Results in mediastinal lymph node staging of surgical lung cancer: Data from the prospective cohort of the Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of combined computerised tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in mediastinal staging of surgical lung cancer based on data obtained from the prospective cohort of the Spanish Group for Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (GEVATS).

Methods: A total of 2782 patients underwent surgery for primary lung carcinoma. We analysed diagnostic success in mediastinal lymph node staging (cN2) using CT and PET.

Thymomectomy plus total thymectomy versus simple thymomectomy for early-stage thymoma without myasthenia gravis: a European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Thymic Working Group Study.

Objectives: Resection of thymic tumours including the removal of both the tumour and the thymus gland (thymothymectomy; TT) is the procedure of choice and is recommended in most relevant articles in the literature. Nevertheless, in recent years, some authors have suggested that resection of the tumour (simple thymomectomy; ST) may suffice from an oncological standpoint in patients with early-stage thymoma who do not have myasthenia gravis (MG) (non-MG). The goal of our study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of ST versus TT in non-MG early-stage thymomas using the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons thymic database.

Surgical Risk Following Anatomic Lung Resection in Thoracic Surgery: A Prediction Model Derived from a Spanish Multicenter Database.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop a surgical risk prediction model in patients undergoing anatomic lung resections from the registry of the Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group (GEVATS).

Methods: Data were collected from 3,533 patients undergoing anatomic lung resection for any diagnosis between December 20, 2016 and March 20, 2018. We defined a combined outcome variable: death or Clavien Dindo grade IV complication at 90 days after surgery.

Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group: Method, Auditing, and Initial Results From a National Prospective Cohort of Patients Receiving Anatomical Lung Resections.

Introduction: Our study sought to know the current implementation of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for anatomical lung resections in Spain. We present our initial results and describe the auditing systems developed by the Spanish VATS Group (GEVATS).

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study that included patients receiving anatomical lung resections between 12/20/2016 and 03/20/2018.

The everlasting issue of prolonged air leaks after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: A data-driven prevention planning model in the era of minimally invasive approaches.

Background And Objectives: Prolonged air leaks (PAL) are the most frequent complication after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer, even in case of minimally invasive approaches. We developed a novel score to identify high-risk patients for PAL during minimally invasive lobectomy.

Methods: A dedicated database was created.

Phytobezoar by aloe vera as long term complication after oesophagectomy resolved using cellulase.

Bezoars are uncommon diseases caused by the presence of indigestible mass of strange material in the gastrointestinal tract. Gold-standard treatment remains unclear and there are not clinical guidelines to follow. We present a very rare case of 53-year-old man suffering phytobezoar in a gastroplasty after oesophagectomy due to aloe vera ingestion as natural medicine.

Non-intubated thoracic surgery-A survey from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Background: A survey amongst the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) members has been performed to investigate the currents trends, rates of adoption as well as potential for future expansion of non-intubated thoracic surgery (NITS) performed under spontaneous ventilation.

Methods: A 14-question-based questionnaire has been e-mailed to ESTS members. To facilitate the completion of the questionnaire, questions entailed either quantitative or multiple-choice answers.

[Comparative analysis of video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open resection for early-stage thymoma].

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has significantly developed over the last decade. However, a VATS approach for thymoma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of VATS thymectomy for the treatment of early-stage thymoma and to compare the outcomes with open resection.

European guidelines on structure and qualification of general thoracic surgery.

Objective: To update the recommendations for the structural characteristics of general thoracic surgery (GTS) in Europe in order to provide a document that can be used as a guide for harmonizing the general thoracic surgical practice in Europe.

Methods: A task force was created to set the structural, procedural and qualification characteristics of a European GTS unit. These criteria were endorsed by the Executive Committee of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons and by the Thoracic Domain of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and were validated by the European Board of Thoracic Surgery at European Union of Medical Specialists.

Experience and development of the video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy technique: comparative study with conventional surgery in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Surgical treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be performed either by thoracotomy or by employing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The aim of this study was to compare long and short-term results of conventional surgery (CS) vs. VATS lobectomy in the treatment of stage I NSCLC.

