A Simple Way to Indicate Pulmonary Nodules at Thoracoscopic Wedge Resections (original) (raw)

CT-guided needle localization of lung nodules for thoracoscopic resection

European Radiology, 1996

We used CT to guide positioning of hookwires within 19 lung nodules in order to localize them prior to thoracoscopic surgery. Both Hawkins III and Kopans-type needles with internal hookwires were employed. Nodule diameter ranged between 0.7 and 4 cm (mean 1.7 cm), and depth from the site of entry of the needle into the pleural surface ranged from 0.5 to 8 cm. Needles were advanced using a technique identical to that for CT-guided biopsy, and localization proved successful in 18 of 19 cases. During surgery, dislodgement of the guidewire occurred in 5 cases, probably due to traction manoeuvers on it. In all these cases the hook of the wire had been opened within the nodule. No dislodgement occurred in patients in whom the needle had been advanced beyond the nodule and the hook allowed to open in the pulmonary parenchyma deep to it. Severe complications did not occur: there was moderate pleuritic pain in 16 cases and asymptomatic pneumothorax in 13 patients. Computer-tomography-guided needle localization of lung nodules is a safe and relatively easy procedure that allows thoracoscopic surgery of lesions which otherwise might be impossible to locate and resect.

Techniques for localization of pulmonary nodules for thoracoscopic resection

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1993

Significant advances in surgical equipment, video monitoring, and endoscopic surgical techniques have expanded the role of thoracoscopy to include pulmonary resection. One limitation of the thoracoscopic technique is the loss of manual palpation to identify the nodule that is either too small or too deep beneath the pleural surface. We describe the techniques used in 300 thoracoscopic pulmonary resections that have aided in identification of pulmonary nodules. These techniques include careful preoperative assessment of the computed tomogram, preoperative injection of methylene blue, or a needle localizing system to identify the nodule. Intraoperative techniques include instrument palpation, digital palpation, and intraoperative ultrasonography. It should be possible to identify the majority of pulmonary nodules at the time of thoracoscopy with these localizing techniques. AIl nodules were successfully identified in our last 200 thoracoscopic resections.

CT-guided methylene-blue labelling before thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary nodules

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 1998

Objective: Evaluation of the efficiency of our technique of methylene-blue labelling of pulmonary nodules to facilitate thoracoscopic recognition and excision. Design: Patients with a peripheral pulmonary nodule smaller than 2.5 cm and not in contact with the visceral pleura were included. Under tomodensitometric guidance, the nodules were labelled with methylene-blue within hours before thoracoscopic wedge resection. If frozen section revealed a primary bronchial carcinoma, thoracotomy and classical resection were performed during the same anesthesia. Results: Between July 1992 and August 1996, 54 nodules were removed in 51 patients. Labelling was performed between 75 and 270 min before surgery and was complicated in 13 patients (25.4%) by a small pneumothorax without any clinical consequence. Labelling allowed successful thoracoscopic recognition of 50 nodules (92%) and thoracoscopic wedge resection was possible in all but one cases (91%). Five patients (9%) required thoracotomy. Histology showed a benign lesion in 22 cases, a primary lung carcinoma in 17 and a metastases in 15. Twenty of the 22 benign nodules (91%) were removed without thoracotomy. According to the protocol, 13 patients with a primary lung tumour underwent lobectomy during the same session. There was no mortality nor morbidity amongst patients who had thoracoscopy only. Conclusions: Our technique of labelling peripheral pulmonary nodules with methylene-blue is very effective and is not associated with any relevant complication. Thoracoscopic excision and diagnosis is possible in more than 90% of the cases. We therefore recommend this simple, low-cost and reliable technique for nodules not in contact with the visceral pleura before thoracoscopic wedge resection.

