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Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery has become increasingly utilized in recent years. Complex lung cancer resection surgery can be performed using a robotic approach. It facilitates 3-dimentional visualization of structures, enhanced manipulation of tissues and precise movements. Combined with other minimally invasive surgical techniques, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery in comparison to open thoracotomy has become increasingly favoured among surgeons for the treatment of lung cancer. Pre-existing data have shown that such minimally invasive approaches are associated with reduced postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay and quicker post-surgical recovery. Robotic-assisted pulmonary segmental resection can be technically challenging; however, 3-dimensional reconstruction imaging enables detailed preoperative visualization of the tumour and surrounding bronchovascular anatomy. This preoperative tool can therefore facilitate enhanced and accurate anatomical lung resections. Nevertheless, the application of virtual 3-dimensional lung reconstruction within thoracic surgical practice is rarely documented in the pre-existing literature. We present a video atlas series of robotic-assisted segmentectomies guided by 3-dimensional reconstruction imaging. This video tutorial includes a step-by-step guide for performing a right S3 segmentectomy for a patient presenting with a right upper lobe tumour., (© The Author 2025. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Carinal reconstruction remains a technically challenging procedure for thoracic surgeons due to the complexity of airway resection and management. This is typically performed in the setting of tumour resection affecting the carina and distal trachea. Airway management of patients undergoing surgical resection of tumours involving the carina is highly challenging. This is due to an open, shared airway and the need for single-lung ventilation to facilitate surgery. Common modalities used for intraoperative ventilation include cross-table ventilation, veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and cardiopulmonary bypass. Cardiopulmonary bypass is usually avoided due to the requirement of full heparinization, which increases the demands of a technically challenging procedure, in addition to its contraindication in oncological resections. Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation is not readily available in most thoracic units. This leaves cross-table ventilation, which is commonly used for open thoracotomy and sternotomy cases, but has never been reported for minimally invasive procedures.  Specifically, to the best of our knowledge, cross-table ventilation has never been used for minimally invasive robotic carinal reconstruction. We present a step-by-step video tutorial in performing surgical resection of a mediastinal tumour that was found invading the carina. This was performed in a young patient who underwent carinal reconstruction using a novel technique combining cross-table ventilation and robotic-assisted surgery., (© The Author 2024. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Bronchopulmonary sequestration is a congenital abnormality characterized by non-functioning lung tissue, abnormal connection with the tracheobronchial tree and anomalous systemic arterial supply. Although considered a rare phenomenon presenting early in life, sequestration may also present with recurrent chest infections in late adulthood. Additionally, bronchopulmonary sequestration may rarely be incidentally encountered during thoracic surgery. Several subtypes exist including intralobar, extralobar and hybrid bronchopulmonary sequestration (congenital pulmonary artery malformation). Surgical resection is curative and serves as the treatment of choice for symptomatic patients. Radiological imaging prior to surgery is essential in these patients because the arterial supply may be anatomically complex, and aberrant artery branches are common. Utilization of virtual 3-dimensional remodelling and computed tomography reconstruction imaging can not only establish a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary sequestration but can also optimize preoperative planning. This approach will ultimately prove useful in anticipating surgically challenging steps and avoiding unnecessary intraoperative complications. We present a video tutorial on the role of 3-dimensional reconstruction imaging in bronchopulmonary sequestration and a step-by-step guide for performing a right robotic-assisted surgical resection of an S2 hybrid bronchopulmonary sequestrated segment. This case is followed by a second case of intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration encountered incidentally during thoracic surgery., (© The Author 2024. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Bone metastasis is the most common form of distant metastasis encountered within the breast cancer population. Surgical resection of bone metastases is a curative treatment option in patients who present with an isolated solitary lesion and no other associated disease. This decision is typically made following a multidisciplinary discussion. Patients can also be put forward for surgical excision of bone metastases following inadequate response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy.  With tumours located in the manubrium of the sternum, surgery serves not only to resect the bone metastasis but to provide suitable chest wall reconstruction. The goal of this approach is to maintain the structural and bony stability of the chest wall as well as that of associated structures, e.g. rib insertion or articulation of the shoulder girdle. A widely utilized approach involves excising the area of metastasis within the manubrium followed by implanting a bone cement prosthesis. Titanium plates are used to fix the bone prosthesis to the sternal body inferiorly and to the remainder of the manubrium superiorly.  We present a step-by-step video tutorial for performing a lower hemi-manubriectomy in a patient with triple-negative breast cancer. Our goal is to describe the fundamental principles and surgical techniques used to perform this procedure followed by the postoperative outcomes., (© The Author 2024. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Diaphragm paralysis can lead to significant dyspnoea and, in severe cases, the need for invasive ventilation. Surgical repair via diaphragm plication remains the only surgical option for these patients. Nerve transplantation and pacing have not proven to be effective alternatives. Nevertheless, diaphragm plication, whether through a thoracotomy or via minimally invasive techniques, has proven to yield high recurrence rates during the years following plication surgery. Re-exploration of recurrent cases has identified that plication relapse may be caused secondary to the elasticity of the non-plicated stretched muscle fibres. In contrast, a tendon does not possess elastic properties like those of muscle fibres and thus is not liable to expand gradually over time. We present a novel, minimally invasive technique for diaphragm plication that involves plication of a non-elastic central tendon to a fixed chest wall (central tendon fixation). Utilizing a robotic-assisted approach, our goal was to describe the techniques involved in achieving successful diaphragm plication with mid-term results (2-year follow-up)., (© The Author 2023. Published by MMCTS