Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery: the Middle East experience
Original Article dedicated to the 3rd International VATS Course in Berlin

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery: the Middle East experience

Firas Abu Akar1, Diego Gonzalez-Rivas2, Mahmoud Ismail3, Maher Deeb1, Yefim Reichenshtein1, Irith Hadas-Halpern1, Rachel Tauber1, Daniel Fink1

1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC), Jerusalem, Israel;2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China;3Charité-Compentence Center for Thoracic Surgery, Charité-Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Contributions: (I) Conception and design: F Abu Akar, D Fink; (II) Administrative support: D Fink; (III) Provision of study materials or patients: F Abu Akar, R Tauber; (IV) Collection and assembly of data: F Abu Akar, R Tauber; (V) Data analysis and interpretation: F Abu Akar; (VI) Manuscript writing: All authors; (VII) Final approval of manuscript: All authors.

Correspondence to: Firas Abu Akar. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC), Shmu’el Bait St 12, Jerusalem, Israel. Email: firasabuakar@gmail.com.

Background: The application of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for both minor and major thoracic procedures is gaining widespread use across the globe. Believing its advantages, both in superb surgical results and less morbidity, our center has the privilege to be one of the first centers in the Middle East to introduce this surgical technique into our standard practice. This study presents our initial experience using this technique in 192 procedures and demonstrates the results of postoperative pain level in a sample of 90 patients.

Methods: In a retrospective study of prospectively collected data, 192 uniportal VATS procedures were analyzed between November 2013 and June 2016. The level of early post-operative pain (postoperative days 1–4) was analyzed in the first 90 cases between November 2013 and March 2015. Uniportal technique was used for a wide array of procedures: blebectomies, pleurectomies, wedge resections, anatomical major lung resections, mediastinal tumors, empyema drainage and decortications.

Results: The mean age of patients was 49.6 years, and 72 patients were females (37%). Thirty-five (18.2%) patients underwent anatomical resections with conversion to thoracotomy in three patients (8%). Six (3%) patients had air leak >4 days. The average chest drain duration was 3.25 days. The average length of stay was 4.2 days. Postoperative pain level was low in the first 4 days following the surgery and 30 days mortality was 0%.

Conclusions: Uniportal VATS surgery is a safe and established technique with a minimal invasive thoracic surgery. Excellent results with minimal morbidity, short hospital stay and low postoperative pain are amongst its strong points. Thoracic surgeons experienced in thoracic surgical approaches can safely perform uniportal VATS.

Keywords: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS); uniportal VATS; single-port thoracic surgery; minimally invasive thoracic surgery; initial experience in VATS

Submitted Jul 06, 2016. Accepted for publication Sep 30, 2016.

doi: 10.21037/jtd.2016.11.89

Introduction

The introduction of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) into the surgical armamentarium of the past two decades has changed the face of thoracic surgery. The field has moved from the traditional extensive thoracotomy to a minimally invasive video-based approach for a wide array of pathologies with improved results, shorter hospital stays, less pain and reduced costs (1-4). VATS technique reduced surgical trauma and maintains the same oncological principles of traditional open procedures (5-8). Due to its minimally invasive nature and shorter recovery, some groups have demonstrated an improved tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy. VATS originated with the application of a 1–3 trocar incisions as well as a utility incision for major lung resections (4,5,9). Yamamoto et al. (10) first reported the initial experience of uniportal VATS in a series of six patients. This work was followed by Rocco and his group at the National Cancer Institute in Naples, Italy (11-15). Rocco reported his initial experience over the period of 2003–2006 for a wide variety of pathologies including pleural effusion, pleurodesis, biopsies, wedge resection and mediastinal pathologies. The real breakthrough and milestone for this technique was by Dr. Gonzalez-Rivas at University of a Coruña, Spain who performed the first major lung resection with radical lymphadenectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (16). Dr. Gonzalez-Rivas went on to perform complex procedures such as segmentectomies, pneumonectomies, sleeve vascular and bronchoplastic resections, and chest wall resections (17-27). Management of significant bleeding proved to be safe in experts’ hands with this technique (28,29). The most recent development was uniportal lobectomy in a non-intubated patient (30,31). Implementation of uniportal VATS technique is gaining wide and rapid application across the globe with initial very positive outcomes (27,32-41). Long-term data are still awaited. The purpose of this study was to analyze the initial experience with uniportal VATS performed in Israel.

