary nodules. As a critical diagnostic tool for early-stage lung cancer, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has emerged as the preferred therapeutic approach for pulmonary nodules. Clinical evidence demonstrates that precise preoperative localization significantly enhances surgical success rates (reducing conversion to thoracotomy), minimizes complications, and shortens operation time. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates six cutting-edge localization techniques: percutaneous puncture-assisted localization, electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) localization, 3D-printed auxiliary localization, basin-analysis-based localization, robotic navigation system localization, and mixed reality (MR)-guided localization. By critically analyzing their operational principles, efficacy, safety profiles, and clinical applicability, this paper aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing clinical decision-making in pulmonary nodule management.
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Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnostic imaging* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods* ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the primary surgical treatment for lung cancer. A significant factor affecting postoperative recovery is prolonged air leak (PAL). Despite numerous clinical strategies could prevent and manage postoperative PAL, its incidence remains high. Phrenic nerve cryotherapy (PNC) temporarily inhibits phrenic nerve function, causing diaphragm elevation, which reduces thoracic cavity volume, enhances pleural apposition, and mitigates air leakage. This study investigates the efficacy of PNC in preventing postoperative PAL during VATS lobectomy. METHODS: A total of 108 eligible lung cancer patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, from June 2023 to January 2025, were enrolled and randomly assigned to the control group (n=54) and the experimental group (n=54). The patients in both the two groups received VATS lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection, with the experimental group also undergoing PNC during the operation. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative, postoperative indicators and dynamic changes in air leakage between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of pulmonary air leakage at 24 h after surgery (31.5% vs 29.6%) and the incidence of postoperative PAL (20.4% vs 14.8%) showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The intraoperative air leak test to 24 hours after surgery revealed that air leakage ceased in 8 cases (32.0%) in the control group, compared to 14 cases (46.7%) in the experimental group. Moreover, during the progression from air leakage at 24 hours post-surgery to postoperative PAL, air leakage ceased in 6 cases (35.3%) in the control group and 8 cases (50.0%) in the experimental group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Compared to the control group, the patients in the experimental group exhibited more pronounced postoperative diaphragmatic elevation that recovered to a slightly higher than preoperative level by 3 mon after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The combination of PNC and active lung repair can serve as an important intervention for patients at high risk of intraoperative air leakage, reducing the occurrence of postoperative PAL.
Humans ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Aged ; Phrenic Nerve/physiopathology* ; Cryotherapy ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Adult

Objective: To examine the feasibility and technical considerations of thorough debridement using uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for tuberculous empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 38 patients who underwent comprehensive uniportal thoracoscopy debridement for empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, from March 2019 to August 2021. There were 23 males and 15 females, aged (M(IQR)) 30 (25) years (range: 18 to 78 years). The patients were cleared of chest wall tuberculosis under general anesthesia and underwent an incision through the intercostal sinus, followed by the whole fiberboard decortication method. Chest tube drainage was used for pleural cavity disease and negative pressure drainage for chest wall tuberculosis with SB tube, and without muscle flap filling and pressure bandaging. If there was no air leakage, the chest tube was removed first, followed by the removal of the SB tube after 2 to 7 days if there was no obvious residual cavity on the CT scan. The patients were followed up in outpatient clinics and by telephone until October 2022. Results: The operation time was 2.0 (1.5) h (range: 1 to 5 h), and blood loss during the operation was 100 (175) ml (range: 100 to 1 200 ml). The most common postoperative complication was prolonged air leak, with an incidence rate of 81.6% (31/38). The postoperative drainage time of the chest tube was 14 (12) days (range: 2 to 31 days) and the postoperative drainage time of the SB tube was 21 (14) days (range: 4 to 40 days). The follow-up time was 25 (11) months (range: 13 to 42 months). All patients had primary healing of their incisions and there was no tuberculosis recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Uniportal thoracoscopic thorough debridement combined with postoperative standardized antituberculosis treatment is safe and feasible for the treatment of tuberculous empyema with chest wall tuberculosis, which could achieve a good long-term recovery effect.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Abscess/complications* ; Empyema, Pleural/etiology* ; Empyema, Tuberculous/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Debridement/adverse effects* ; China ; Chest Tubes/adverse effects* ; Tuberculosis/complications* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Drainage

