A new device for thoracic access: the Thoraco Holder

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Devices
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• A novel silicone device, the Thoraco Holder, has been developed for thoracoscopic procedures.
• This device aims to improve surgical outcomes by managing chest wall bleeding and enhancing manipulation.
• It is designed to reduce postoperative pain associated with thoracoscopic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Thoraco Holder in a large cohort of thoracoscopic surgeries.
• To assess the device's impact on intraoperative bleeding and postoperative pain management.
• To determine the overall utility of the Thoraco Holder in various thoracic conditions.

Main Methods:

• The Thoraco Holder was utilized in 300 thoracoscopic procedures under general anesthesia with a Univent tube.
• Procedures included treatments for lung cancer, mediastinal tumors, pneumothorax, chest trauma, and emphysema.
• The Two Windows Method was frequently employed in conjunction with the Thoraco Holder.

Main Results:

• No patient experienced significant bleeding (over 10 mL) from the chest wall during procedures using the Thoraco Holder.
• Postoperative pain was minimal, with no patients requiring analgesics for over a week.
• The Thoraco Holder demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no reported complications or issues.

Conclusions:

• The silicone construction of the Thoraco Holder contributes to reduced postoperative pain.
• The device's silicone cuff effectively minimizes bleeding from the chest wall.
• The Thoraco Holder is a valuable and effective access tool for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).