Methods

One hundred ninety two [192] cases of uniportal VATS were performed between November 2013 and June 2016. A retrospective study from prospectively collected data from our institutional database was carried out for patients undergoing a uniportal VATS procedure. The results are analyzed and are included in this study. The results of postoperative pain level are also analyzed in the first 90 patients. The review board at the Shaare Zedek University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, approved this study. The main endpoint of this study was feasibility of technique, postoperative pain level, 30-day mortality, morbidity, and conversion rate.

Surgical technique

(I) All operations were done under general anesthesia utilizing a double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker for intraoperative single-lung ventilation. Positioning of the lung isolation device was guided by flexible bronchoscope. Double-lumen tube was preferable in right sided lung resections because it provides better lung deflation during intraoperative lung manipulations. An arterial line is usually used in major procedures for hemodynamic and arterial blood gas monitoring. Peripheral intravenous lines were employed for fluid and drug administration. In major surgeries, Foley catheter was inserted. In the majority of cases, paravertebral block was performed by our anesthesia colleagues prior to the induction of anesthesia; alternatively, intercostal block was performed by the surgeon intraoperatively. We rarely placed an epidural catheter.

(II) The patient is placed in a lateral decubitus position, both arms along the body (prayer’s position) (Figure 1) with the bed maximally flexed and the breakpoint just above the superior iliac crest. This helps spread the intercostal spaces.

Figure 1 Lateral decubitus position.

Both the surgeon and the assistant are positioned in front of the patient in order to have the same thoracoscopic vision during all steps of the procedure, thus allowing more coordinated movements. The scrub nurse should be positioned behind the patient (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Positioning of the surgical team during the operation (both the surgeon and the assistant should be positioned in front of the patient).

A 3–5 cm incision is performed preferably in the 5th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line area (Figure 3). This location provides better approach for hilar dissection and insertion of staplers, in some cases when approaching the anterior mediastinum (e.g., pericardial window) the incision was made a little bit more posterior than usual. This can provide better exposure and comfort for the surgeon to deal with the anterior mediastinum.

Figure 3 Location of the incision in uniportal VATS (fifth intercostal space, anterior axillary line). VATS, video-assisted thoracic surgery.

In this procedure, there was no need to use a rib spreader or thoracoscopic trocar. In most of the cases a wound protector (Figure 4A) could be helpful in obese patients or according to surgeon preference. Retracting the wound using two stitches, one from each side, could also be helpful, especially for opening the wound and to avoid contamination of the camera (Figure 4B).

Figure 4 Using wound protector (A) or two stitches (B) to open the wound and preventing the contamination of the camera.

The thoracoscope (preferably 10 mm 30 degrees) should be inserted and maintained in the posterior part of the incision. Eleven sympathectomy operations (5.7%) were done with single lumen tube using a 0 degree thoracoscope with working channel introduced through a small incision at the mid axillary line of the base of axilla with insufflation of CO2 during the surgery.

All operations were conducted using this methodology with the exception of one case. No additional incisions were made for any purpose such as drain placement, or further instrumentation. A complete lymphadenectomy was carried out in all cases of lung cancer. Digital palpation of nodules when necessary was smoothly carried out through the incision, but in cases with small lesions or GGO (14 cases) we used intraoperative ultrasonography to identify the lesions (Figures 5,6). All tumor specimens were removed from the chest using a retrieval bag. At the end of surgery a single 20–28 Fr chest tube was inserted and secured into position at the posterior part of the incision.

Figure 5 Intraoperative ultrasonography.
Figure 6 Using intra-operative ultrasonography for finding small lung lesions (42). Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/1363

Postoperative management

Post-operative management included a fast-track concept designed by our department. Most patients were transferred to a regular ward after a brief period in the general recovery ward (PACU). Some high-risk patients recovered overnight in an ICU. Mobilization and respiratory physiotherapy began in the overwhelming majority of patients on the operation day. Most patients did not receive epidural catheter for pain management and received oral pain medications. Chest X-ray was performed on the day of surgery, on the first postoperative day and after chest tube removal prior to discharge. Chest tube removal occurred with normal CXR findings, no air leak and secretions of less than 250 cc in 24 hours. No patient was discharged with a chest tube in place.

