Minor adverse events during thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomy

Introduction

In recent decades several data have demonstrated the advantages of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, compared with the open approach, as a shorter hospital stay and a more rapid return to preoperative activity, especially in elderly patients and those with poor pulmonary function (1-3). However, even patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures for pulmonary lobectomy are exposed to a complex set of potential intraoperative complications. While many authors have analyzed major complications during video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical lung resections (4-6), only a few papers have been published concerning minor adverse events. The aim of the present review was to analyze minor complications that occurred during VATS lobectomy in a single-institutional retrospective study. Our experience suggests that standardization of a technique is mandatory to reduce the possibility of surgical errors; at the same time, because endoscopic instruments such as staplers and vessel sealers are indispensable for VATS, we argue that surgeons must avoid the so called “knowledge gap” through the continuous update on the use and technological advances of devices.

Patients and methods

At our institution, between April 2011 and May 2018, 644 patients underwent thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary lobectomy for known or suspected lung cancer. Pulmonary resection was performed under general anesthesia using one-lung ventilation with the patient in lateral decubitus position. In all cases we adopted a three-port anterior approach with individual division of the bronchovascular structures and systematic lymph node dissection if the frozen section indicated malignancy, using a 30-degree thoracoscope and, without rib spreading, only the vision of a monitor. Mechanical staplers were very useful in dividing hilar structures and fissures, while an effective closure of small-diameter pulmonary vessels was gained by energy based surgical instruments. At the end of each procedure, specimen retrieval was performed using an endobag. We defined as minor adverse events during VATS lobectomy those no life-threatening intraoperative complications managed with minimally invasive accesses and with no need for conversion to thoracotomy.

Results

Among 644 patients, minor adverse events during VATS lobectomy occurred in 25 patients and were the following: bronchial injury [3], stapler failure during parenchymal resection [3], injury to bronchial artery [3], oozing from vascular stump [1], partial dehiscence of vascular stump [1], internal mammary artery injury [2], bleeding from utility incision or access incision [7], introduction of camera into abdominal cavity [1], foreign bodies fallen into the pleural cavity [4] (Figure 1). Bronchial injuries occurred during right upper lobectomy: in two cases we performed a direct suture for the membranous part of the stump of the right upper lobe bronchus that showed a tear caused by stapler with a not curved tip. In another case there was an unintentional passage of stapler between the membranous part and the cartilaginous wall of the right upper lobe bronchus and a further stapler bronchial closure, under the stapled line, was necessary (Figure 2). Oozing from vascular stump came from an anterior ascending arterial branch and was caused by the retraction of lung parenchyma and hilar structures during right upper lobectomy: it was controlled through application of titanium clip. Partial dehiscence of vascular stump occurred during middle lobectomy: at the end of the procedure a bleeding began at the edge of middle lobe vein stump, closed by a stapler, when the suction device came in contact with the vessel. The adverse event was managed through application of hem-o-lok clip. Internal mammary artery injury happened in two patients undergoing right lower lobectomy and where the utility incision extension, to extract resected specimen, was need (Table 1). In all cases patients had an uneventful postoperative course and were discharged after the fourth-fifth day without any complication.

Figure 1 Thoracoport fallen accidentally into pleural cavity at the end of procedure, after insertion through the utility incision for general thoracoscopic inspection of the thoracic cavity.

Figure 2 Incorrect resection of the right upper lobe bronchus during VATS right upper lobectomy (7). The video shows a stapler with a not curved tip while accidentally cutting only the cartilage wall of the bronchus. VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Available online: http://www.asvide.com/article/view/26340

