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Objective To examine the effectiveness of decortication to treat chronic tuberculous empyema (TE) using uniport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) versus conventional triport VATS. Methods Data from consecutive patients with stage II or III TE who underwent decortication with either uniport VATS (uniportal group) between July and December 2017, or triport VATS between January and July 2018 (triportal group), were retrospectively analysed. VATS procedures were performed under general anaesthesia with double lumen endotracheal intubation and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Clinical data were comparable between the groups (20 patients in each) regarding demographic and baseline characteristics, operative and postoperative characteristics, surgical procedure-related complications, and postoperative adverse events. No surgical procedure-related complications occurred during the perioperative period in either group. Threshold values for mechanical pain at 8 h postoperatively were significantly higher in the triportal group versus the uniportal group. Furthermore, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the uniportal versus triportal group. In the triportal group, one patient required readmission and further intervention due to recurrence. Conclusions Uniport VATS decortication for stages II and III TE may be a feasible and safe procedure in selected patients. Moreover, uniport VATS may be less painful than triport VATS.

Background: Opioid-reduced multimodal analgesia has been used clinically for many years to decrease the perioperative complications associated with opioid drugs. We aimed to assess the clinical effects of opioid-reduced anesthesia during thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Methods: Surgical patients (n = 151) with palmar hyperhidrosis were randomly divided into control (Group C, 73 patients) and test (Group T, 78 patients) groups. All patients were administered general anesthesia using a laryngeal mask. In Group C, patients received propofol, fentanyl, and cisatracurium for anesthesia induction, and maintenance was achieved with propofol and remifentanil, along with mechanical ventilation during the operation. In Group T, anesthesia was induced with propofol, dezocine, and dexmedetomidine (DEX) and maintained with propofol, DEX, and an intercostal nerve block, along with spontaneous breathing throughout the operation. Perioperative complications related to opioid use include hypotension, bradycardia, hypertension, tachycardia, hypoxemia, nausea, vomiting, urine retention, itching, and dizziness were observed. To assess the impact of these complications, we recorded and compared vital signs, blood gas indices, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, adverse events, and patient satisfaction between the two groups. Results: Perioperative complications related to opioid use were similar between groups. There were no significant differences in the type of perioperative sedation, analgesia index, respiratory and circulatory indicators, blood gas analysis, postoperative VAS scores, adverse reactions, propofol dosage, postoperative recovery time, and patient satisfaction. Conclusions: In minimally invasive surgeries such as thoracoscopic sympathectomy, opioid-reduced anesthesia was found to be safe and effective; however, this method did not demonstrate clinical advantages. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Register: ChiCTR2100055005, on December 30, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 15-16 June 2023 Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted a two-day International Conference on I Port Cities in Comparative Global History: Potentials and Issue. i [1] It was a collaboration between HKBU's Modern History Research Centre, University of Portsmouth's Port Towns and Urban Cultures research group and Lloyds Register Foundation.[2] The conference was attended by international scholars from approximately 15 jurisdictions and at all stages of their academic careers. Acknowledgements The authors wish to acknowledge the conference chairs, Professors Timothy Wong Man-Kong and Brad Beaven, co-chairs Drs Kwong Chi-Man, Melanie Bassett and Rudolf Ng, and the HKBU Conference Organizing Committee. Professor Ho's insightful introduction was followed by a short video in which Professor Dr Anne Murphy,[5] Professor of History and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, warmly welcomed all in attendance. Professor Dr Brad Beaven,[6] Professor of Social and Cultural History and Port Towns and Urban Cultures Co-director at the University of Portsmouth, then gave his opening address. [Extracted from the article]