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. 2024 Feb 9;24(1):49.
doi: 10.1186/s12893-024-02347-w.

Preservation of the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve during three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer: a retrospective study

Wencong Huang  1 , Jiantian Yang  1 , Huiwen Chen  2 , Peijian Li  1 , Wei Wei  3
Affiliations

Preservation of the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve during three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer: a retrospective study

Wencong Huang et al. BMC Surg. .

Abstract

Background: In this study, we investigated the effect of preservation of the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve during systematic dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes, when performing radical resection of lung cancer, on the postoperative complication rate.

Methods: The clinical data for 80 patients who underwent three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital between 2020 and 2022 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve were retained during intraoperative carinal lymph node dissection. The operation time, time until first postoperative defecation, duration for which a chest tube was needed, total chest drainage volume, average pain intensity during the first 5 postoperative days, incidence of postoperative pneumonia, and postoperative length of stay were compared between the two groups.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in histological staging or in time until first postoperative defecation between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in operation time, the duration for which a chest tube was needed, total chest drainage volume, average pain intensity during the first 5 postoperative days, white blood cell count and procalcitonin level on postoperative days 1 and 5, and postoperative length of stay between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Preserving the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve during carinal lymph node dissection when performing three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer can reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

Keywords: Postoperative rehabilitation; Pulmonary branches of vagus nerve; Radical resection of lung cancer; Three-dimensional thoracoscopy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Exposure of the left pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve (arrow) during mediastinal lymph node dissection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exposure of the right pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve (arrow) during mediastinal lymph node dissection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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