Video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy: preliminary results

Background Mediastinal lymph node metastases (MLNM) are not rare in thyroid cancer, but their treatment has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to explore the preliminary application of video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical pathologic data and short-term outcomes of thyroid cancer patients with suspicious MLNM treated with video mediastinoscopy-assisted mediastinal dissection at our institution from 2017 to 2020. Results Nineteen patients were included: 14 with medullary thyroid carcinoma and five with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Superior mediastinal nodes were positive in nine (64.3%) patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma and in four (80.0%) patients with papillary carcinoma. No fatal bleeding occurred. There were three cases of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy postoperatively, one of which was bilateral. Four patients had temporary hypocalcemia requiring supplementation, one had a chyle fistula, and one developed wound infection after the procedure. Postoperative serum molecular markers decreased in all patients. One patient died of cancer while the other 18 patients remained disease-free, with a median follow-up of 33 months. Conclusion Video mediastinoscopy-assisted superior mediastinal dissection can be performed relatively safely in patients with suspicious MLNM. This diagnostic and therapeutic approach may help control locoregional recurrences.

Early diagnosis of chyle fistula with SD LipidoCare after neck dissection

Objective This study aimed to analyse the results of chyle fistula testing using the SD LipidoCare system in patients who had undergone neck dissections performed in our hospital in 2019. Method Sixty patients who underwent neck dissections from March 2019 to November 2019 were identified based on their medical records. Results Post-operative chyle fistulas were observed in 3 of 60 patients (5 per cent). All patients who developed chyle fistulas had undergone left-sided neck dissections. Within 3 minutes, the SD LipidoCare test had produced triglyceride results of 49, 56 and 207 mg/dl in the three patients. The remaining 57 patients measured ‘low’ for triglycerides on the SD LipidoCare test system. Conclusion The SD LipidoCare test quickly and accurately diagnosed chyle fistulas in patients who had undergone neck dissections. All patients improved with conservative treatment following the early diagnosis of chyle fistulas.

Negative-Pressure Vacuum Therapy for High-Output Chyle Leak Following Neck Dissection

Chyle fistula is a challenging complication following neck dissection carrying a high morbidity and mortality rate. Herein we present a challenging case of successful management of high-output left-sided cervical chyle fistula with negative-pressure vacuum (VAC) therapy in a case where all conservative treatments failed. A 40-year-old man with lymphoma and supraglottic carcinoma underwent endoscopic resection and bilateral neck dissections. He developed high-output chyle fistula, nonresponsive to conservative treatments. Double-layered Vicryl mesh was placed between the sponge and the jugular vein to prevent vascular injury. Immediately after initiation of the VAC therapy, the output decreased, and completely stopped after 3 days. The VAC therapy was continued for additional 5 days to ensure complete seal of the fistula by granulation tissue, by which time the wound was primarily closed. VAC therapy seems to be a safe and effective treatment for high-output cervical chyle fistula following neck dissection, avoiding complex surgical interventions. Thoracic surgeons should be aware of this low-morbidity and potentially effective treatment modality for this challenging complication.

False vocal cord perforation with abscess treated by negative pressure wound therapy

Perforation of the larynx is very rare but may result in severe airway complications that include pneumothorax, pneumonia, mediastinitis, and retropharyngeal abscess. If conservative treatment fails, aggressive treatments including reconstructive surgery with pedicle flap are considered. Negative pressure wound therapy has been used for large skin defects, necrotizing fasciitis, pharyngocutaneous fistula, stoma dehiscence, osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, chyle fistula, flap failure, and lymphangioma in the field of head and neck surgery. We report a case of false vocal cord perforation with abscess successfully treated by negative pressure wound therapy after abscess treatment. The result suggests that negative pressure wound therapy can be an alternative or adjunctive approach for larynx perforation when the perforation is difficult to close after conservative therapy.