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of one- stage bilateral video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for resection of bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules (BMPNs). METHODS: We analyzed the clinical characteristics, pathological features, perioperative outcomes and follow-up data of 41 patients with BMPNs undergoing one-stage bilateral VATS from July, 2011 to August, 2021. RESULTS: One-stage bilateral VATS was performed uneventfully in 40 of the patients, and conversion to open surgery occurred in 1 case. The surgical approaches included bilateral lobectomy (4.9%), lobar-sublobar resection (36.6%) and sublobar-sublobar resection (58.5%) with a mean operative time of 196.3±54.5 min, a mean blood loss of 224.6±139.5 mL, a mean thoracic drainage duration of 4.7±1.1 days and a mean hospital stay of 14±3.8 days. Pathological examination revealed bilateral primary lung cancer in 15 cases, unilateral primary lung cancer in 21 cases and bilateral benign lesions in 5 cases. A total of 112 pulmonary nodules were resected, including 67 malignant and 45 benign lesions. Postoperative complications included pulmonary infection (5 cases), respiratory failure (2 cases), asthma attack (2 cases), atrial fibrillation (2 cases), and drug-induced liver injury (1 case). No perioperative death occurred in these patients, who had a 1-year survival rate of 97.6%. CONCLUSION With appropriate preoperative screening and perioperative management, one-stage bilateral VATS is feasible and safe for resection of BMPNs.
Humans ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Feasibility Studies ; Postoperative Complications ; Drainage

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

Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication in treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis empyema. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, 122 cases of tuberculous empyema treated by decortication in Department of Surgery, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 100 males and 22 females, aged(M(IQR)) 29.5(28.0) years (range: 13 to 70 years). According to the surgical approach and drug resistance, patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group A (n=22), and those who underwent thoracotomy decortication were included in group B (n=28). Drug-sensitive patients who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication were included in group C (n=72). There was no statistical difference in the baseline data of the three groups (P>0.05). The operation, early postoperative recovery, and prognosis-related indicators were compared among three groups by Kruskal-Wallis test and χ² test by Mann-Whitney U test and Bonferroni method between groups A and B, groups A and C. Results: The intraoperative blood loss of group A, group B, and group C was 200(475) ml, 300(200) ml, and 225(300) ml, respectively. There was no significant difference in intraoperative hemorrhage (H=2.74, P=0.254) and treatment outcome (χ²=4.76, P=0.575) among the three groups. Compared with group B, the operation time of group A (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 200.0(60.0) minutes, U=171.0, P=0.007) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0 (2.2) months, U=146.5, P=0.032) were longer, and the postoperative drainage duration (9.5(7.8) days vs. 13.0(10.0) days, U=410.0, P=0.044), and the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 14.5(4.8) days, U=462.2, P=0.020) were shorter. There was no significant difference in complications between group A and group B (63.6%(14/22) vs. 71.4%(20/28), χ²=0.34, P=0.558). Compared with group C, the postoperative drainage duration of group A (9.5(7.8) days vs. 7.0(4.0) days, U=543.5, P=0.031), the postoperative hospitalization time (12.0(7.8) days vs. 9.0(4.0) days, U=533.0, P=0.031) and postoperative pulmonary reexpansion duration (4.5(3.0) months vs. 3.0(2.0) months, U=961.5, P=0.001) were longer. The operation time (302.5(187.5) minutes vs. 242.5(188.8) minutes, U=670.5, P=0.278), and complications (63.6%(14/22) vs. 40.3%(29/72), χ²=3.70, P=0.054) were not different between group A and group C. Conclusions: For drug-resistant tuberculous empyema, the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication can achieve the same good therapeutic effect as drug-sensitive tuberculous empyema, and it is as safe as thoracotomy. At the same time, it has the advantage of minimally invasive and can accelerate the early postoperative recovery of patients.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Empyema, Tuberculous/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Drainage ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/surgery*

