Comparing open and thoracoscopy approach for the treatment of pulmonary sequestration in children

In this article, we are going to report our experience on thoracoscopy approach for pulmonary sequestration in children and compare it with traditional open approach.

This retrospective study included 25 patients with pulmonary sequestration (marked as Group 1), who were treated from January 2003 to December 2009 with open approach, and 32 patients treated between January 2010 and December 2019, who underwent thoracoscopy procedure (marked as Group 2). The preoperative data, operative details, and follow-up outcomes were studied and compared between two groups to discuss the advantages of thoracoscopy approach. Statistical comparison was made with unpaired t tests, χ² tests and Fisher exact probabilities, with P value less than 0.05 considered significant.

To bring less-related effect during the comparison, patients with similar preoperative data were selected. Group 2 whose operation time was longer than Group 1 was completed with thoracoscopy approach in all but one patient, who was converted to open surgery. However, the antibiotics consumption, drainage time, and hospital stay after surgery were shorter in Group 2 with less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative complication and less volume of drainage. All patients were followed-up by CT scan for 3-24 months (mean, 13.8 months) and the recovery and improvement were better in Group 2.

Compared to open surgery, thoracoscopy surgery has many benefits and was safe, feasible, and effective for the treatment of pulmonary sequestration in child patients.