A Novel Surgical Method for Congenital Lung Malformations: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Thoracoscopic surgery for congenital lung malformations (CLMs) is common but can involve removing healthy lung tissue or leaving residual lesions.
• Existing thoracoscopic methods have limitations in precisely targeting and removing CLMs while preserving normal lung parenchyma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Thoracoscopic Anatomical Lesion Resection (TALR) for treating congenital lung malformations.
• To determine if TALR can achieve complete lesion removal while preserving all normal lung tissue.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 95 patients who underwent TALR for CLMs between October 2019 and January 2021.
• Data collected included patient demographics, surgical details, operative times, blood loss, lesion size, and postoperative outcomes.
• Analysis focused on complications, recurrence, and long-term follow-up using chest CT scans.

Main Results:

• All 95 patients underwent successful thoracoscopic TALR without conversion to open surgery.
• Average operative time was 63.2 minutes, with average blood loss of 5.8 mL.
• No major complications like bronchopleural fistula or infection occurred; two cases of pneumothorax were successfully treated. Long-term follow-up showed no residual lesions or recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Thoracoscopic anatomical lesion resection (TALR) is a safe and effective lung-sparing surgical technique for CLMs.
• TALR allows for complete lesion removal and preservation of normal lung tissue, leading to good patient recovery and minimal recurrence.
• This approach represents an advancement in the surgical management of congenital lung malformations.