Project description:Twelve patients with thoracic syndrome were operated during a 15 month period. Eleven patients had features of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, while one presented with arterial ischemia due to distal embolism. The diagnosis was based on the characteristic history and positive stress tests. Cervical rib was present in 7 patients. Abnormal nerve conduction studies were present in 7 out of 8 cases. Supraclavicular first rib resection was done in all patients in view of the severity of symptoms. If present, the cervical rib was also excised. There was no major operative complication. Eleven out of twelve patients reported relief of symptoms. Thoracic outlet syndrome is not an uncommon disorder and often goes undiagnosed. Resection of first rib via the supraclavicular approach gives good results in majority of the patients who have incapacitating symptoms.
Project description:PurposeTo assess the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of an endoscopic-assisted transaxillary approach of first rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and to compare the differences in demographic and clinical data between satisfactory and unsatisfactory outcomes using this approach.MethodsWe retrospectively identified patients who underwent endoscopic-assisted first rib partial resection. A transaxillary approach for the first rib resection and neurovascular decompression were undertaken under magnified visualization. Endoscopic classification of neurovascular bundle (NVB) patterns and interscalene distance (ISD) between anterior and middle scalene muscles were evaluated intraoperatively. We assessed the Roos and DASH scores.ResultsWe reviewed 131 cases of TOS (48 women and 83 men; mean age 26.2 years; range 12 to 57). Roos classification revealed 80.2% excellent or good results. DASH scores improved significantly from 40.7 ± 20.0 to 15.7 ± 19.6 (P < .001). The complication rate was low (5.3%), with 4 pneumothorax and 3 other complications. Intraoperative NVB classification revealed 30 cases of parallel type, in which the artery and nerve travel in parallel; 69 oblique types, and 30 vertical types, in which the nerve was completely behind the middle scalene muscle or abnormal band. The ISD was narrower (5.4 ± 3.6 mm) than in previous cadaveric studies. The ISD in the parallel patterns was wider than that in the vertical patterns. In the satisfactory group, we found a significantly larger number of men, younger patients, athletes, and patients with a lower preoperative DASH score.ConclusionsAn endoscopic-assisted transaxillary approach for first rib resection in TOS provides an excellent magnified visualization, safely allowing sufficient decompression of the neurovascular bundle and satisfactory surgical outcomes. Younger male athletes with TOS may be better candidates for this procedure.Level of evidenceIV, therapeutic case series.
Project description:Objectives: The treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) conventionally involves first-rib resection (FRR) surgery, which is quite challenging to perform, especially for novices, and is often associated with postoperative complications. Herein, we report a new segmental resection approach through piezo surgery that involves using a bone cutter, which can uniquely provide a soft tissue protective effect. Methods: This retrospective study involved the examination of 26 NTOS patients who underwent piezo surgery and another group of 30 patients who underwent FRR using the conventional technique. In the patient group that underwent piezo surgery, the rib was first resected into two pieces using a piezoelectric device and subsequently removed. In the patient group that underwent conventional surgery, the first rib was removed as one piece using a rib cutter and rongeurs. Results: The piezo surgery group had significantly shorter operative time (96.85 ± 14.66 vs. 143.33 ± 25.64 min, P < 0.001) and FRR duration (8.73 ± 2.11 vs. 22.23 ± 6.27 min, P < 0.001) than the conventional group. The posterior stump length of the residual rib was shorter in the piezo surgery group than in the conventional group (0.54 ± 0.19 vs. 0.65 ± 0.15 cm, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and scores of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, the Cervical Brachial Symptom Questionnaire (CBSQ), and the visual analog scale (VAS). Even the TOS index (NTOS Index = [DASH + (0.83 × CBSQ) + (10 × VAS)]/3) and patient self-assessments of both the groups showed no significant differences. Univariate analyses indicated that the type of treatment affected operative time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that piezo surgery is safe, effective, and simple for segmental FRR in NTOS patients. Piezo surgery provides a more thorough FRR without damaging adjacent soft tissues in a relatively short duration and achieves similar functional recovery as conventional techniques. Therefore, piezo surgery can be a promising alternative for FRR during the surgical treatment of NTOS.
Project description:Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex disorder with signs and symptoms resulting from compression of the brachial plexus and subclavian vessels. Although transaxillary first-rib resection is a well-established surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic TOS, this approach sometimes does not allow adequate exposure of the insertion point of the middle scalene muscle to the posterior part of the first rib and neurovascular bundle. The objective of this Technical Note is to describe an endoscopic-assisted transaxillary approach for first-rib resection and neurolysis. An endoscopic-assisted transaxillary approach for first-rib resection in TOS can provide excellent magnified visualization and safely allow sufficient decompression of the neurovascular bundle.
Project description:First rib resection is a surgical treatment for decompressing the neurovascular structures in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Historically, extrathoracic approaches have used a posterior, supraclavicular, or transaxillary incision to remove the first rib. In this report, we demonstrate video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intrathoracic first rib resection (VATS-IFRR).Between 2009 and 2014, eight patients underwent VATS-IFRR for TOS. Surgery was performed through two 5-mm ports and one 10-mm port. Endoscopic graspers, a hook-type electrocautery probe, a long peapod intervertebral disc rongeur, and Kerrison punches were used. The types of disease, operative times, chest tube indwelling days, lengths of hospital stay after operation, perioperative complications, postoperative pain scale ratings, and postoperative symptom recurrence rates at provocation tests were reviewed. The surgical outcomes were compared to published outcomes of extrathoracic approaches and other VATS approaches.The eight patients (3 right ribs, 5 left ribs) exhibited neurogenic (1 patient), combined type (2 patients), arterial (4 patients), and venous type (1 patient) TOS. The mean operative time was 190 (range 155-310) minutes. No mortalities or major complications occurred. The mean chest tube indwelling duration was 6 (range 3-10) days, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 9 (range 4-21) days. The mean immediate postoperative pain numeric rating scale (NRS) score was 2.7/10 (range 2-4). No recurrence was observed during follow-up (median 25.5 months, range 10-64 months) in any patient.VATS-IFRR was safe and had several advantages. Thus, VATS-IFRR is a minimally invasive surgical option suitable for treating selective cases of TOS.
Project description:BackgroundRobotic surgery was introduced as a platform for minimally invasive lung resection in Canada in October 2011. We present the first Canadian series of robotic pulmonary resection for lung cancer.MethodsProspective databases at 2 institutions were queried for patients who underwent robotic resection for lung cancer between October 2011 and June 2015. To examine the effect of learning curves on patient and process outcomes, data were organized into 3 temporal tertiles, stratified by surgeon.ResultsA total of 167 consecutive patients were included in the study. Median age was 66 (range 27-88) years, and 46.1% (n = 77) of patients were men. The majority of patients (n = 141, 84%) underwent robotic lobectomy. Median duration of surgery was 270 (interquartile range [IQR] 233-326) minutes, and median length of stay (LOS) was 4 (IQR 3-6) days. Twelve patients (7%) were converted to thoracotomy. Total duration of surgery and console time decreased significantly (p < 0.001) across tertiles, with a steady decline until case 20, followed by a plateau effect. Across tertiles, there was no significant difference in LOS, number of lymph node stations removed, or perioperative complications.ConclusionThe results of this case series are comparable to those reported in the literature. A prospective study to examine the outcomes and cost of robotic pulmonary resection compared with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery should be done in the context of the Canadian health care system. We have presented the first consecutive case series of robotic lobectomy in Canada. Outcomes compare favourably to other series in the literature.