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To investigate risk factors for nodal upstaging in patients with lung carcinoids and to understand which type of lymphadenectomy is most appropriate.Data regarding patients with lung carcinoids, who underwent surgical resection and lymphadenectomy in five institutions from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2019, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and pathological tumor characteristics were correlated to analyze lymph node upstaging.The analysis was conducted on 283 patients. Pathology showed 230 typical and 53 atypical carcinoids. Nodal and mediastinal upstaging occurred in 33 (11.6%) and 16 (5.6%) patients, respectively. At the univariable analysis, nodal upstaging was significantly correlated with central location (p = 0.003), atypical histology (p 0.001), pT dimension (p = 0.004), and advanced age (p = 0.043). The multivariable analysis confirmed atypical histology (odds ratio [OR]: 11.030; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.837-25.153, p 0.001) and central location (OR: 3.295; 95% CI: 1.440-7.540, p = 0.005) as independent prognostic factors for nodal upstaging. Atypical histology (p 0.001), pT dimension (p = 0.036), number of harvested lymph node stations (p = 0.047), and type of lymphadenectomy (p 0.001) correlated significantly with mediastinal upstaging. The multivariable analysis confirmed atypical histology (OR: 5.408; 95% CI: 1.391-21.020, p = 0.015) and pT (OR: 1.052; 95% CI: 1.021-1.084, p = 0.001) as independent prognostic factors.Atypical histology, dimension, and central location are associated with a high-risk for occult hilo-mediastinal metastases, and mediastinal radical dissection may predict nodal upstaging. Thus, we suggest radical mediastinal lymph node dissection in high-risk tumors, reserving sampling, or lobe-specific dissection in peripheral, small typical carcinoids.

Marco Cavaleri,1 Stefano Tigano,1,2 Roberta Nicoletti,1,2 Valeria La Rosa,1,2 Alberto Terminella,3 Giacomo Cusumano,3 Filippo Sanfilippo,1 Marinella Astuto1,2 1Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital “G. Rodolico”, University of Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy; 2School of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital “G. Rodolico”, University of Catania, Catania, 95123, Italy; 3Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital “G. Rodolico” - San Marco Hospital, Catania, 95121, ItalyCorrespondence: Marco CavaleriDepartment of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital “G. Rodolico”, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, Catania, 95123, ItalyTel +393339369927Email markuscava@gmail.comIntroduction: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a recently implemented analgesic technique initially reported for thoracic analgesia and subsequently adopted for both intra- and postoperative pain management. Thoracic surgery is among the most painful surgical procedures, even when conducted with minimally invasive approach. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) challenges the traditional analgesic regimens as one of its aims is to decrease the patient’s length of stay (LOS) whilst achieving optimal postoperative pain management. Furthermore, there is lots of growing evidence on the impact of poorly controlled postoperative pain (PP) on the development of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). In these case series, we aim to describe our preliminary experience of postoperative pain management with continuous ESPB in the field of RATS.Case Series Presentation: In eight consecutive patients undergoing elective RATS procedure, we performed the ESPB after surgery with an initial bolus of local anesthetic followed by catheter insertion for continuous infusion. The infusion of local anesthetic lasted for the first two postoperative days. The effectiveness of the ESPB was evaluated through serial pain assessment with numeric rate scale (NRS) score, both at rest and during movement every 6 hours. Any analgesic rescue drug prescription was reported. We noted that the ESPB strongly reduced the prescription of opioids and of rescue analgesic. In our series, only one patient needed opioids during the first two postoperative days, and no rescue analgesic administration was noted in the remaining cases.Conclusion: We report a small but promising experience regarding postoperative pain management with continuous ESPB performed after RATS. We implemented the ESPB before surgery. Larger studies on postoperative pain management with continuous regional blocks in thoracic surgery are warranted.Keywords: pain management, regional block, thoracic surgery, postoperative care

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of Endo-Bronchial Valves in the management of persistent air-leaks (PALs) and the procedural cost.Methods: It was a retrospective multicenter study including consecutive patients with PALs for alveolar pleural fistula (APF) undergoing valve treatment. We assessed the efficacy and the cost of the procedure.Results: Seventy-four patients with persistent air leaks due to various etiologies were included in the analysis. In all cases the air leaks were severe and refractory to standard treatments. Sixty-seven (91%) patients underwent valve treatment obtaining a complete resolution of air-leaks in 59 (88%) patients; a reduction of air-leaks in 6 (9%); and no benefits in 2 (3%). The comparison of data before and after valve treatment showed a significant reduction of air-leak duration (16.2 +/- 8.8 versus 5.0 +/- 1.7 days; P< 0.0001); chest tube removal (16.2 +/- 8.8 versus 7.3 +/- 2.7 days; P< 0.0001); and length of hospital stay (LOS) (16.2 +/- 8.8 versus 9.7 +/- 2.8 days; P=0.004). Seven patients not undergoing valve treatment underwent pneumo-peritoneum with pleurodesis (n=6) or only pleurodesis (n=1). In only 1 (14%) patient, the chest drainage was removed 23 days later while the remaining 6 (86%) were discharged with a domiciliary chest drainage removed after 157 +/- 41 days. No significant difference was found in health cost before and after endobronchial valve (EBV) implant (P=0.3).Conclusions: Valve treatment for persistent air leaks is an effective procedure. The reduction of hospitalization costs related to early resolution of air-leaks could overcome the procedural cost.

The AVM is a rare congenital disease that often affects the brain and only rarely we find in other organs. In this pathology there is an alteration of the vascular system, with the arteries discharging directly into the veins, bypassing the capillary system; this puts the patient at high risk of sudden hemorrhage. Today we present the case of a young woman suffering from unknown pulmonary avm. The breakdown of this avm caused a hemothorax in the immediate post-cesarean, necessitating emergency surgery and subsequent intensive care.

Despite bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with valves is a minimally invasive treatment for emphysema, it can associate with some complications. We aimed at evaluating the rate and type of complications related to valve treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. Background: Despite bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) with valves is a minimally invasive treatment for emphysema, it can associate with some complications. We aimed at evaluating the rate and type of complications related to valve treatment and their impact on clinical outcomes. Methods: It is a retrospective multicenter study including all consecutive patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR with endobronchial valve treatment and developed any complications related to this procedure. The type of complication, the time of onset, the treatment required and the out-come were evaluated. Response to treatment was assessed according to the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) as follows: an improvement of ≥15% in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); of −8% in residual volume (RV); of ≥26 m in 6-minnute walking distance (6MWD); and of ≥4 points on the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Target lobe volume reduction (TLVR) ≥350 mL was considered significant. Results: One hundred and seven out of 423 (25.3%) treated patients had complications related to valve treatment including pneumothorax (17.3%); pneumonia (1.7%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation (0.9%), respiratory failure (1.4%), valve migration (2.1%), and hemoptysis (1.9%). In all cases complications resolved with appropriate treatment including removal of valves in 21/107 cases (19.6%). Patients with TLVR ≥350 mL (n=64) vs. those

Histological subdivision into typical (TC) and atypical (AC) is crucial for treatment and prognosis of lung carcinoids but can be also very challenging, even for experts. In this study, we aimed to strengthen or reduce the prognostic value of several pathological, clinical, or per-operative factors some of which are still controversial. We retrospectively reviewed clinical records related to 195 patients affected by TC (159) or AC (36) surgically treated between 2000 and 2014, in three different centers. Survival and subtypes comparison analyses were performed to identify potential prognostic factors. TCs showed a lower rate of nodal involvement than ACs (N0 = 94.9%; N1 = 1.9%; N2 = 3.2% in typical and N0 = 63.8%; N1 = 16.6%; N2 = 19.4% in atypical carcinoids, respectively, p

Background: Perioperative atrial tachyarrhythmias (POAT) are the commonest arrhythmia after major lung resections. To date the relationship between POAT and CPET parameters were never tested after major thoracic surgery. Aim: To assess the association between CPET data and postoperative complications with particular focus on POAT. Methods: 48 consecutive patients undergoing major lung resection from Jan to Dec 2013 were assessed by pre-operative spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, DLCO, CPET on cycle ergometer, ECG and echocardiogram. Cardiologic and respiratory complications were recorded and matched with functional parameters and to identify any potential risk factor. Results: Overall morbidity, POAT, atrial fibrillation (AF) and respiratory failure incidences were 18 (37.5%), 10 (20.8%), 5 (12.8%) and 9 (18%) respectively. The followed associations were found: older age (p=0.048), steeper Ve/VCO2 slope (p=0.002) and lower Maximum Heart Rate (MRH) (p=0.011) with POAT. Regression analysis indicated higher Ve/VCO2 (p=0.011; HR=1.39[CI95%:1.07-1.69],) and lower FC max (p=0.022; HR=1.06[CI95%:1.01-1.11],) as independent risk factors for POAT. AF was associated with age (p=0.037), lower VO2 max ml/Kg/min %pred (p=0.02), Ve/VCO2 slope (p=0.01), MHR (p=0.001); Pulmonary artery pressure (p=0.016); VO2 max ml/Kg/min %pred (p=0.011; HR=1.09[CI95%:1.02-1.16],) and lower MHR (p=0.048;HR=1.07[CI95%:1.00-1.15]) predict the risk of AF. Conclusions: VE/VCO2, MHR, VO2 max ml/Kg/min %pred are objective good predictor of POAT and AF and should be helpful to select patients for prophylactic therapy.

Bronchial fistula is one of the most serious complications after pulmonary resection. It presents a challenge in terms of treatment, with a high risk of perioperative mortality. We describe a patient who underwent a right upper lobectomy and systematic hilar-mediastinal lymphadenectomy for lung adenocarcinoma complicated by 2 bronchopleural fistulas. The lesions were sited at the upper lobar stump and the pars membranacea of the intermediate bronchus. The patient was successfully treated by placement of an endobronchial prosthesis (initially a self-expanding prosthesis and subsequently, a Dumon prosthesis) and a pleural chest drain, to avoid a potential right pneumonectomy.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical-radiological diagnosis. Clinical diagnosis comprises severe hypoxemia assessed by arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of less than 200 and bilateral infiltrate on a chest radiograph in the absence of left atrial hypertension. The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis vary based on the underlying etiology for ARDS. Except for presence of bilateral infiltrate on chest radiograph and severe hypoxemia on arterial blood gas, most diagnostic studies are used to exclude mimics of ARDS and potentially modify treatment. Computerized tomography of the chest is helpful in understanding the extent of the disease and is more sensitive in identifying pneumomediastinum and pneumothoraces seen frequently in patients with ARDS, which can be missed on a chest radiograph, especially if they are small in size. Measurements of alveolar dead space ventilation fraction can be helpful in determining the prognosis in individuals with ARDS. Bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy, and open lung biopsies can be safely performed in patients with ARDS. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with ARDS shows neutrophil predominance with increased edema fluid to serum protein ratio. Diffuse alveolar damage, a pathognomic of ARDS, is seen on histopathology on transbronchial lung biopsy or open lung biopsy. Most common complications of these procedures include transient hypoxemia, respiratory acidosis, and pneumothorax with occasional persistent air leak. The potential risk of diagnostic studies should be balanced against the possible foreseeable benefits of the diagnostic studies.

The congenital thymic cysts are rare. They have a congenital origin and they are benign. The differential diagnosis of acquired cysts, cystic thymoma and thymic malignancies in cystic degeneration can be particularly difficult. Rarely, they assume clinical relevance for the appearance of symptoms of compression, more typical of malignant lesions, and the association with thymoma was reported in very few cases in literature. For all these features, treatment strategy remains controversial and in particular surgical approach. We report a case of a huge symptomatic congenital thymic cyst, surgically removed with histological finding of microscopic thymoma.

