{"title":"Robotic nerve-sparing enucleation of thoracic sympathetic trunk schwannoma with narrow-band imaging: technical considerations.","authors":"Yoshifumi Shimada, Takahiro Homma, Keitaro Tanabe, Naru Kitade, Tomoshi Tsuchiya","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02421-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02421-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schwannomas arising from the thoracic sympathetic trunk can cause Horner's syndrome, and surgical resection carries a risk of further nerve injury. We describe a technique for robotic nerve-sparing enucleation of a thoracic sympathetic trunk schwannoma presenting with Horner's syndrome. After exposure of the epineurium and perineurium, careful dissection of these neural sheath structures revealed a smooth tumor surface, along which enucleation was performed. Narrow-band imaging enhanced microvascular structures within the epineurium and perineurium and improved visual contrast with the relatively avascular tumor surface. The narrow-band imaging view was simultaneously displayed with the robotic view on the surgeon console using the TilePro function, allowing real-time comparison during dissection. Selective use of narrow-band imaging may provide supplementary information for identifying the dissection plane during robotic nerve-sparing enucleation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149192648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cristina E Rivas, María Caro, María Teresa Gómez-Hernández, Francisco Gómez, Carmen Taboada, Marta G Fuentes, Óscar Colmenares, Mario Manama, José Luis Aranda, Marcelo F Jiménez
{"title":"Prognostic value of the IASLC completeness-of-resection classification after neoadjuvant therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.","authors":"Cristina E Rivas, María Caro, María Teresa Gómez-Hernández, Francisco Gómez, Carmen Taboada, Marta G Fuentes, Óscar Colmenares, Mario Manama, José Luis Aranda, Marcelo F Jiménez","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02420-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02420-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The prognostic significance of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) completeness-of-resection classification after neoadjuvant therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poorly defined, particularly in the chemoimmunotherapy era. We evaluated its prognostic value in a contemporary real-world cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective single-centre study included consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary resection after neoadjuvant therapy for NSCLC between January 2017 and June 2026. Resections were retrospectively classified according to IASLC criteria as complete, uncertain, or incomplete. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 98 patients, 45 (45.9%) had complete, 44 (44.9%) uncertain, and 9 (9.2%) incomplete resection; 51% received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. After a median follow-up of 20.5 months, PFS decreased stepwise from complete to uncertain and incomplete resection (log-rank p = 0.07). After adjustment, incomplete resection was associated with an approximately threefold higher hazard of progression or death compared with complete resection, although statistical significance was not reached (HR 2.82, 95% CI 0.94-8.43; p = 0.064). Uncertain resection was not associated with PFS, and completeness-of-resection status was not independently associated with OS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>IASLC completeness-of-resection status showed a clinically relevant PFS gradient after neoadjuvant therapy, with the poorest outcomes after incomplete resection. Although the adjusted association did not reach statistical significance, these findings support the clinical relevance and standardized reporting of the IASLC framework as a measure of oncological surgical quality in contemporary multimodal practice, including among patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Board certification status and surgical outcomes after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical pulmonary resection: a nationwide multicenter analysis.","authors":"Takuya Watanabe, Hitoshi Igai, Takahiro Homma, Masayuki Tanahashi, Toshiaki Morikawa, Katsuhiro Okuda, Hisashi Saji, Takashi Suda","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02417-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02417-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) has gained widespread acceptance for anatomical pulmonary resection. However, concerns remain regarding its safety when performed by surgeons at an early stage of their surgical career. Evidence linking surgeon-related factors to perioperative outcomes remains limited. We examined the association between board certification status and perioperative outcomes using a nationwide multicenter U-VATS registry in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This multicenter retrospective cohort study used a nationwide U-VATS registry involving 43 institutions. Patients with primary lung cancer who underwent U-VATS lobectomy or segmentectomy between April 2018 and March 2023 were included. The primary outcome was surgical procedure-related complications. Propensity score matching and mixed-effects logistic regression with institutional random effects were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3532 patients were included, yielding 357 matched pairs. Surgical procedure-related complications occurred in 14.6% of the non-board-certified group and 11.2% of the board-certified group, with no statistically significant difference (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.86-2.19; p = 0.183). No statistically significant differences were observed in conversion to thoracotomy, additional port placement, operative time, readmission, or mortality between the groups. Postoperative drainage duration and hospital stay were shorter in the non-board-certified group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Board certification status was not associated with surgical procedure-related complications after U-VATS. These findings may support the implementation of U-VATS by non-board-certified surgeons within structured training systems and with appropriate intraoperative support.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Isolated surgical margin recurrence after segmentectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.","authors":"Shigeki Suzuki, Takahiro Suzuki, Yu Okubo, Kyohei Masai, Kaoru Kaseda, Keisuke Asakura","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02418-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02418-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing segmentectomy for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer at two institutions in 2007-2015 who developed isolated margin recurrence. Among 240 segmentectomies, 17 patients developed margin recurrence; 16 received treatment. All underwent fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography; 13 had histological confirmation. Treatments comprised re-resection (n = 7), radiotherapy (n = 5), photodynamic therapy (n = 1), and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors alone (n = 3). Re-resection resulted in one complication and no 90-day deaths. During a median follow-up of 53 months, subsequent progression occurred in none after re-resection, three after nonsurgical local therapy, and two after targeted therapy; five patients died. This series describes local and systemic treatment pathways. Although comparative efficacy could not be assessed, favorable local control was observed after re-resection in this selected cohort.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149147665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Feasibility and durability of annular stabilization using an internal fixation ring in aortic valve repair: a computed tomography-based study.","authors":"Hidefumi Nishida, Kohei Abe, Shunsuke Shibata, Minoru Tabata","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02412-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02412-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Aortic annulus dilatation is a critical risk factor for late aortic insufficiency (AI) recurrence after isolated aortic valve repair. Durable annular stabilization remains technically challenging, and long-term data are limited. We evaluated the mid-term geometric stability of a novel \"internal annular fixation ring\" technique using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) ring and metallic holder.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 27 consecutive patients who underwent isolated aortic valve repair with internal annular fixation ring technique for significant AI between January 2015 and April 2024. Aortic root geometry was assessed using cardiac computed tomography (CT) and transthoracic echocardiography, preoperatively and during follow-up. The mean follow-up period for CT was 49.0 ± 38.2 months. The primary outcome was aortic annular stability assessed by agreement between the intended intraoperative annular diameter and the average annular diameter or area-derived annular diameter measured on follow-up CT. Secondary outcomes included freedom from aortic valve reintervention, echocardiographic and CT findings, late survival, and freedom from moderate AI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, concomitant leaflet repair was performed in 74.1% of patients. The intended intraoperative annular diameter ((22 mm (22-24)) was not significantly different from the average annular diameter (22.2 mm (21.4-23.4), p = 0.49) or the area-derived annular diameter (22.2 mm (21.0-23.3), p = 0.15) measured on the follow up CT. Freedom from aortic valve reintervention was 92.3% at 7 years. Although no severe AI recurred, moderate AI developed in 7 patients (25.9%); however, no patient required hospitalization for heart failure during follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The internal annular fixation ring technique provides feasible and durable aortic annulus stabilization in isolated aortic valve repair. Moderate AI recurrence highlights the need for further technical refinements.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149136166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Completion lobectomy after anatomical segmentectomy for thoracic malignancy.","authors":"Ryo Wakejima, Ayaka Asakawa, Yuya Ishikawa, Hirotomo Takahara, Yusuke Sugita, Hironori Ishibashi","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02409-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02409-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Completion lobectomy after segmentectomy is technically challenging because of dense hilar adhesions and altered anatomy. We evaluated perioperative outcomes and factors associated with extensive hilar adhesions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed 21 patients who underwent completion lobectomy after anatomical segmentectomy between April 2010 and March 2026. Hilar adhesions were classified as limited or extensive according to the technical difficulty of hilar dissection. Perioperative factors were compared between the two groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Extensive hilar adhesions were encountered in 16 patients (76.2%). Pulmonary artery taping was performed in five (23.8%), vascular injury occurred in six (28.6%), and postoperative complications occurred in five (23.8%), with no 30- or 90-day mortality at completion lobectomy. At initial segmentectomy, ND2 lymph node dissection (100% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.008), fibrin glue use around the hilum (62.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.035), and polyglycolic acid sheet coverage (56.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.045) were more frequent in the extensive adhesion group. The interval between operations (median, 39.2 vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.011) and operative time at completion lobectomy (251 vs. 150 min, p = 0.018) were significantly longer in the extensive adhesion group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Completion lobectomy after anatomical segmentectomy is technically demanding but can be performed safely with meticulous hilar dissection and appropriate vascular control. ND2 lymph node dissection, fibrin glue or PGA sheet use around the hilum, and a longer interval between operations may help anticipate technical difficulty and guide surgical planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Physiological response following inhaled nitric oxide administration during one-lung ventilation in minimally invasive cardiac surgery: an exploratory prospective cohort study.","authors":"Satoshi Kometani, Shiro Matsuo, Eri Watanabe, Tomohide Takei, Toshiki Nakamura, Kenichiro Takahashi, Mimiko Tabata","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02414-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-026-02414-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses following inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) administration in patients with one-lung ventilation (OLV)-related hypoxemia accompanied by pulmonary hypertension in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This exploratory prospective cohort study enrolled 63 consecutive patients who underwent MICS. Patients who developed post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) OLV-related hypoxemia with pulmonary hypertension received iNO. The evaluation included changes in PaO<sub>2</sub>/FiO<sub>2</sub> and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP). Additionally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine clinical factors associated with iNO initiation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 30 patients (47.6%) received iNO. PaO<sub>2</sub>/FiO<sub>2</sub> significantly increased following iNO administration (70 [61-80] to 85 [72-102], P = 0.011), while mPAP remained unchanged (24 [23-26] to 25 [22-28] mmHg, P = 0.564). Multivariable analysis identified female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 5.00), higher body mass index (OR: 1.36), and prolonged CPB time (OR: 1.03) as associated factors for iNO initiation (area under the curve: 0.822). All patients with a second aortic clamp or pre-CPB hypoxemia met the initiation criteria and received iNO.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Post-CPB OLV-related hypoxemia accompanied by pulmonary hypertension occurs frequently during MICS. The observed increase in oxygenation following iNO administration suggests its potential utility for respiratory management in MICS, warranting future large-scale, multicenter investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.","authors":"Suguru Maruyama, Yoshihiko Kawaguchi, Katsutoshi Shoda, Ryo Saito, Wataru Izumo, Koichi Takiguchi, Kensuke Shiraishi, Shinji Furuya, Hidetake Amemiya, Daisuke Ichikawa","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02351-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11748-026-02351-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by a high incidence of lymph node metastasis, and prophylactic lymphadenectomy plays a critical role in esophagectomy. However, the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the extent and significance of lymphadenectomy after NAC by comparing its therapeutic impact with that of upfront esophagectomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 200 consecutive patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy for ESCC between 2009 and 2021 were eligible. We compared the therapeutic value index (TVI) between patients who underwent esophagectomy after NAC and those who underwent upfront esophagectomy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>96 (48.0%) patients underwent upfront esophagectomy and 104 (52.0%) patients underwent esophagectomy after NAC. In the upper mediastinum, middle/lower mediastinum, and peri-gastric regions, TVI in the NAC group was greater than that in the upfront group. In contrast, subcarinal lymphadenectomy showed no therapeutic benefit in the NAC group, and supra-pancreatic TVI was lower in the NAC group than in the upfront group (2.4 vs. 7.0). After propensity score matching (PSM), the results were essentially unchanged from those before matching. Subgroup analysis revealed almost no therapeutic benefit in the supra-pancreatic region for upper/middle thoracic tumors or early-stage cancers, whereas a benefit remained for lower thoracic tumors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Lymphadenectomy in the upper mediastinum, middle/lower mediastinum, and peri-gastric regions remains important after NAC for ESCC. However, the apparent therapeutic value of subcarinal and supra-pancreatic lymphadenectomy was limited after NAC.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":"1022-1029"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148344957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Georg Schlachtenberger, Abraham Goitom, Andres Amorin, Alberto Lopez Pastorini, Julika Merres, Christopher Gaisendrees, Matthias B Heldwein
{"title":"Pulmonary metastasectomy for malignant melanoma prolongs survival significantly compared to non-surgical therapy.","authors":"Georg Schlachtenberger, Abraham Goitom, Andres Amorin, Alberto Lopez Pastorini, Julika Merres, Christopher Gaisendrees, Matthias B Heldwein","doi":"10.1007/s11748-026-02310-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11748-026-02310-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is an established treatment for selected patients with pulmonary metastases. While systemic therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, and stereotactic radiation have become standard for unresectable or metastasized melanoma patients, no randomized controlled trials directly assess the benefit of PM by itself in oligometastatic melanoma patients with lung metastases. This retrospective study compares long-term survival outcomes in patients undergoing PM versus those receiving non-surgical therapy for pulmonary metastatic melanoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed melanoma patients from the skin cancer center Cologne who were treated with curative intent for their primary tumor and later developed isolated pulmonary metastases. Patients in the non-surgical group had biopsy-confirmed lung metastases. Survival outcomes between patients undergoing PM and those receiving non-surgical therapies were compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2012 and 2020, 87 patients met the inclusion criteria: 49 underwent PM and 38 received non-surgical therapy. The number of pulmonary metastases differed significantly between groups (1.27 ± 0.57 vs. 3.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001). BRAF-mutations were more common in the non-surgical group (35.4% vs. 55.3%; p = 0.04). Patients undergoing PM showed significantly improved 3-year (88.0% vs. 65.7%; p = 0.04) and 5-year survival rates (81.3% vs. 30.8%; p = 0.002) compared to the non-surgical group. Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed prolonged overall survival in the PM group (log-rank p < 0.02). However, among patients with BRAF mutations, survival did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.09).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PM is associated with favorable overall survival. These findings support considering PM as a treatment option in selected patients to improve long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12585,"journal":{"name":"General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":" ","pages":"992-1003"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148137651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}