Analysis on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of 49 cases with solitary nodular ground-glass opacity.

Objective: This study is designed to investigate the treatment approach and prognosis of pulmonary ground-glass-like shadow, especially solitary nodular ground-glass opacity (SNGGO).

Methods: Forty-nine cases of SNGGO that persisted after anti-inflammatory treatment in our hospital were retrospectively studied. These patients received thoracoscopic surgery due to indefinitive diagnosis and a tendency of canceration (some cases were followed up for 1-24 months before surgery).

[Muscle-sparing thoracotomy in chest surgery].

Objective: To review the clinical experience of muscle-sparing thoracotomy in intrathoracic surgery.

Methods: Thoracotomy was performed in 386 patients from 1998 to 2002, during the procedure lateral-transverse incision, free dissection of muscular flap and entering to the thoracic cavity through certain intercostal space were applied. Two sets of rib retractors were used to ensure the excellent field exposure.

Application of mechanical dilatation of the pyloric sphincter in esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of additional intraoperative mechanical dilatation of the pyloric sphincter in order to prevent early postoperative gastric retention after esophagectomy using the stomach as substitute for esophageal carcinoma patients. Between October 2001 and May 2002, 32 consecutive esophageal carcinoma patients were treated with esophagectomy combined with additional intraoperative mechanical dilatation of pyloric sphincter (trial group). Another 30 patients underwent esophagectomy without additional intraoperative mechanical dilatation of the pyloric sphincter (control group).