Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: The preferred method to manage pulmonary sequestration

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Pulmonary sequestrations (PSs) are congenital lung malformations requiring surgical intervention.
• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional thoracotomy for various thoracic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of VATS for benign pulmonary sequestrations.
• To report the surgical outcomes and complications associated with VATS for PS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data from 25 patients with PS.
• Data collected included pre-operative details, operative techniques, post-operative outcomes, and complications.
• All patients underwent complete lobar resection via VATS.

Main Results:

• The study included 25 patients (60% male, median age 22.28 years) with intra-lobar PS, predominantly affecting the lower lobes.
• The average surgery duration was 179 minutes with an average blood loss of 204 ml.
• Low complication rates were observed, including one conversion to thoracotomy, one re-exploration for bleeding, and one prolonged air leak; median hospital stay was 4 days.

Conclusions:

• VATS is a safe, feasible, and effective surgical option for pulmonary sequestrations.
• Experienced thoracic surgery centers can achieve excellent outcomes using VATS for PS.