Thoracoscopic surgery for tracheal and carinal resection and reconstruction under spontaneous ventilation

OBJECTIVES: To describe and assess the techniques of spontaneous-ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) for tracheal/carinal resections and compare the outcomes with the conventional thoracoscopic intubated method. METHODS: From May 2015 to November 2016, some 18 consecutive patients with malignant or benign diseases invading distal trachea and carina who met the criteria for SV were treated by SV-VATS resection. To evaluate the feasibility of this novel technique, they were compared with a control group consisting of 14 consecutive patients with the same diseases who underwent VATS resection using intubated general anesthesia from October 2014 to April 2015. Data were collected with a median follow-up of 10.2 months 75 (range: 1-27). RESULTS: The SV-VATS group consisted of 4 carinal resections and 14 tracheal resections. In the control group, 2 patients underwent carinal resection and 12 underwent tracheal resection. Median operative time was shorter in the SV-VATS group compared with the intubated group (162.5 minutes vs 260 minutes), as was the median time for tracheal end-to-end anastomosis (22.5 minutes vs 45 minutes) and carinal reconstruction (40 minutes vs 86 minutes). The lowest oxygen saturation during the procedure was 94.2% ± 4.9% in SV-VATS group and 93.9% ± 4.5% in the control group. The peak carbon dioxide level at the end of expiration was greater in the SV-VATS group (47.7 ± 4.2 mm Hg vs 39.1 ± 5.7 mm Hg). No conversion to tracheal intubation was needed in the SV-VATS group. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients in the SV-VATS group and 9 in the control group. Patients who underwent SV-VATS had a trend toward shorter postoperative hospital stays (11.5 ± 4.3 days vs 13.2 ± 6.3 days). One recurrence (SV-VATS group) and 2 deaths (one in each group) were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SV-VATS is a feasible procedure in tracheal and carinal resection and reconstruction in highly selected patients. It can be a valid alternative to conventional intubated VATS for airway surgery.