BACKGROUND: With the extensive application of segmental lung resection in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer, how to complete segmentectomy more accurately and minimally invasively has become a research hotspot. The aim of this study is to explore the application of three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA) combined with perfusion area recognition technique in single-hole thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy. METHODS: From January 2021 to January 2022, the clinical data of 112 consecutive patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The three-dimensional reconstruction combined with perfusion area identification technique was used to perform the operation and the clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: The average operation time was (141.1±35.4) min; the initial time of intersegmental plane display was (12.5±1.7) s; the maintenance time of intersegmental plane was (114.3±10.9) s; the intersegmental plane was clearly displayed (100%); the amount of bleeding was [10 (10, 20)] mL; the total postoperative drainage volume was (380.5±139.7) mL; the postoperative extubation time was (3.9±1.2) d; and the postoperative hospitalization time was (5.2±1.6) d. Postoperative complications occurred in 8 cases. CONCLUSIONS The advantages of 3D-CTBA combined with perfusion area recognition technique are fast, accurate and safe in identifying intersegmental boundary in single-port thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy, which could provide guidances for accuratding resection of tumors, shortening operation time and reducing surgical complications.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Bronchography ; Pneumonectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Angiography/methods* ; Perfusion

Objective: To examine the safety and feasibility of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) decortication in patients presenting with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods: From August 2017 to July 2020, 158 patients of stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema underwent uniportal VATS decortication with partial rib resection and customized periosteal stripper in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. There were 127 males and 31 females, aged (M(IQR)) 32(28) years (range:14 to 78 years). Follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic or via social communication applications, at monthly thereafter. If there was no air leak and chest tube drainage was less than 50 ml/day, a chest CT was performed. If the lung was fully re-expanded, chest tubes were removed. All patients received a follow-up chest CT 3 to 6 months following their initial operations which was compared to their preoperative imaging. Results: There was one conversion to open thoracotomy. The operative time was 2.75 (2.50) hours (range: 1.5 to 7.0 hours), and median blood loss was 100 (500) ml (range: 50 to 2 000 ml). There were no perioperative mortalities. There were no major complications except 1 case of redo-VATS for hemostasis due to excessive drainage and 1 case of incision infection, The incidence of prolonged air leaks (>5 days) was 80.3%(126/157). The postoperative hospital stay was 5.00 (2.25) days (range: 2 to 15 days). All patients were discharged with 2 chest tubes, and the median duration drainage was 21.00 (22.50) days (range: 3 to 77 days). Follow-up was completed in all patients over a duration of 20 (14) months (range: 12 to 44 months). At follow-up, 149 patients(94.9%) recovered to grade Ⅰ level, 7 patients to grade Ⅱ level, and 1 patient to grade Ⅲ level. Conclusion: Uniportal VATS decortication involving partial rib resection and a customized periosteal stripper is safe and effective for patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema.
Aged ; China ; Empyema, Tuberculous/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy

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*

BACKGROUND: The first-line treatment for lung cancer is surgical resection, and one-lung ventilation (OLV) is the most basic anesthetic management method in lung surgery. During OLV, inflammatory cytokines are released in response to the lung tissue damage and promote local and contralateral lung damage through the systemic circulation. We designed a randomized, prospective study to evaluate the effect of the urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) ulinastatin on the inflammatory response after video-assisted thoracic lobectomy in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Adult patients aged 19 to 70 years, who were scheduled for video-assisted thoracic lobectomy surgery to treat lung cancer between May 2020 and August 2020, were enrolled in this randomized, prospective study. UTI (300,000 units) mixed with 100 mL of normal saline in the ulinastatin group and 100 mL of normal saline in the control group was administered over 1 h after inducing anesthesia. RESULTS: The baseline (T0) interferon-γ (IFN-γ)/interleukin-4 (IL-4) ratio was not different between the groups (6941.3 ± 2778.7 vs. 6954.3 ± 2752.4 pg/mL, respectively; P  > 0.05). The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly higher in ulinastatin group at 30 min after entering the recovery room than control group (20,148.2 ± 5054.3 vs. 6674.0 ± 2963.6, respectively; adjusted P < 0.017). CONCLUSION: Administering UTI attenuated the anti-inflammatory response, in terms of INF-γ expression and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, after video-assisted thoracic surgery in lung cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service of Korea National Institute of Health (CRIS), KCT0005533.
Adult ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prospective Studies ; Saline Solution ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted