Investigating Clinical Significance of 3D Single-hole Thoracoscopy Surgery for Mediastinal Tumor Resection With Artificial Pneumothorax.

Aim: This study aims to analyze and compare the clinical efficacy and safety between single-hole approach and two-hole video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for mediastinal tumor resection.

Methods: This study included 62 patients who received VATS mediastinal tumor resection in the Thoracic Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, between March 2020 and March 2022. Patients were divided into a single-hole VATS group (27 cases) and a two-hole VATS group (35 cases). The two groups were compared for their clinical characteristics (such as age, gender, tumor size, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and pathological findings), postoperative outcomes (such as operation time, intraoperative bleeding, transfer to open surgery, drainage volume, extubating time, and hospital stay), postoperative complications, and pain score.

Results: There were no significant differences in operation time, introperative bleeding volume, and postoperative complication rates between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, extubating time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the single-hole VATS group than the two-hole VATS group (p < 0.05). Moreover, drainage volume was decreased in the single-hole VATS group compared to the two-hole VATS group (p < 0.05). The pain score was significantly lower on days 1 and 3 post-surgery in the single-hole VATS group than in the two-hole VATS group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In conclusion, 3D single-hole VATS mediastinal tumor resection is a safe and feasible option for treating mediastinal tumors compared to the traditional approach. Furthermore, it significantly reduces postoperative pain, lowers drainage duration and volume, as well as extubating time, promotes faster recovery, and reduces hospital stays.