European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2012
The impact of chest tube removal on pain and pulmonary function after pulmonary resection.
The aim of this study was to assess the immediate influence of chest tube removal on chest pain and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) after pulmonary resection. ⋯ The removal of a chest tube reduces pain and improves ventilatory function, independent of surgical access and particularly in the early post-operative phase. A fast track chest tube removal policy may favour patients' recovery.
-
The aim of this study was to report a single referral centre experience in robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early-stage thymomas, evaluating its safety, feasibility and efficacy, with special regard to oncological outcomes. ⋯ Robotic thymectomy is a safe and feasible technique, with a short operative time and low morbidity. Even on a small series with short follow-up, robotic extended thymectomy for thymoma appeared to be an effective treatment for early-stage thymomas.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2012
False-positivity of mediastinal lymph nodes has negative effect on survival in potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer.
It has been shown that increased metabolic activity of primary tumour has a negative effect on survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staged with positron emission tomography integrated computed tomography (PET/CT). We hypothesized that an increased metabolic activity of mediastinal lymph nodes would have worse survival even if it is false. ⋯ We have shown that false-positivity of mediastinal lymph nodes had yielded worse survival in surgically staged or resected NSCLC patients staged with PET/CT. This result may help to allocate patients with potentially poor prognosis for considered additional therapy.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2012
Durability of aortic valve preservation with root reconstruction for acute type A aortic dissection.
We evaluated the durability of aortic valve preservation with root reconstruction for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). ⋯ Aortic valve preservation and root reconstruction appear to be an appropriate surgical approach to AAAD.
-
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Apr 2012
Pneumonectomy: calculable or non-tolerable risk factor in trimodal therapy for Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in cancer statistics throughout developed countries. While single surgical approach provides best results in early stages, multimodality approaches have been employed in advanced disease and demonstrated superior results in selected patients. With either full-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, patients usually have a poor general condition when entering surgical therapy and therefore neoadjuvant therapy can lead to a higher morbidity and mortality. Especially in the case of pneumonectomy as the completing procedure, mortality rate can exceed over 40%. Therefore, chest physicians often shy away from recommending pneumonectomy as final step in trimodal protocols. We analysed our experience with pneumonectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a focus on feasibility, outcome and survival. ⋯ Pneumonectomy in neoadjuvant trimodal approach for Stage III NSCLC can be done safe with acceptable mortality rate. Patients should not withhold from operation because of necessitating pneumonectomy. Not the procedure but the selection, response rate and R0-resection are crucial for survival after trimodal therapy in experienced centres.