Robotic hiatal hernia repair without mesh.

Background: Newer minimally invasive techniques have supplanted laparotomy and thoracotomy for management of hiatal hernias. Limited data exists on outcomes after robotic hiatal hernia repair without mesh despite the increasing popularity of this approach. We report our high-volume experience with durable robotic hiatal hernia repair with gastric fundoplication without mesh.

Aspergillus pleural empyema in a chronic smoker - A case report and review of literature.

Aspergillus species are ubiquitous saprophytic fungi that are present in the air, water, soil, and decaying vegetables. Clinical features of Aspergillus infection largely depend on the interplay between the fungi and the host immune status. We present a case of a chronic smoker with shortness of breath who was found to have diffuse bronchiectatic changes and empyema of the right lung.

Uniportal VATS Lobectomy and Decortication: Not an Everyday Occurrence.

Management of trapped lung with an underlying lung lesion and hydropneumothorax remains controversial. Furthermore, Aspergillus empyema and aspergilloma are rare pathologies for which uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) surgical management remains controversial. We present a young patient referred to our service after recent hospitalization for pneumonia.

Impact That Day of the Week has on Length of Stay for Video-assisted Lobectomy.

We aimed to analyze the effect that the day of the week for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy has on length of stay . A retrospective review identified all patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy at a single institution from January 2016 to July 2017. In total, 208 patients were divided into 2 groups based on timing of their operation: Operations performed on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday were defined as "early in the week" and those performed on Thursday or Friday were defined as "late in the week.

Intermediate oncologic outcomes after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma.

Background: Recent years have seen a trend towards utilizing a video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach for treatment of thymoma. Although increasing in practice, intermediate- and long-term oncologic outcome data is lacking for the VATS approach. There is no oncologic data for the uniportal VATS approach.

Robotic-Assisted First Rib Resection: Our Experience and Review of the Literature.

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) comprises a constellation of signs and symptoms that arise from neurologic and vascular compression of the brachial plexus and subclavian vasculature, respectively. Surgical decompression of the neurovascular structures is often indicated to alleviate TOS. We report here our robotic surgical approach and experience for resection of the first rib.

Switching from Thoracoscopic to Robotic Platform for Lobectomy: Report of Learning Curve and Outcome.

Objective: The optimal minimally invasive surgical management for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. For experienced video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgeons, the increased costs and learning curve are strong barriers for adoption of robotics. We examined the learning curve and outcome of an experienced VATS lobectomy surgeon switching to a robotic platform.

Noteworthy Literature Published in 2016 for Thoracic Surgery.

The past year has produced several important articles in the field of thoracic surgery, spanning many different diseases. Thoracic surgeons continue to investigate methods to perform complex operations and procedures less invasively, with the least possible morbidity to our patients. We also continue to critically evaluate new technology and procedures to ensure that they meet our rigorous standards for oncologic efficacy and for management of benign disease.

The efficacy of EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for molecular testing in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of obtaining adequate cytologic specimens by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for molecular testing of lung adenocarcinomas.

Methods: This was an institutional review board-approved study of all patients who had undergone EBUS-TBNA from April 2010 through March 2012 for the diagnosis, staging, or both of lung cancer. Patients with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma were reflexively tested for molecular markers by polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation and recovery.

Objective: Respiratory failure develops in many patients on lung transplant waiting lists before a suitable donor organ becomes available. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be used to bridge such patients to recovery or lung transplantation.

Methods: This is a review of a single-institution's experience with placing patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with the intention of bridging them to lung transplantation.

Minimally invasive thymectomy and open thymectomy: outcome analysis of 263 patients.

Background: An open thymectomy is a morbid procedure. If a minimally invasive thymectomy is performed without compromising the tenets of thymic surgery, it has the potential for decreasing morbidity and may offer similar clinical and oncologic results.

Methods: This is an institutional review board-approved, retrospective study of a single center's experience with both open (transsternal) and minimally invasive (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) thymectomy.