To study the dysregulated host immune response to infection in sepsis, gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE54514, GSE57065, GSE64456, GSE95233, GSE66099 and GSE72829 were selected. From the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) immune system pathways, 998 unique genes were selected, and genes were classified as follows based on gene annotation from KEGG, Gene Ontology, and Reactome: adaptive immunity, antigen presentation, cytokines and chemokines, complement, hematopoiesis, innate immunity, leukocyte migration, NK cell activity, platelet activity, and signaling. After correlation matrix formation, correlation coefficient of 0.8 was selected for network generation and network analysis. Total transcriptome was analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEG), followed by gene set enrichment analysis. The network topological structure revealed that adaptive immunity tended to form a prominent and isolated cluster in sepsis. Common genes within the cluster from the 6 datasets included CD247, CD8A, ITK, LAT, and LCK. The clustering coefficient and modularity parameters were increased in 5/6 and 4/6 datasets in the sepsis group that seemed to be associated with functional aspect of the network. GSE95233 revealed that the nonsurvivor group showed a prominent and isolated adaptive immunity cluster, whereas the survivor group had isolated complement-coagulation and platelet-related clusters. T cell receptor signaling (TCR) pathway and antigen processing and presentation pathway were down-regulated in 5/6 and 4/6 datasets, respectively. Complement and coagulation, Fc gamma, epsilon related signaling pathways were up-regulated in 5/6 datasets. Altogether, network and gene set enrichment analysis showed that adaptive-immunity-related genes along with TCR pathway were down-regulated and isolated from immune the network that seemed to be associated with unfavorable prognosis. Prominence of platelet and complement-coagulation-related genes in the immune network was associated with survival in sepsis. Complement-coagulation pathway was up-regulated in the sepsis group that was associated with favorable prognosis. Network and gene set enrichment analysis supported elucidation of sepsis pathogenesis.

Opioids effectively manage perioperative pain but have numerous adverse effects. Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) eliminates intraoperative opioid use; however, evidence for its use in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is limited. This study assessed the effect of OFA using ketamine in VATS patients compared to opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA). A total of 91 patients undergoing VATS lobectomy or segmentectomy were randomized to either the OFA group (ketamine) or the OSA group (remifentanil). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery (QoR) on postoperative day (POD) 1, measured with the QoR-40 questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores and adverse events. Both groups had comparable baseline and surgical characteristics. On POD 1, the QoR-40 score was higher in the OFA group than in the OSA group (164.3 ± 10.8 vs. 158.7 ± 10.6; mean difference: 5.6, 95% CI: 1.1, 10.0; p = 0.015), though this did not meet the pre-specified minimal clinically important difference of 6.3. The visual analog scale score was lower in the OFA group as compared to the OSA group at 0–1 h (4.2 ± 2.3 vs. 6.2 ± 2.1; p < 0.001) and 1–4 h after surgery (3.4 ± 1.8 vs. 4.6 ± 1.9; p = 0.003). The OFA group had a lower incidence of PONV (2 [4.4%] vs. 9 [19.6%]; p = 0.049) and postoperative shivering (4 [8.9%] vs. 13 [28.3%]; p = 0.030) than the OSA group at 0–1 h after surgery. Using OFA with ketamine proved feasible, as indicated by the stable intraoperative hemodynamics and absence of intraoperative awareness. Patients undergoing VATS with OFA using ketamine showed a statistically significant, but clinically insignificant, QoR improvement compared to those receiving OSA with remifentanil.

