A different approach in thoracic surgery: Guillotine lobectomy

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS) is a common procedure for lung pathologies.
• Comparing surgical techniques is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.
• The guillotine technique offers a novel approach to VATS lobectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the surgical outcomes of VATS lobectomy using the guillotine technique versus the conventional approach.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the guillotine technique in VATS lobectomy.
• To assess the impact of the guillotine technique on operation duration and patient recovery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 49 patients undergoing VATS lobectomy for benign lung pathologies (January 2013 - December 2019).
• Patients divided into two groups: guillotine technique (n=31) and conventional VATS lobectomy (n=18).
• Data collected included demographics, surgical details, operation duration, hospital stay, complications, and follow-up.

Main Results:

• The guillotine technique group had a significantly shorter median operation time (90 min) compared to the control group (142.5 min) (p<0.05).
• Bronchiectasis was the most frequent histopathological diagnosis in both groups.
• No intraoperative, long-term complications, or mortality were reported in either group.

Conclusions:

• The guillotine lobectomy technique demonstrably reduces operation duration.
• The technique leverages surrounding adventitia and connective tissue for secure staple closure.
• Guillotine technique in VATS lobectomy is a cost-effective, reliable, and practical method enhancing intraoperative efficiency.