Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND AND AIM/OBJECTIVE:Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop a profound cytokine-mediated pro-inflammatory response. This study reports outcomes in 10 patients with COVID-19 supported on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) who were selected for the emergency use of a hemoadsorption column integrated in the ECMO circuit. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Pre and posttreatment, clinical data, and inflammatory markers were assessed to determine the safety and feasibility of using this system and to evaluate the clinical effect. RESULTS:During hemoadsorption, median levels of interleukin (IL)-2R, IL-6, and IL-10 decreased by 54%, 86%, and 64%, respectively. Reductions in other markers were observed for lactate dehydrogenase (-49%), ferritin (-46%), d-dimer (-7%), C-reactive protein (-55%), procalcitonin (-76%), and lactate (-44%). Vasoactive-inotrope scores decreased significantly over the treatment interval (-80%). The median hospital length of stay was 53 days (36-85) and at 90-days post cannulation, survival was 90% which was similar to a group of patients without the use of hemoadsorption. CONCLUSIONS:Addition of hemoadsorption to VV-ECMO in patients with severe COVID-19 is feasible and reduces measured cytokine levels. However, in this small series, the precise impact on the overall clinical course and survival benefit still remains unknown.

The number of thoracic surgery cases performed on the robotic platform has increased steadily over the last two decades. An increasing number of surgeons are training on the robotic system, which like any new technique or technology, has a progressive learning curve. Central to establishing a successful robotic program is the development of a dedicated thoracic robotic team that involves anesthesiologists, nurses, and bed-side assistants. With an additional surgeon console, the robot is an excellent platform for teaching. Compared to current methods of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the robot offers improved wristed motion, a magnified, high definition three-dimensional vision, and greater surgeon control of the operation. These advantages are paired with integrated adjunctive technology such as infrared imaging. For pulmonary resection, these advantages of the robotic platform have translated into several clinical benefits, such as fewer overall complications, reduced pain, shorter length of stay, better postoperative pulmonary function, lower operative blood loss, and a lower 30-day mortality rate compared to open thoracotomy. With increased experience, cases of greater complexity are being performed. This review article details the process of becoming an experienced robotic thoracic surgeon and discusses a series of challenging cases in robotic thoracic surgery that a surgeon may encounter "beyond the learning curve". Nearly all thoracic surgery can now be approached robotically, including sleeve lobectomy, pneumonectomy, resection of large pulmonary and mediastinal masses, decortication, thoracic duct ligation, rib resection, and pulmonary resection after prior chest surgery and/or chemoradiation.

Hemoadsorption with CytoSorb has been used as an adjunct in the treatment of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related respiratory failure. It remains unknown if CytoSorb hemoadsorption will alter sedative and analgesic dosing in critically ill patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). We conducted a retrospective review of patients with severe COVID-19 requiring VV-ECMO for respiratory support. Patients who were enrolled in a clinical study of CytoSorb were compared with patients on VV-ECMO alone. Data were collected for the 72-hour CytoSorb therapy and an additional 72 hours post-CytoSorb, or a corresponding control time period. Sedative and analgesic doses were totaled for each day and converted to midazolam or fentanyl equivalents, respectively. The primary endpoint, change in sedative and analgesic requirements over time, were compared using a two-way mixed analysis of variance. Of the 30 patients cannulated for VV-ECMO for COVID-19, 4 were excluded, leaving 8 patients in the CytoSorb arm and 18 in the Control. There was no effect of CytoSorb therapy on midazolam equivalents over the 72-hour therapy (p = 0.71) or the 72 hours post-CytoSorb (p = 0.11). In contrast, there was a significant effect of CytoSorb therapy on fentanyl equivalents over the first 72 hours (p = 0.01), but this was not consistent over the 72-hours post-CytoSorb (p = 0.23). CytoSorb therapy led to significant increases in analgesic requirements without impacting sedative requirements. Further research is needed to define the relevance of CytoSorb hemoadsorption on critical care pharmacotherapy.

Pulmonary function testing remains the central determinant of candidacy for pulmonary resection and indicator of perioperative risk. For patients with borderline pulmonary function, exercise testing can help determine surgical candidacy either via stair climbing or by obtaining a maximum oxygen consumption. The Thoracic Revised Cardiac Risk Index should be used to select patients for further cardiac testing. Patient comorbidities, medications, functional limitations, and smoking status are also requisite assessments of the preoperative evaluation that influence perioperative outcomes. A minimally invasive approach to pulmonary resection reduces perioperative risk and may be of most benefit to patients with borderline pulmonary function.

Postoperative air leak is one of the most common complications after pulmonary resection and contributes to postoperative pain, complications, and increased hospital length of stay. Several risk factors, including both patient and surgical characteristics, increase the frequency of air leaks. Appropriate intraoperative tissue handling is the most important surgical technique to reduce air leaks. Digital drainage systems have improved the management of postoperative air leak via objective data, portability, and ease of use in the outpatient setting. Several treatment strategies have been used to address prolonged air leak, including pleurodesis, blood patch, placement of endobronchial valves, and reoperative surgery.

BACKGROUND:There are limited reports on robotic thymectomy for malignant disease. Our objectives are to review our experience and midterm outcomes. METHODS:We reviewed a single-surgeon prospective database for patients who underwent planned robotic resection for malignancy from January 2010 to June 2019. RESULTS:Two hundred thirteen patients underwent resection of an anterior mediastinal mass, all of which were planned for a robotic approach. Of these, 84 (39%) underwent robotic thymectomy for malignant disease. Thymoma was the most common pathology resected (68%). Median tumor size was 4.7 cm (interquartile range, 2.9-6.3), and median operative time was 81.5 minutes (interquartile range, 64-104). All except 1 patient had a complete (R0) resection (98.8%). There were 2 (2.3%) unplanned but elective conversions to open surgery, 1 of which required cardiopulmonary bypass. Median length of stay was 1 day (range, 0-9) with 1 readmission (1.2%). Major morbidity occurred in 3 patients (3.5%), and there were no 30- or 90-day mortalities. In patients with thymoma, follow-up was complete at a median of 32 months (range, 1-98), and 1 patient (1.8%) had an ipsilateral chest recurrence. To date there have been no patient deaths. CONCLUSIONS:Robotic thymectomy for patients with malignant disease is safe with excellent perioperative outcomes. A robotic approach achieves a high rate of complete R0 resection, even for larger tumors. For patients with thymoma local recurrence is low after midterm follow-up, but longer-term analysis is needed to determine oncologic durability.

Cutibacterium acnes is an anaerobic bacterium commonly thought of as a culture contaminant rather than a pathogen. We present a case of Cutibacterium acnes pericarditis in a 22-year-old immunocompetent woman managed with surgical pericardial window and a 4-week course of penicillin G and review related literature on Cutibacterium acnes pericarditis.

The adult presentation of a mediastinal arteriovenous malformation is rare. Resection of these lesions are commonly performed via open thoracotomy, with a risk of bleeding from multiple feeding vessels. This report describes a robotic resection of a mediastinal arteriovenous malformation in a 55-year-old man.