Comparative study of talc poudrage versus pleural abrasion for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is a pathology mainly affecting healthy young patients. Clinical guidelines do not specify the type of pleurodesis that should be conducted, due to the lack of comparative studies on the different techniques. The aim of this study was to compare talc poudrage and pleural abrasion in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Posterolateral thoracotomy without muscle division: a new approach to complex procedures.

Today, there is a strong increase in video-assisted thoracic surgery; however, there are still some diseases and interventions that need a wide pleural cavity exposure (i.e. sulcus tumours and extended resections).

Sympathetic chain clipping for hyperhidrosis is not a reversible procedure.

Background: Many techniques have been used to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. Compensatory sweating is a difficult adverse effect. Clipping has been proposed because of its supposed reversibility when clips are removed at a later date.

[Pericardial window by videothorascopy].

Introduction: Pericardial effusion is a clinical condition requiring multidisciplinary management. There are several surgical techniques for its diagnosis and treatment. In the present study we report our experience in performing a pericardial window (PW) by videothorascopy.

First rib resection using videothorascopy for the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Objective: Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition caused by compression of the subclavian artery, subclavian vein and/or the brachial plexus. Scalene muscle section and first rib removal is the most effective treatment. The objective of this article is to demonstrate first rib resection using videothoracoscopy.

Giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare, accounting for <5% of all pleural neoplasms. Although over 80% of pleural fibrous tumors have a benign course, local recurrence postsurgery and occasional malignant transformation have been reported; complete excision of the tumor together with postsurgery follow-up of all patients is therefore recommended. We report on a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura measuring 30 cm and weighing 3560 g.

Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pleura: diagnosis and treatment.

Synovial sarcomas are uncommon soft tissue malignancies that usually affect the extremities in the vicinity of large joints. The recognition of this tumor in an unexpected site, such as the pleura, is often difficult and the monophasic variant of synovial sarcoma is often mistaken for some other spindle cell tumor. In this report, we describe a very rare case of primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pleura treated with radical surgery.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy: results in lung cancer.

Background: The application of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in major pulmonary resections is still far from routine in most hospitals, even though the safety and technical feasibility of the procedure have by now been amply demonstrated. This paper reports on the surgical technique used by the authors for VATS lobectomy, on their experience of the procedure and on the results obtained.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed of all patients undergoing VATS lobectomy at the our Thoracic Surgery Department ,between 1993 and 2009.

Video-assisted surgery for lung cancer. State of the art and personal experience.

This paper reviews the role of videothoracoscopy in lung cancer, highlighting its utility in definitive staging, diagnosis, and treatment. We show exploratory videothoracoscopy to be the perfect technique for last-minute staging, looking for tumor invasion, especially parietal T3 and vascular T4 (due to videopericardioscopy), management of solitary pulmonary nodules, and the possibility of radical treatment with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. We perform an overview of the literature and analyze our experience of 1,381 patients with lung cancer.

[Usefulness of video-assisted thoracoscopy for correctly staging tumors as T3 because of chest wall invasion].

Background: Exploratory video-assisted thoracoscopy (EVT) can be used to assess the resectability of lung carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of this technique for distinguishing between tumors that invade the chest wall and should be staged as T3 and tumors that have been incorrectly staged as T3 on the basis of imaging studies.

Patients And Methods: From March 1993 through December 2007, we studied 1277 patients, of whom 150 (137 men and 13 women; age range, 28-81 years) presented tumors classified as cT3 because of chest wall invasion on the basis of imaging studies.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy: 13 years' experience.

Background: Major lung resection by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been proven to be both safe and technically feasible, but is not routinely performed in most hospitals. The aim of this paper is to show our technique for VATS lobectomy and our experience and outcomes obtained.

Methods: We have performed a retrospective review included all patients undergoing major pulmonary resection by VATS at the General and Thoracic Surgery Unit, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Seville (Spain) since 1992.

Pleural hibernoma. Treatment by videothoracoscopic surgery.

Hibernoma is a rare, benign tumor originating from fetal brown adipose tissue. Although it is usually found in the interscapular region, it has also been reported in sites where brown fat is less common. Diagnosis of hibernoma is based on histological examination of an excised specimen.