Short hookwire placement under imaging guidance before thoracic surgery: A review

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Navigation
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) requires precise localization of small or deep thoracic lesions.
• Preoperative localization methods are crucial for guiding surgical intervention in complex cases.
• The short hookwire and suture system has been utilized in Japan since 1995 for VATS lesion localization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the short hookwire and suture system for preoperative localization before VATS.
• To analyze the success rates and complication profile associated with this localization technique.

Main Methods:

• Review of the established placement procedure for the short hookwire and suture system.
• Analysis of reported success rates for hookwire placement.
• Documentation of the incidence and nature of complications, including pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage.

Main Results:

• The hookwire and suture system demonstrates high placement success rates, ranging from 97.6% to 99.6%.
• Dislodgement of the hookwire is infrequent, occurring in 0.4% to 2.5% of cases.
• Common complications include pneumothorax (32.1%-68.1%) and pulmonary hemorrhage (8.9%-41.6%), though most are minor and asymptomatic.

Conclusions:

• The short hookwire and suture system is a well-established and highly successful preoperative localization method for VATS.
• Despite frequent minor complications, the technique offers a reliable approach for guiding thoracic surgery.
• The procedure's high success rate and low dislodgement incidence support its continued use in selected cases.