Endoscopic treatment of oesophageal leiomyoma: four new cases

Abstract Background and study aims: The advent of endoscopic techniques in the last decades has produced a change in the approach of the oesophageal leiomyoma. The aim of the study is to explain our experience in the laparoscopic surgery of the oesophageal leiomyoma. Materials and methods: We realised a retrospective study of the oesophageal leiomyoma operated on in our centre by the endoscopic approach between 2001 and 2004. There were two females and two males. All were symptomatic and pyrosis was the most frequent symptom. The preoperative study was an oral endoscopy and barium swallow. In all the cases enucleation was performed, two by thoracoscopy and two by laparoscopy approach. Results: The mean operating time was 230 min. No deaths or intraoperative complications occurred and there were no cases of conversion to open surgery either. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.25 days (range 2–4 days). There was no case of recurrence. Conclusions: The enucleation is an easier procedure and constitutes the therapy of choice of the oesophageal leiomyoma. We think that muscle borders should be closed after enucleation and that biopsy is not indicated preoperatively.     

电视胸腔镜辅助胸腺切除术

目的探讨电视胸腔镜辅助胸腺切除的临床应用价值. 方法 2002年9月～2004年6月,18例胸腺疾病和重症肌无力(myasthenia gravis,MG)行胸腔镜辅助下胸腺切除手术,其中胸腺全切7例,11例MG行胸腺扩大切除. 结果 17例在胸腔镜辅助下完成, 1例中转小切口(7 cm)开胸手术.3例MG术后须短暂呼吸机辅助通气(<12 h),二次气管插管1例,余无严重并发症,无手术死亡.手术时间47～115 min,平均95 min;胸腔引流时间1.2～2.6 d,平均2 d;术后住院时间4～9 d,平均5.5 d.9例良性胸腺瘤或胸腺囊肿随访3～20个月,平均13个月,无复发.11例MG随访3～19个月,平均10个月,4例症状完全缓解,7例都分缓解. 结论胸腔镜辅助下胸腺切除手术,具有创伤小、恢复快等优点,胸腔镜下胸腺扩大切除治疗重症肌无力在技术上是可行的.     

局麻胸腔镜清创术治疗脓胸实用性研究

目的探讨脓胸患者经局麻胸腔镜清创术治疗的实用价值。方法在局麻下用硬质电视胸腔镜行脓胸清创术，介绍操作方法及清创步骤，观察患者的耐受性及疗效。结果总有效率为90．6％，早、中、晚期治疗有效率分别是100．0％、90．9％、50．0％。术中监测患者对操作的反应及血氧饱和度、呼吸、脉搏、心电图改变均无统计学意义。结论局麻胸腔镜清创术在患者清醒状态下操作，除抽净黏稠脓液外尚可取出团块状脓苔及坏死组织，打穿包裹性脓腔，充分冲洗，可迅速控制感染。方法简单，避免全麻气管插管带来的并发症，术后恢复快，适应证广，患者易耐受，是治疗脓胸的实用方法。     

胸腔镜手术诊治血胸的临床研究

目的：总结胸腔镜手术（video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery,VATS）诊治血胸的临床经验。方法：回顾性分析3年来VATS治疗68例血胸患者的临床资料,并与同期的18例开胸术（Thoracotomy,TH）作比较。结果：VATS组手术时间、术后胸腔引流管放置时间和住院时间均明显短于TH组,无并发症发生。结论：合理应用胸腔镜治疗血胸具有创伤小、康复快、并发症少和瘢痕小等优点,大部分血胸手术可由胸腔镜完成,是值得临床推广、安全有效的治疗方法。     

Lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection by video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer

Background: Between September 1992 and September 1996, we performed 88 VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomies and two VATS pneumonectomies. Methods: The indications for surgery were 68 cases of lung cancer, nine cases of bronchiectasis, six cases of tuberculosis, and seven cases of benign lesions. Of the 68 cases of lung cancer, 36 were treated by VATS lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection for clinical stage I lung cancer, making full use of recently developed devices for thoracoscopic surgery, such as roticulating endoscissors, miniretractors, endoclips, and harmonic scalpels. Results: Twenty-four lymph nodes were resected on average (range, 10 to 51) by VATS. This number was comparable to lymph nodes resected in open thoracotomy during the same period. Among the 36 patients who underwent extended lymph node dissection, 20 showed no lymph node metastasis postoperatively (stage I), while 16 had N1 or N2 cancer. All patients with stage I cancer have survived 4 to 36 months (median: 17 months) with no signs of recurrence. Conclusions: This survival of stage I lung cancer after VATS is comparable to that of open thoracotomy. We thus believe that VATS lobectomy with extended lymph node dissection can be an alternative to standard posterolateral thoracotomy for stage I lung cancer. Received: 10 May 1996/Accepted: 19 November 1996     

A simple technique for thoracoscopic resection of lung tumors

Mainly incited by the bushfirelike spread of endoscopic operative techniques in general surgery, thoracoscopy has become the object of new interest in the field of thoracic surgery. Location and resection of lung tumors are problematic for several reasons and so far not standardized. The main problems are pointed out. A new technique together with the instruments and their advantages is demonstrated. Future aspects are discussed.     

Thoracoscopic Assisted Pneumonectomy

A lung carcinoma with tumor involving more than one lobe or in close proximity to the mainstem bronchus often requires pneumonectomy for surgical cure. Inflammation, bulky tumors, and dense adhesions limit the operative field of vision and may result in the abandonment of procedures with potential for complete extirpation. This case illustrates the utility of thoracoscopy in visualization of the hilum and other neurovascular structures in a patient with a proximal tumor and dense intrathoracic adhesions. Successful resection was made possible by use of combined open and thoracoscopic modalities.     

Transthoracoscopic needle biopsy for indeterminate lung nodules

Background: The usefulness of transthoracoscopic needle biopsy for preoperatively indeterminate intrapulmonary nodules was evaluated. Methods: Thoracoscopy was performed on 38 patients with pulmonary solitary nodules suspected to be primary lung carcinomas. When the nodule was localized by simple observation or tactile sensor, a biopsy specimen of the tumor was obtained by a biopsy needle introduced through a trocar. Results: The nodules were 7 to 55 mm in diameter. All were located in the peripheral region of the lung. Biopsy specimens were obtained even from 17 nodules with no associated pleural changes. By cytology, all the malignant tumors were precisely diagnosed, 29 as primary lung cancers and 3 as metastatic lung neoplasms. Five of the remaining six benign nodules were not precisely diagnosed. However, they were cytologically classified as class I. Conclusions: Transthoracoscopic needle biopsy is feasible for diagnosing small intrapulmonary nodules, particularly those of malignant neoplasms. As compared with thoracoscopic excisional biopsy, transthoracoscopic needle biopsy saves time and may reduce the possibility of tumor dissemination during the procedure. Received: 14 March 1997/Accepted: 31 May 1997     

Totally endoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

Esophagectomy is associated with significant risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality, as well as prolonged convalescence due to effects of the incisions used for conventional surgical access. Because the outcome of this procedure is palliative in the majority of patients, it is possible that laparoscopic techniques could improve initial postoperative outcomes and therefore make surgery more acceptable for patients with esophageal cancer. A new technique is described for Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, which incorporates a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach for gastric mobilization and a thoracoscopic approach for esophageal dissection and anastomosis. Initial experience in two patients has been encouraging, with postoperative hospital stay and convalescence shortened. Received: 17 December 1997/Accepted: 18 March 1998