Introduction Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for ipsilateral reoperations is controversial, because after the first surgical intervention, pleural adhesions occur frequently in the thoracic cavity and/or chest wall. This study assessed the usefulness of preoperative ultrasonography to reduce the incidence of lung injury at the time of the initial port insertion during secondary ipsilateral VATS. Materials and methods This was a retrospective, single-center study. Nine patients who underwent thoracic surgery at Vanvitelli Hospitalfrom September 2019 to February 2022, were scheduled for a second VATS surgeryon ipsilateral lung, because of inconclusive intraoperative histologic examination. All nine patients underwent preoperative ultrasonography to assess the possible presence of pleural adhesions. We evaluated the lung sliding, since the presence of pleural adhesions does not permit to appreciate it. Statistical analysis Hard severe adhesions were observed in all nine patients without sliding lung sign (specificity 100%). In this series, the sensitivity, PPV, and NPV of the sliding lung sign were 93%, 100% and 94% respectively. Results The presence of the lung respiratory changes can be evaluated as the “sliding lung sign” by chest ultrasonography; we believe that the sliding lung sign might also predict intrathoracic adhesion. Conclusions Preoperative detection of pleural adhesions using transthoracic ultrasonography was useful for ipsilateral secondary pulmonary resection patients undergoing VATS. Using preoperative ultrasonography can improve the safety and feasibility of placing the initial port in VATS.

Introduction: Seroma formation represents one of the most frequent postoperative complications of axillary dissection in breast cancer (BC) patients. We aimed to retrospectively explore the effectiveness of the intraoperative use of a synthetic cyanoacrylate glue (specifically Glubran®2) vs. the intraoperative use of a fibrin sealant (specifically Tisseel) in reducing seroma formation compared to the use of nonsealant in BC patients who underwent breast surgery and axillary dissection. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, monocentric observational study on BC patients who underwent axillary dissection associated with breast surgery. The axillary dissection was completed with the application of a closed suction drain and was preceded by the application of either Glubran®2 glue or Tisseel sealant or nonsealant. We analyzed the quantity of serum drained in the first 3 postoperative days, length of hospitalization, days of permanence of axillary drain, seroma development, and presence of postoperative infection signs. Results: Forty-one BC patients were considered. Based on the device used during the surgical treatment, the patients were divided into three groups: group A (17 patients), to whom suction axillary drain was applied; group B (7 patients), to whom Tisseel and axillary suction drain were applied; and group C (17 patients), to whom Glubran®2 and axillary suction drain were applied. Among the three groups, we did not find significant differences in terms of amount of serum drained in the first 3 postoperative days, length of hospitalization, and incidence of seroma. Group C maintained the axillary drain in a significantly lower number of days compared to the other two groups (p = 0.02); it also had a lower incidence of postoperative infections (6%) compared to group A (23%) and group B (57%) (p = 0.02). Conclusions: We did not find any evidence that the use of surgical glues may reduce the formation of seroma following axillary dissection in BC patients. Nevertheless, the use of cyanoacrylate glue in association with closed suction axillary drain seems to contribute to the reduction in days of axillary drain permanence and of postoperative infections, which are known factors delaying the schedule of any adjuvant oncological therapies.

INTRODUCTION Application of videoassisted thoracoscopy brought lung surgery into the minimally invasive era; the lack of tactile feedback using VATS, remains a disadvantage because surgeons are unable to locate lesions with a finger or device. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness, the applicability and the utility of Intraoperative Ultrasound (IU), for the localization of small GGO lesions in the parenchyma, as a guide in finding their margins in a deflated lung. MATERIALS AND METHOD We included fifteen consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic resection of GGOs via VATS in the Thoracic Surgery Unit of the University of ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’ of Naples from November 2019 to December 2021. They were under general anesthesia, when the lung had been collapsed, the probe was placed in the region where the target lesion was thought to reside on the basis of LDCT scanning. GGO could be identified their sizes, echo levels, and posterior echo were recorded by IU when the lung was completely deflated. RESULTS We conducted a retrospective single-centre study. All GGOs were identified by Intraoperative Ultrasound (IU). The mean size and depth were 14.1 ± 0.5 mm and 4.8 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. 6 (40%) lesions had hyperechoic patterns, 9 (60%) had mixed echogenicity where the hyperechoic patterns were irregularly mixed with hypoechoic patterns. The final diagnoses included 2 (15%) atypical adenomatous hyperplasia; 2 (15%) adenocarcinomas in situ; 3 (23%) minimally invasive adenocarcinomas and 6 (46%) invasive adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study showed that Intraoperative Ultrasound could safely and effectively detect GGOs.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols have shown improved clinical outcomes after lung resection surgery, but their application after empyema surgery is still limited. We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of an adapted enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for immunocompromised patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgery for chronic empyema between December 2013 and December 2021. The patients were divided into an ERAS group and a conventional treatment group. Peri-operative data were collected and compared between the two groups. The primary outcome was post-operative length of stay. Secondary outcomes were post-operative pain and post-operative complications (air leaks, atelectasis). A total of 86 patients, 45 in the ERAS group and 41 in the non-ERAS group, were considered. Chest tube duration (6.4 ± 2.3 vs. 13.6 ± 6.8 days) and post-operative length of stay (7.6 ± 1.6 vs. 16.9 ± 6.9 days) were significantly shorter in the ERAS group. The volume of chest drainage (103 ± 78 vs. 157 ± 89 mL/day) was significantly smaller in the ERAS group. There were no significant differences in operative time, blood loss, need for transfusion, tube reinsertion and median VAS score. The incidence of air leaks and atelectasis was significantly reduced in the ERAS group, as was the need for bronchoscopic aspiration. The application of an ERAS protocol after empyema VATS surgery for immunocompromised patients improved the surgical outcome, reducing the post-operative length of stay and rate of complications.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak had a massive impact on lung cancer patients with the rise in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer. Methods: We evaluated whether a recent COVID-19 infection affected the outcome of patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer using a retrospective observational mono-centric study conducted between January 2020 and August 2022. Postoperative complications and 90-day mortality were reported. We compared lung cancer patients with a recent history of COVID-19 infection prior to thoracoscopic lobectomy to those without recent COVID-19 infection. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: One hundred and fifty-three consecutive lung cancer patients were enrolled. Of these 30 (19%), had a history of recent COVID-19 infection prior to surgery. COVID-19 was not associated with a higher complication rate or 90-day mortality. Patients with recent COVID-19 infection had more frequent pleural adhesions (p = 0.006). There were no differences between groups regarding postoperative complications, conversion, drain removal time, total drainage output, and length of hospital stay. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection did not affect the outcomes of thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer. The treatment of these patients should not be delayed in case of recent COVID-19 infection and should not differ from that of the general population.