Endoscopic Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting with Changes in Scope Position

Although minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) is a less invasive procedure, internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting is difficult. A 65-year-old woman was advised to undergo MIDCAB for recurrent in-stent restenosis. We harvested the ITA using three-dimensional endoscopy without robotics and determined the scope position using enhanced computed tomography. We changed the camera installation between the wound and the camera port, according to the harvesting site with a harmonic scalpel using the skeletonized technique. We harvested the ITA from the subclavian vein level superiorly to the xyphoid process level inferiorly.

Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Resection of the First Rib for Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: The New Gold Standard of Treatment?

In thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) the narrowing between bony and muscular structures in the region of the thoracic outlet/inlet results in compression of the neurovascular bundle to the upper extremity. Venous compression, resulting in TOS (vTOS) is much more common than a stenosis of the subclavian artery (aTOS) with or without an aneurysm. Traditional open surgical approaches to remove the first rib usually lack good exposure of the entire rib and the neurovascular bundle. Between January 2015 and July 2021, 24 consecutive first rib resections for venous or arterial TOS were performed in 23 patients at our institutions. For our completely portal approach we used two 8mm working ports and one 12/8 mm camera port. Preoperatively, pressurized catheter-based thrombolysis (AngioJet®) was successfully performed in 13 patients with vTOS. Operative time ranged from 71–270 min (median 128.5 min, SD +/− 43.2 min) with no related complications. The chest tube was removed on Day 1 in all patients and the hospital stay after surgery ranged from 1 to 7 days (median 2 days, SD +/− 2.1 days). Stent grafting was performed 5–35 days (mean 14.8 days, SD +/− 11.1) postoperatively in 6 patients. The robotic approach to first rib resection described here allows perfect exposure of the entire rib as well as the neurovascular bundle and is one of the least invasive surgical approaches to date. It helps improve patient outcomes by reducing perioperative morbidity and is a procedure that can be easily adopted by trained robotic thoracic surgeons. In particular, patients with a/vTOS may benefit from careful and meticulous preparation and removal of scar tissue around the vessels.

Study of ergonomics in terms of angle of manipulation and angle of azimuth in laparoscopic splenectomy

As per baseball diamond concept of port position, experimentally it is well known that putting camera port in the line of target organ and working port equidistant from camera port such that they form a 30º angle each gives optimum ergonomic advantage. However while performing laparoscopic surgeries in humans it is seldom possible to achieve such port position. No such study has ever been attempted to find out value of angle of manipulation and angle of azimuth while performing laparoscopic procedure. Purpose of our study was to measure such angles in our patients during laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) and to verify the concept of baseball position of ports in the procedure. This was a prospective observational study where angle of manipulation between right and left working port of surgeon and angle of azimuth of both working instruments with the camera were measured intraoperatively. In our series of 12 patients who underwent LS in lateral position, we found angle of manipulation ranging from 41-85°. The azimuth angle between first working port (epigastric) and camera port was in the range of 22-45° and the azimuth angle between camera port and second working port was in the range of 19-40°. This was a first study that gave valuable insight into the application of theoretical concept of triangulation in port placement in LS. This study may guide the surgeons to measure and to modify the port position to gain advantage of better ergonomics and better long term health.

Application of pelvic-style docking in robotic surgery for lower-middle mediastinal tumors

For robotic surgery, in a field of view looking upwards, the target lesion to be operated on should lie between the camera port and the robot. The ports are placed at the bottom of the chest wall. If the tumor is located below the inferior pulmonary vein, it is necessary to devise alternative port placement and robot docking methods. In 4 patients who had lower middle mediastinal tumors, the “Pelvic” setting on the visual pad of the patient cart was used, which allows easy access for lower middle mediastinal manipulation and results in minimal issues with robotic arm collisions.

Minimally invasive chest wall stabilization: a novel surgical approach to video-assisted rib plating (VARP)

The current morbidity of rib plating is due to the size of the incision required to perform an open procedure. We describe a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to rib plating. A cadaver model was used to develop the surgical technique by performing both left and right posterior-lateral rib plating. A small incision was made over the auscultatory triangle. The potential working space is developed under the posterior shoulder girdle and the scapula. A table-based retractor was used to elevate the scapula and the muscles. Two separate ports were placed: one camera port and one working port. In three cadaver models, 12 rib fractures were plated and the surgical technique is described. This novel technique will likely allow for faster recovery and was especially useful in the subscapular space.Level of evidence II.

Modification of laparoscopic catheter setting for peritoneal dialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease

Reducing the complications of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) procedure prolongs its use. The purpose of the work was to justify prolongation of peritoneal dialysis by modifying its setting. The study included 54 patients with chronic renal insufficiency, they carried out laparoscopic setting of PD; 14 patients were with omentopexy and 40 – with a classical statement. The operation was performed under general anesthesia. Surgical tactics were as follows: omentum folds were fixed to the parietal peritoneum; the control catheter was inserted through the window into the mesentery of the colon, and the dialysis portion at the bottom of the pelvis; sutured the window of the mesentery of the colon. Before insertion of the camera port, pneumoperitoneum was induced with a Veress needle, 10 mm below the navel. The pressure of abdominal gas was 12 mm Hg. Art. The point of entry into the abdominal cavity was established by the Hassan method: 5 cm lateral and 7 cm below the navel along the outer edge of the rectus abdominis muscle. A control catheter was inserted into the window under the transverse colon and inflated the balloon, the omentum was fixed to the parietal peritoneum 3 cm above the navel and the window in the colon mesentery was sutured. All early and late postoperative complications of the patients were recorded for 12 months (wound infections, including “tunnel infection”, dialysate leakage past the catheter, obturation of the catheter lumen, loss of tightness of omentoperitoneopexy). The study included 8 men and 6 women, aged from 43 to 76 years, of whom 2 patients had previously been operated on the abdominal organs. The operative intervention time averaged 54,6±15,4 min. No obstruction, catheter migration, or “tunnel infection” was established during the study. We have developed a laparoscopic technique of peritoneopexy of the upper half of the abdominal cavity, which will be used when the resource of the lower half of the abdominal cavity is exhausted and the effectiveness of preventing mechanical complications of the catheter PD has been proven.