A strategy for thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules

Surgical Endoscopy, 2005

Background: Preoperative procedures are often necessary to localize pulmonary nodules during thoracoscopic resection in order to reduce the necessity of resorting to thoracotomy. The aim of this report is to describe the strategy we developed to limit preoperative techniques without reducing the thoracoscopic success rate of localization. Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2003, 183 patients underwent video thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the radiological features of the nodule. The subjects in group 1 were operated on directly, and endothoracic ultrasonography was performed when necessary. The subjects in group 2 underwent preoperative radionuclide labeling of the nodule. Results: In group 1, 112 out of 119 nodules (94%) were localized. Twenty-five out of 32 lesions, neither visible nor palpable, were found by endothoracic ultrasonography. In group 2, we localized 62 out of 64 nodules (97%). Conclusion: Currently, we cannot completely avoid preoperative labeling techniques for thoracoscopic resection of small pulmonary nodules. However, correct patient selection may limit this necessity, without an increased conversion rate to thoracotomy, if endothoracic ultrasonography is available.

Percutaneous Fiducial Localization for Thoracoscopic Wedge Resection of Small Pulmonary Nodules

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2014

Background. The advent of high-resolution computed tomography scanning and increase in use of chest imaging for high-risk patients has led to an increase in the identification of small pulmonary nodules. The ability to locate and remove these nodules through a thoracoscopic approach is difficult. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with fiducial localization and percutaneous thoracoscopic wedge resection of small pulmonary nodules.

Percutaneous computed tomography-guided localization of pulmonary nodules with hook wire prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology, 2019

PURPOSE To evaluate the use of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided localization of suspicious intrapulmonary nodules with hook wire prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS From April 2010 to February 2011, 15 patients with suspicious subpleural pulmonary nodules underwent preoperative CT-guided hook wire localization of the lesions, prior to VATS. RESULTS Histological analysis of the resected suspicious pulmonary nodules revealed malignancy in 12 cases, 2 cases with granulomas and 1 case with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Better results were achieved with the double-thorn hook wire. Conversion to thoracotomy was necessary in the patient with BOOP, due to limited hemorrhage at the site of the lesion. CONCLUSION Preoperative CT-guided nodule localization using hook wire fixation is a useful and safe technique that helps in the precise localization of suspicious lesions, reduces the operation time, the postoperative complications, ...

Preoperative localization of small peripheral pulmonary nodules by percutaneous marking under computed tomography guidance

Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, 2011

The outcome of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous marking for the preoperative localization of small peripheral pulmonary nodules was analyzed retrospectively. This procedure, in which 21-gauge markers were placed near nodules under local anesthesia on the day of surgery, concerned the patients who received video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as a primary operative technique. The study included all the 57 patients who underwent CT-guided percutaneous marking before pulmonary resection. The mean nodule size was 1.1 cm. Pneumothorax and pulmonary bleeding were observed in 28 and 17 patients, respectively. Other complications included pain (four), subcutaneous bleeding (two) and dislodgment of the marker (one). Wedge resection during thoracotomy was necessary in seven patients because of severe adhesions (four), multiple wedge resections (one), dislodgment of the marker (one) and difficulty in identifying a nodule (one). Pathological studies revealed 24 metastatic lung tumor...

Noninvasive computed tomography-guided marking technique for peripheral pulmonary nodules

Journal of thoracic disease, 2016

Identification of the exact location of small peripheral pulmonary nodules during thoracoscopic wedge resection (TWR) is crucial. We describe a new method of computed tomography (CT)-guided marking without puncturing the visceral pleura (VP) for minimally palpable pulmonary nodules. Preoperative CT scans were performed 1 day before TWR with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. Under CT guidance, we marked the skin over the pulmonary nodule. During TS, an indwelling catheter was inserted perpendicular to the marked skin surface and put a mark with gentian violet (Pyoktanin blue(®), Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan) onto the VP. We palpated the nodules near the mark(s) and performed TWR. Between October 2012 and April 2016, we performed CT-guided marking in 54 patients (24 males and 30 females, median age 65 years). Cases included 39 primary lung cancers, 10 metastatic lung tumors, and 5 benign tumors. The mean diameter of the nodules was 10 mm (range, 3-26 mm), a...