Three-dimensional CT angiography facilitates uniportal thoracoscopic anatomic lung resection for pulmonary sequestration: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare lesion with independent blood supply from an anomalous systemic artery. A timely resection is considered as the best treatment for PS. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) has been widely utilized for precise thoracic surgery. This study aimed to investigate the role of preoperative 3D-CTA and resection simulation in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomical lung surgery for PS. METHODS: The data of 20 consecutive PS patents undergoing anatomic lung resection between April 2011 and May 2021 in a single centre were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were divided into the 3D-CTA group (10 patients) and the control group (10 patients) according to the initial surgical planning with or without 3D-CTA. The perioperative parameters regarding safety and fluency such as the incidence of conversion to open thoracotomy, operation time, blood loss, complications and chest tube duration were analyzed. RESULTS: This cohort included 12 female and 8 male patients, with a mean age of 45 years old (range 24–60 years). Nine cases demonstrated recurrent febrile, cough, or hemoptysis; whereas the other 11 patients were asymptomatic on admission. Eighteen (90.0%) intralobar and 2 extralobar PS were confirmed, whereas 18 (90.0%) lesions were located in the left thorax. The feeding vessels originated from the thoracic aorta in 16 patients (80.0%), the abdominal aorta in 3 (15.0%), and the inferior phrenic artery in 1 patient (5.0%). There was no major bleeding or 30 days mortality. The initial surgical planning included 9 uniportal and 1 two-port VATS in the 3D-CTA group, as compared with 10 two-port VATS in the control group. Thirteen lobectomies, 5 segmentectomies and 2 mass excisions were performed. However, no conversion was needed in the 3D-CTA group; whereas 6 (60.0%) conversions (4 to multiple-port and 2 to thoracotomy) occurred in the control group, indicating a significant difference (P = 0.003). In addition, the operation time in the 3D-CTA group was significantly shorter than those in the control group [(108.5 ± 24.9) min vs. (154.5 ± 39.4) min, P = 0.006]. The other surgery-related outcomes were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 3D-CTA facilitates the safe and fluent performance of uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection for PS with shortened operation time and lessened surgical conversions.