Background: Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) has demonstrated acceptable surgical outcomes while being less invasive than other surgical techniques. Fibrin glue-covered absorbable mesh has been applied to reinforce resected regions to prevent recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of this technique without pleural abrasion in uniportal VATS for PSP. Methods: Between July 2012 and May 2017, 54 consecutive patients with PSP underwent uniportal VATS by a combination technique using a polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet and fibrin glue without mechanical pleural abrasion. A bilateral approach was performed in five additional patients; thus, postoperative surgical outcomes of a total of 59 cases were analyzed. For subgroup analysis, we first divided the patients into a group of PGA sheet coverage, followed by additional fibrin glue application (n=36, Group A) and a group of fibrin glue injection prior to PGA sheet coverage (n=23, Group B). We reviewed the data and compared surgical outcomes to evaluate the efficacy of the application techniques. Results: There was a total 59 cases (43 males) with a median age of 18.0 years (range, 12–50 years). Demographic data revealed no differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference in operation time (41.8±10.1 vs. 41.3±8.8 minutes, P=0.821), length of hospital stay (4.1±1.3 vs. 3.8±1.1 days, P=0.411), or chest tube in-dwelling time (2.6±0.9 vs. 2.2±0.7 days, P=0.078) in the additional glue application and glue injection groups. Recurrence rates revealed no significant difference [2/36 (5.5%) vs. 1/23 (4.3%), P=0.837] between the two groups. There were neither conversions to multi-port VATS nor perioperative complications during a median follow-up period of 21.5 months. Conclusions: The combination method of the absorbable PGA sheet with fibrin glue established satisfactory outcomes without increasing morbidities, regardless of application technique. This simple technique is an effective procedure that does not require mechanical pleural abrasion or pleurodesis to prevent postoperative recurrences when conducting uniportal VATS for PSP.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a self-limiting benign disease but abnormal bronchial lesions can be rarely found incidentally, and in selected cases will require surgical resection. A 38-year-old man presented with a spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Chest computed tomography revealed an incidental linear endobronchial tumour in the aberrant tracheal bronchus. The tumour was removed surgically and diagnosed with a rare benign tumour of endobronchial angiofibroma. We report a rare case of endobronchial angiofibroma in the aberrant tracheal bronchus which was detected during the evaluation of a spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Background: Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an alternative modality for treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) with its less invasiveness and acceptable surgical outcomes. However, a few reports have been introduced for wound management to achieve better cosmetic wound healing and for placement of the chest tube in uniportal VATS. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of our novel method for wound closure and concomitant tube placement using continuous barbed suture material in uniportal VATS for PSP. Methods: Between July 2012 and December 2015, consecutive 31 patients (22 males) underwent uniportal VATS to treat PSP. Bilateral approaches were performed in four patients, thus total 35 cases were enrolled. We divided them into two groups with one group of 17 (48.5%) cases (group A), using barbed absorbable wound closure device for knotless continuous wound closure and subsequent chest tube anchoring, and the other group of 18 (51.4%) cases (group B), using conventional suture anchoring after skin closure using absorbable suture device. Postoperative surgical outcomes were compared to assess the feasibility of this technique. Results: Demographic data demonstrate no significant difference in both groups. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay (3.7±1.2 vs. 4.1±1.2 days, P=0.267) and in median chest tube indwelling time (2.4±0.9 vs. 3.1±1.2 days, P=0.066), respectively. Operation time in group A was shorter than in group B but there was no significant difference (41.7±11.8 vs. 45.6±16.0 minutes, P=0.415). There was neither conversion to two or three port VATS in all cases. In group A, all chest tubes were removed with concomitant sealing the tube removal site by pulling the thread. Residual knots do not exist that stitch out procedure is not required. There was no wound complication in both groups during the median follow-up period of 18 months. Conclusions: Knotless, barbed suture material technique for continuous wound closure with concomitant chest tube placement achieved equivocal outcomes in comparison to the conventional suture anchoring method. We suggest this simple technique for wound closure and easy tube removal with cosmetic wound healing in uniportal VATS for PSP.

Simultaneous bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax (SBPSP) is rare, but requires surgery on both sides, in patients with definite bilateral bullae to prevent life-threatening conditions. Recently, uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been widely accepted as a less invasive technique for the treatment of pneumothorax. Thus, we introduced single-staged uniportal VATS technique in the supine position, for the management of two cases of SBPSP. A 17-year-old boy presented with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax and he underwent single-staged uniportal VATS in the supine position. Single wide draping in consecutive bilateral approaches removes the needs of changing patients’ position. Whole thoracoscopic procedure for wedge resection of bullae lesions was conducted without difficulty. The total operation time took 65 min and the patient discharged 3 days after the operation. The patient was followed for 24 months without recurrence of both sides. Another 18-year-old boy was admitted with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax and single-staged uniportal VATS was also performed in the supine position. The total operation time took 79 min and the patient discharged on postoperative day 4. He was followed for 19 months without recurrence of both sides. Single-staged uniportal VATS approach yielded satisfactory results from simplicity that not requires position change compared to conventional multi-ports VATS in the lateral position, and with better cosmetics. This technique is thought to be a feasible procedure in selective patients with SBPSP or with contralateral bullae for preventive role.