Discussion

As major bleeding, even minor bleeding during VATS lobectomy requires a methodical approach to an effective intraoperative management. Whenever a such complication is encountered, the first step, if necessary, is to quickly clean the scope lens and focus attention on the origin of the bleeding (Figure 3). The next step is to apply a method of tamponade that may include sponges on a clamp or stick, use of the adjacent lung parenchyma to compress injury or suction compression. In this case, the use of the suction device is also helpful for blood removal and to better expose the operative field. In some instances, as bleeding from small blood vessels or vascular stump, titanium or hem-o-lok clips may be used but this strategy requires that some principles be followed: sufficient surface to secure the clip at the base of the vessel, cautious application to the bleeding site because misplacement could cause further vascular injury, not recommended use if it is necessary to divide any remaining hilar structures in that area because later tissue manipulation can avulse the clips. Another option for haemorrhage control is application of topical haemostatic agents whose effectiveness is aided, in case of minor bleeding, by low pressure of both the pulmonary arterial and venous systems (3). If these options aren’t sufficient to bleeding control, it can be helpful to use other strategies such as the SCAT (suction-compressing angiorrhaphy technique) method that ranges from direct suture upon suction compression of the injured site, for defects of less than 5 mm, to clamping the proximal artery with an atraumatic instrument with subsequent thoracoscopic suture repair, for defects that exceed one third of the circumference of the vessel (9). In our experience, among the causes of bleeding, is reported a partial dehiscence of vascular stump due to a possible stapler-tissue thickness mismatch (Figure 4): this is among the adverse events of pulmonary vascular stapling reported in literature, as well as laceration of adjacent vessels or stapling failure (2). In case of bleeding originating from a vascular stump, some authors recommend a repair with a suture below the stapler line (11) although sometimes, especially at the end of the operation, it may be sufficient to apply a clip. Another cause of bleeding linked to our experience has been an oozing from the stump of a segmental branch of the pulmonary artery closed by a bipolar vessel-sealing device and probably subjected to excessive tension during the retraction of other hilar structures. Although the use of bipolar vessel-sealings has been proved to be effective and safe for closure of vessels up to 7 mm in diameter, in some instances, especially in presence of thick pulmonary arteries or in absence of adequate working space on both sides of the vascular structure, a ligation of the proximal site of vessel with a suture or a twice sealing before cutting might be useful (1,12,13). Actually, stapling devices greatly facilitate major pulmonary resections in VATS but several intraoperative complications during vascular or bronchial division can be related to the use of endostaplers. In our case, the injuries after transecting the right upper lobe bronchus during right upper lobectomy were perhaps linked to the use of a stapler with straight anvils that usually don’t pass around tubular structures as well as angled instruments. To overcome this limitation, authors have proposed a red rubber catheter or penrose drain to guide the anvil, or silk sutures or vessel loops to maximize the space for anvil passage (14). Although nowadays the introduction of staplers with curved tips is more useful for the approach to bronchovascular structures, we recommend, however, to be cautious and never try to overcome resistances with direct pressure to pass the staplers. Finally, whenever a VATS lobectomy is planned through a three-port anterior approach, we recommend, according to other authors, to make first the utility incision in the midaxillary line in the fourth or fifth intercostal space (15): this strategy allows to avoid a wrong access into the abdominal cavity (Figure 5A,B), looking for the level of the diaphragm that can be raised in some circumstances as pleural adhesions, obesity and restrictive lung disease. At the end of the surgical procedure, it is advisable, moreover, to always inspect the minimally invasive accesses, especially the utility incision after eventual extension for specimen retrieval, because even minor injuries to the chest wall can lead to postoperative hemothorax.

Figure 3 Minor bleeding during VATS left upper lobectomy (8). The video shows an unintentional injury to a bronchial artery during dissection by the suction device. After cleaning the endoscope, the adverse event is managed through a quick electrocoagulation. VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Available online: http://www.asvide.com/article/view/26341

Figure 4 Partial dehiscence of vascular stump during VATS right middle lobectomy (10). The video shows a bleeding coming from the proximal stump of the middle lobe vein after vascular transection using endovascular stapling. VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Available online: http://www.asvide.com/article/view/26342

Figure 5 Incorrect thoracoport placement during anterior three-port right lower lobectomy. (A) Accidental introduction of thoracoscope into the abdominal cavity with liver visualization (white arrow); (B) subsequent inspection of the right pleural cavity with evidence of extensive pleural adhesions.

Conclusions

Although the learning curve for VATS lobectomy is essential to gain improvement of technical skills and surgical outcomes, major complications as well as minor adverse events represent an inevitable part of thoracoscopic major lung resections. Their knowledge, as well as keeping up with technological progress, can help reduce human and device-related errors. In the family of complications, minor adverse events are like younger children but a wise parent knows that all children deserve the same attention.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jovs.2018.07.25). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this manuscript and any accompanying images.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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