We investigated the effect of altered extracellular pH, mitochondrial function, and ATP content on development of apoptosis in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells after treatment with staurosporine (STS). STS produced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in caspase-3 activity in pH 7.4 medium that reached a peak at 6 h. The increase in caspase activity was associated with significant DNA fragmentation. Fluorescent imaging of treated monolayers in pH 7.4 medium with Hoechst-33342-propidium iodide demonstrated a large percentage of apoptotic cells (∼40%) with no evidence of necrosis. Caspase activity, DNA fragmentation, and percentage of apoptotic cells were reduced after STS treatment in acidic media (pH 7.0 and 6.6). The Ca2+chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane- N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid-AM inhibited STS-induced apoptosis, whereas the rise in intracellular Ca2+concentration in STS-treated cells in pH 7.4 medium was reduced in pH 7.0 medium. These results suggest that one mechanism for inhibitory effects of acidosis may be a pH-induced alteration in Ca2+signaling. Treatment with STS in the presence of oligomycin (10 μM), an inhibitor of the mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase, in glucose-free media abolished caspase activation and DNA fragmentation in association with severe ATP depletion (∼2% of control cells). Imaging demonstrated a change in the mode of cell death from apoptosis to necrosis under these conditions. This change was linked to the level of ATP depletion, because STS treatment in the absence of glucose or the presence of oligomycin in media with glucose still leads to apoptosis in the presence of only moderate ATP depletion. These results demonstrate that pH, mitochondrial function, and ATP supply are important variables that regulate STS-induced apoptosis in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Background: Rabeprazole has been demonstrated to be a potent antisecretory agent and has been shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of acid-related diseases. Aims: It was to determine the efficacy of rabeprazole at 20 and 40 mg in addition to amoxicillin and clarithromycin in the treatment of active Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers compared with omeprazole 40 mg. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven patients were randomised into three treatment groups: 40 patients were treated with rabeprazole 40 mg daily, 42 patients with rabeprazole 20 mg daily and 45 patients with omeprazole 40 mg daily for 10 days. All patients received amoxicillin 1 g twice a day and clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day for 5 days. All patients were re-assessed at least 4 weeks after the end of the treatment. Results: According to the intention-to-treat (ITT) protocol, ulcer healing was observed in 90% of patients in the rabeprazole 40 group, in 85.7% in the rabeprazole 20 group and in 93.3% in the omeprazole 40 group. We observed H. pylori eradication in 90% ITT in the rabeprazole 40 group, in 80.9% ITT in the rabeprazole 20 group and in 88.8% ITT in the omeprazole 40 group. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences among the three groups. Conclusions: A 10-day rabeprazole 20 mg regimen represents an efficacious and safe regimen for H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a three-drug chemotherapy regimen including gemcitabine, carboplatin, and paclitaxel as induction therapy in clinical stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients aged 18-75 years, ECOG PS 0-1, with unresectable clinical stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC suitable for definitive radiation treatment, were treated in a phase II study with i.v. carboplatin AUC 5 and i.v., paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1, and i.v. gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks for 3 cycles, as previously assessed in a dose-finding study. Primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Secondary end points included: toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), resection rate, and overall survival (OS). Out of the 60 enrolled patients, 49 were males and 11 females, 31 patients had stage IIIA and 29 stage IIIB NSCLC. Forty-four partial responses and one complete response were observed, for an ORR of 75 %. The most frequent G3-G4 toxicity included: neutropenia (in 23 % of cases), hypertransaminasemia (12 %), and diarrhea (5 %). With a median follow-up of 15 months (range 2-72), median PFS was 10.5 months (95 % CI 9.9-11.4) and median OS was 21.1 months (95 % CI 19.7-22.8). Fourteen stage IIIA patients underwent surgery, for a resection rate of 45 %. A median PFS of 17.8 months (95 % CI 16.2-19.7) and a median OS of 25.5 months (95 % CI 23.0-28.4) were observed in stage IIIA patients. The three-drug chemotherapy regimen, at the employed dose, demonstrated a considerable disease response and resection rate, with acceptable toxicity.

A 65 year old female patient suffering from multinodular goitre and from hypercalcaemic syndrome which had been and was being treated with drugs for a number of years. The patient undergoes total thyroidectomy. Surgical neck and anterior mediastinum exploration was negative for sick parathyroids. Neck and chest TC and 'TC sestamibi scintigraphy showed the presence of a 7 cm hyperfunctional ectopic parathyroid tissue in the postero-superior mediastinum infiltrating oesophagus. Video bronchoscopy revealed an extrinsic compression of the trachea. The patient underwent surgery. Through right postero-lateral thoracotomy and mediastinal pleura incision, the adenoma excision was carried out. The histological examination revealed a potentially malignant parathyroid adenoma with infiltration, without over-reaching the capsule. The surgical treatment resulted in an immediate resolution of the clinical symptomatology. One year later, the follow up was shown no observable relapse with normal calcium and PTH values. Today, the tendency to minimally invasive surgery, an accurate preoperative localization of the adenoma and the use of techniques such as intra-surgical nuclear mapping through manual gamma probes, selective angiography, venous intraoperative dosage of PTH and intra-surgical ultrasound scan.

Background Lung transplantation involves vagal nerve interruption resulting in sensory airway denervation and impairment of the cough reflex. Following lung transplantation, it is unclear whether functional recovery of the cough reflex occurs over time. Our objective was to evaluate the afferent limb of the cough reflex in lung transplant recipients. Methods The assessment of cough reflex involved upper airway anesthesia, conscious sedation, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy; the biopsy forceps and a 5% dextrose solution were applied through the bronchoscope to the airway mucosa at the main carina, proximal and distal to the anastomosis. A cross-sectional group of seven subjects underwent a single assessment, while eight subjects in a longitudinal group underwent assessment at 1.5 and 12 months. Cough frequency was determined by counting the number of audible coughs and abdominal muscle contractions measured with a surface electromyogram recorder. The airway anastomosis from deceased subjects in the longitudinal group was examined for nerves. Results All seven subjects from the cross-sectional group demonstrated a similar cough frequency after mechanical and chemical irritation of all airway sites. All subjects in the longitudinal group who were evaluated at 1.5 weeks had a cough response at all sites except distal to the anastomosis. Twelve months after transplantation, cough was present at all sites. Immunohistochemical staining for protein gene product 9.5, low-affinity neurotrophin, and vanilloid receptors demonstrated nerves in subepithelial regions proximal and distal to the airway anastomosis. Conclusion In human lung transplant recipients, recovery of the cough reflex was noted 12 months after lung transplantation.