Prognostic Factors of Complications After Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-A Retrospective Study

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, safe and minimally invasive, is the first strategy recommended for non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for postoperative cardiopulmonary complications (including cardiac and pulmonary complications) in patients with NSCLC who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).Methods: We retrospectively collected information of 3142 lung cancer patients undergoing VATS tumor resection at Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from January 2017 to June 2018, and established a clinical prediction model using the factors selected by univariate analysis.Results: A total of 305 in 3142 patients developed postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. In univariate analysis, age, PNI, CCI, long-term smoking history before surgery, conversion to thoracotomy, albumin before surgery, pre-albumin, Δalbumin and pleura adhesion were all associated with cardiac and pulmonary complications. Multivariate analysis showed that age, PNI, CCI, long-term smoking history before surgery, conversion to thoracotomy, pre-albumin, Δalbumin were important independent risk factors for complications. Finally, age, PNI, CCI, long-term smoking history before surgery, conversion to thoracotomy, Δalbumin variables were included in the model (AUC=0.743).Conclusion: Nutritional status (PNI, pre-albumin), CCI, age, long-term smoking history before surgery, conversion to thoracotomy were all independent risk factors for postoperative complications and poor prognosis. Experienced surgeons should instruct the operation of high-risk patients to avoid long-term hospitalization and possible poor prognosis after surgery.

Clinical Application and Observation of Single-Port Inflatable Mediastinoscopy Combined With Laparoscopy for Radical Esophagectomy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background Transthoracic esophagectomy is a crucial independent risk factor for the incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in elderly or comorbid patients. To reduce postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and promote postoperative recovery. We made a bold attempt to adopt the single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy for radical esophagectomy in esophageal cancer to observe the clinical application and effect. Method Data of patients with esophageal carcinoma were collected in the Hebei General Hospital from May 2018 to November 2019. The operation time、surgical blood loss、the number of dissected lymph nodes、duration of drainage tube、postoperative complications、the length of postoperative hospital stay were collected to assess the safety and feasibility of the single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy for radical esophagectomy in esophageal cancer. Results A total of 22 patients with esophageal cancer were analyzed in our research. There was no case of switching to thoracotomy、perioperative death or postoperative cardiopulmonary complications. The average operation time、surgical blood loss、amount of dissected lymph nodes、duration of drainage tube、postoperative hospital stay of all enrolled patients was 4.26±0.52 hours、142±36.50 ml、21.6±4.2、5.8±2.5 days、12.6±2.5 days, respectively. Among all the enrolled patients, one patient(4.5%) developed anastomotic fistula on the third day after surgery. 5 patients(22.7%) with anastomotic stricture. Pleural effusion was found in 4 cases (18.2%). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury caused hoarseness or cough after drinking water in 3 cases (13.6%). one patients(4.5%) was switched from laparoscopy to open surgery as the patient had serious peritoneal adhesion. All of the patients were discharged successfully. Conclusion Our results showed that this surgery of single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy combined with laparoscopy for radical esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is safe and feasible. The feasibility and safety could be further and better investigated with a RCT to achieve more conclusive results.

The Impact of Frailty on Postoperative Cardiopulmonary Complications in the Emergency General Surgery Population

Background The burden of frail patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) is increasing rapidly and this population is particularly susceptible to postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and mortality. We aimed to determine the association between frailty, as defined by the previously described modified frailty index (mFI), and postoperative respiratory complications (unplanned reintubation, pneumonia, and prolonged ventilation), cardiac complications (myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest), and mortality. We also sought to identify the most significant determinants of frailty in the highest risk patients based on the specific variables comprising the mFI. Methods We performed a retrospective observational analysis of the prospectively collected American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Files from 2005 to 2015 identified 132,765 inpatients who underwent EGS. mFI scores were calculated for each patient. The effect of increasing frailty on unplanned reintubation, pneumonia, prolonged ventilation, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and mortality was evaluated using bivariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare mFI with additional predictor variables including race, gender, physical status as defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, disseminated cancer, renal failure, smoking status, sepsis, wound presence/classification, dyspnea, and previous ventilator dependence. Results Unplanned reintubation, pneumonia, prolonged ventilation, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and mortality were significantly associated with frailty, and the odds of each postoperative complication increased with increasing mFI score. Of the frailest patients (mFI ≥3) that experienced cardiopulmonary complications or mortality, the variables of the mFI that contributed most to frailty were hypertension requiring medication and functional status before surgery. Conclusions A higher mFI score is associated with increased odds of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and mortality in the EGS population. Specific variables of the mFI can also provide valuable information for assessing odds in the frailest patients undergoing EGS.