Results

Spectrum of procedures

Uniportal VATS technique has been adopted in the cardiothoracic surgery department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) in November 2013. Between November 2013 and June 2016 we performed 192 procedures using the uniportal VATS technique. Patients ages were between 12–83 years (mean age 49.6 years) and 72 patients (37%) were female. Anatomical resections numbered 35 (18% of cases) which included 31 lobectomies, 2 segmentectomies, 2 pneumonectomies (Table 1).

Table 1
Table 1 spectrum of operations
Full table

Perioperative mortality and morbidity

There was no operative or 30-day mortality. For 35 cases of anatomical resection, conversion to anterolateral thoracotomy occurred in 3 cases (8%), one case due to significant bleeding and two cases due to technical difficulties. Conversion to multiple port VATS was done in one case due to technical difficulties. Six patients (3%) had a prolonged air leak for more than 4 days. Three patients (1.5%) were after decortication and evacuation of empyema while the other 3 patients (1.5%) were after anatomical resections. The average chest drain duration was 3.25 days (1–23 days) and the average length of stay was 4.2 days (1–25 days). Three patients (1.5%) underwent re-exploration due to postoperative bleeding. One patient (0.5%) with stage 4 lung cancer underwent decortication and evacuation of empyema which developed after insertion of a long-term palliative chest drain (pleurx catheter; PleurX™). This patient required reintubation for one week due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (Table 2).

Table 2
Table 2 Incidence of complications
Full table

Postoperative pain was retrospectively analyzed in the first 90 patients during the first four postoperative days (Figure 7). According to visual analog scale (VAS), the average level of pain was 2.7 on POD 1 and dropped to 0.3 by the morning of POD 4.

Figure 7 Analysis of pain in the first 4 post-operative days according to visual analog scale (VAS) in the first 90 patients.

Discussion

Uniportal VATS is being applied worldwide for both minor and major lung and mediastinal resections. Its feasibility has been established with several publication demonstrating excellent early outcomes. To date there have not been any randomized controlled prospective studies comparing uniportal VATS to conventional VATS or to open thoracotomy. However, there have been several recent publications comparing uniportal VATS to traditional VATS and open thoracotomies that have shown advantages of uniportal technique. Uniportal VATS lung resection is feasible. It allows for complete resection of the lung according to cancer operation principles, and has reduced length of stay, has reduced cost and improved patient satisfaction.

The uniportal VATS program began at our institution in November 2013 with the assistance and guidance of Dr. Gonzalez-Rivas. The operations were performed according to availability of instrumentation designed to facilitate the technique and taking into account the learning-curve and experience of the thoracic surgeon. Over time we have undertaken more complex surgical resections including segmentectomy and pneumonectomy, and have reduced our operative times.

Our report represents the first Middle Eastern experience with uniportal VATS surgery for a heterogeneous group of patients, undergoing a variety of surgical procedure both simple and complex resection with excellent early results, low conversion rate to either traditional multi incision VATS or thoracotomy and minimal morbidity.

Uniportal VATS technique can be optimally learned under the supervision of a team proficient and experienced surgeon. Adoption of this technique was facilitated by usage of surgical instruments designed to be of low profile relative to traditional VATS instruments, excellent anesthetic management, teamwork and application of good postoperative management. Further randomized controlled studies are necessary to compare uniportal VATS with other techniques in terms of lymph node dissection, postoperative pain, length of stay as well as mid and long-term results. Uniportal VATS technique is an emerging tool in the thoracic surgery armamentarium.

Acknowledgements

None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The study was approved by the review board at the Shaare Zedek University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel (Helsinki Committee approval number: 0096-16-SZMC) and written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

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Cite this article as: Abu Akar F, Gonzalez-Rivas D, Ismail M, Deeb M, Reichenshtein Y, Hadas-Halpern I, Tauber R, Fink D. Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery: the Middle East experience. J Thorac Dis 2017;9(4):871-877. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2016.11.89

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