on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The aetiology and pathophysiology of sarcoidosis is ill defined-current hypotheses centre on complex genetic-immune-environmental interactions in an individual, triggering a granulomatous process. The aim of this systematic review is to define and describe which airborne occupational exposures (aOE) are associated with and precede a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. The methodology adopted for the purpose was systematic review and meta-analyses of ORs for specified aOE associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis (DerSimonian Laird random effects model (pooled log estimate of OR)). Standard search terms and dual review at each stage occurred. A compendium of aOE associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis was assembled, including mineralogical studies of sarcoidosis granulomas. N=81 aOE were associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis across all study designs. Occupational silica, pesticide and mould or mildew exposures were associated with increased odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Occupational nickel and aluminium exposure were associated with a non-statistically significant increase in the odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Silica exposure associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis was reported most frequently in the compendium (n=33 studies) and was the most common mineral identified in granulomas. It was concluded that aOE to silica, pesticides and mould or mildew are associated with increased odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Equipoise remains concerning the association and relationship of metal dusts with pulmonary sarcoidosis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The incidence of subsegmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE) has increased with improvements in imaging technology. There is clinical equipoise for SSPE treatment, with conflicting evidence of improved mortality or reduced venous thromboembolism recurrence with anticoagulation. SSPE studies have significant heterogeneity and often lack adequately matched disease comparator groups., Objectives: To determine the prevalence, management, and outcomes of SSPE and compare them to patients with main, lobar, segmental, and no pulmonary embolism (PE)., Patients/methods: All adult patients undergoing CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) between 2013 and 2019, at 3 UK hospitals were included in the study. CTPA reports were text mined for language relating to PE, and then further manually screened for the presence and anatomical location of PE. Patient groups were propensity matched by age, sex, and year of CTPA prior to analysis. 3-month outcomes of major bleeding, VTE recurrence, and death were recorded., Results: 79 (3.8%) SSPEs were identified from 2,055 diagnoses of PE, and 14,300 CTPA reports. 44 (56%) of SSPEs were single artery emboli, 25 (32%) were multiple unilateral emboli, and 10 (13%) were multiple bilateral emboli. Mortality, VTE recurrence and major bleeding were similar at 3 months across all groups. 87.3% of SSPE imaging reports had an additional radiological diagnosis, with pleural effusion (30%), consolidation (19%), and cardiomegaly (19%) being the most common., Conclusion: The prevalence of SSPE was 3.8% of all PEs and there were a substantial number of additional radiological findings in the SSPE group that may have accounted for their symptoms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Nutritional management of children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) presents multiple challenges including reduced oral intake compounded by mucosal fragility. Gastrostomy tube feeding is effective in improving nutritional status however there is limited data on the safety and tolerance of this technique in EB children. We aim to review the effectiveness and morbidity of our minimally invasive two-port laparoscopic-assisted gastrostomy (LAG) approach using Seldinger techniques with serial dilatations in children with EB., Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted on all consecutive EB patients who underwent LAG tube insertion between 2009 and 2019. Patient demographics, admission details and 12-month clinical outcomes were reported., Results: 32 EB patients underwent LAG placement. Median age at insertion was 7.3 (IQR ± 6.3) years, with 8 (25.0%) and 3 (9.4%) of patients also undergoing oesophageal dilatation and fundoplication, respectively. Minor complications arose in 58.1% of patients including: peri-stomal overgranulation (25.8%), gastrostomy infection (22.6%), pain (22.6%), mild gastrostomy leakage (16.1%), blockage (9.7%) and device failure (3.2%). 2 patients (6.5%) developed major complications with extensive gastrostomy site leakage. Improvements in growth were reflected in mean height Z-scores (-1.99 to -1.71). Mean weight Z-scores improved in patients aged 0-10 years (-2.30 to -1.61) and mean BMI Z-scores increased in patients more than 10 years (-2.71 to -1.46). No cases of gastrostomy-related mortality were reported., Conclusion: LAG is well-tolerated in EB patients with improvements in growth and minimal morbidity 12-months post-gastrostomy insertion. An extended follow-up period is required to ascertain the long-term implications of gastrostomy feeding., Competing Interests: Declarations of Competing Interest None. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic follows severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus epidemics. Some survivors of COVID-19 infection experience persistent respiratory symptoms, yet their cause and natural history remain unclear. Follow-up after SARS and MERS may provide a model for predicting the long-term pulmonary consequences of COVID-19., Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to describe and compare the longitudinal pulmonary function test (PFT) and computed tomography (CT) features of patients recovering from SARS, MERS and COVID-19. Meta-analysis of PFT parameters (DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model) and proportion of CT features (Freeman-Tukey transformation random-effects model) were performed., Findings: Persistent reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide following SARS and COVID-19 infection is seen at 6 months follow-up, and 12 months after MERS. Other PFT parameters recover in this time. 6 months after SARS and COVID-19, ground-glass opacity, linear opacities and reticulation persist in over 30% of patients; honeycombing and traction dilatation are reported less often. Severe/critical COVID-19 infection leads to greater CT and PFT abnormality compared to mild/moderate infection., Interpretation: Persistent diffusion defects suggestive of parenchymal lung injury occur after SARS, MERS and COVID-19 infection, but improve over time. After COVID-19 infection, CT features are suggestive of persistent parenchymal lung injury, in keeping with a post-COVID-19 interstitial lung syndrome. It is yet to be determined if this is a regressive or progressive disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: C.C. Huntley reports receiving support for attending meetings and/or travel from Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. K. Patel reports receiving support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK outside the submitted work. C.B. Knight reports support for the present manuscript received from The Sir Arthur Thomson Trust Vacation Studentship. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2022.)