Enhanced recovery after surgery: adherence and outcomes in elderly patients undergoing VATS lobectomy.

Objectives: To evaluate whether ERAS is feasible and beneficial in elderly patients undergoing VATS lobectomy for lung cancer.

Methods: From February 2016 to March 2019, 182 patients were included into a 17-items ERAS pathway. Patients were divided into two groups according to age: Group A (< 75 years) 138 patients and Group B (≥ 75 years) 44 patients.

Risk is not our business: safety of thoracic surgery in patients using antiplatelet therapy.

American Heart Association recommendations have changed preoperative management of patients with antiplatelet therapy (APT). We assessed safety and outcomes of surgery in patients who were receiving APT. A prospective study of patients operated on while receiving APT was matched with those with no APT (ratio 1:4), using the propensity score method.

Pulmonary angiosarcoma presenting as spontaneous recurrent hemothorax.

An incidental diagnosis of pulmonary angiosarcoma was made after surgical exploration for repeated episodes of bleeding in an 85-year-old woman. Spontaneous hemothorax is uncommon and deserves detailed investigation.

Role of fluorine-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in preoperative assessment of anterior mediastinal masses.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to explore the usefulness of fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) in the preoperative assessment of isolated anterior mediastinal lesions, especially in the planning of operative strategy (biopsy or upfront resection).

Methods: During the last 36 months, 19 consecutive patients (10 males, mean age 54+/-16 years) underwent PET-CT in the preoperative work-up of isolated anterior mediastinal diseases. Maximal transverse diameter at CT and the postoperative histology and Masaoka staging for thymomas were collected and related to the maximum standardised uptake values (SUVs).

The split latissimus dorsi muscle flap to protect a bronchial stump at risk of bronchial insufficiency.

Consistent branching of the thoracodorsal vessels to the latissimus dorsi makes it possible to split the muscle into independent branched units. The use of the lateral split latissimus dorsi muscle flap to protect the bronchial stump in case of bronchus at risk of insufficiency is described.