Journal and News Scan

This prospective observational study examined the association between Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) scores and postoperative pain in 100 patients undergoing multiportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. The PCS is a 13-item self-report tool measuring catastrophic thinking related to pain, including rumination, magnification, and helplessness, with scores ranging from 0 to 52. Patients completed the PCS preoperatively, and pain was assessed twice daily for two days postoperatively during rest, coughing, use of a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) device, and a five-meter walk test. Those with high PCS scores (greater than or equal to 20) reported significantly greater pain during coughing and walking and were more likely to experience moderate-to-severe pain. Linear regression confirmed PCS as a strong predictor of increased pain. All patients received standardized ERAS protocol pain management. Incorporating PCS may enable more targeted analgesia for breakthrough pain, moving beyond opioid dose titration alone. 

This unique case involved a 5-month-old, 6 kg infant who presented with failure to thrive secondary to a large membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) with a large left-to-right shunt. The patient was born with a near absence of the left lung, and both the mediastinal structures and the heart were shifted to the left hemithorax (a condition known as levoposition). 

During the neonatal period, the infant underwent repair of esophageal atresia via a right thoracotomy. Preoperative imaging, including chest X-rays and cross-sectional imaging, showed significant displacement of the heart and great vessels into the left chest, along with compensatory hyperinflation of the right lung. The authors successfully performed a minimally invasive VSD closure through a left axillary thoracotomy, resulting in an uneventful recovery.  

This is the first case in literature in which left axillary thoracotomy has been utilized for VSD closure in a patient with situs solitus and levoposition of the heart. This challenging anatomy highlighted the potential for a minimally invasive approach, demonstrating the value of preoperative imaging in planning such a complex approach. 

This single-center prospective trial evaluated same-day discharge (SDD) following subxiphoid thoracoscopic thymectomy in 39 patients with thymic tumors. The SDD completion rate was 92.3percent, with all patients achieving R0 resection. The perioperative complication rate was 5.6 percent, and only one patient required readmission within 30 days due to pneumothorax. The median hospital stay was just 11 hours, with median medical costs amounting to 19,400 renminbi (approximately EU €2,400). These findings suggest that SDD may be safe and feasible for selected patients undergoing this procedure, although larger studies are needed for confirmation. 

This study evaluated the SHURUI single-port (SP) robotic system for uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) in lung cancer patients. Unlike conventional multi-incision systems, the SHURUI SP utilizes a single, highly flexible robotic arm, aiming to improve maneuverability and minimize incision size, which is especially beneficial for patients with limited thoracic space. In a phase I/II trial, 35 patients (median age 58) underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy. All surgeries were completed successfully, with no need to switch to other surgical methods or make additional incisions. The median operative time was 155 minutes, with minimal blood loss and no transfusions required. The 30-day complication rate was low at 11.43 percent, with no major issues or readmissions, and patients were typically discharged after four days. Compared to the multiple fully jointed arms required for the da Vinci single-port, the SHURUI SP provides a potential single-port alternative.