Non-small cell lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion is generally considered inoperable. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis and outcomes of patients with subclinical malignant pleural effusion who underwent surgical resection for lung cancer.

Due to the poor prognosis of dialysis patients, accurately predicting life expectancy after aortic stenosis surgery remains challenging, leading to potential misselection of treatment options. This study aimed to develop a prognostic model specific to dialysis patients to facilitate individualized treatment selection.

In minimally invasive surgeries such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), unexpected complications may necessitate conversion to thoracotomy. This study aimed to compare the rates, causes, and implications of conversion to thoracotomy between VATS and RATS.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) results from ischemic damage and granulation tissue formation due to prolonged high cuff pressure. Surgical resection and reconstruction is the gold standard treatment, with success rates exceeding 94%. Tritube with flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) offers advantages such as a better surgical field, uninterrupted ventilation, and reduced contamination risk. Traditionally, crossfield intubation has been the standard approach worldwide. This study aims to compare the short-term surgical outcomes of Tritube FCV and crossfield intubation in PITS patients.

Left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) venting during open-heart surgery is essential for myocardial protection, maintaining a bloodless field, and facilitating air removal. However, catheter malposition and inadequate venting are not uncommon because of limited visibility. Although transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can assist in catheter monitoring, TEE-guided management strategies remain underreported. This study aimed to characterize catheter-related issues and describe effective troubleshooting approaches.

To investigate the risk factors for vascular oozing or bleeding after vessel transection with automatic staplers during uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Multiportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (mRATS) is the standard technique for which robotic systems were originally designed, while uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (uRATS) combines robotic precision with a single-incision approach. This study provides the first unicentric comparison, evaluating whether uRATS is non-inferior in postoperative recovery and safety.

Generally, lung cancer originating from interstitial pneumonia (IP) is considered more aggressive; however, lung cancer in patients with autoimmune disease (AD)-related IP (AD-IP) is not well documented. This study aimed to clarify surgical outcomes and the risk of postoperative acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with lung cancer associated with AD-IP.

In this study, the difference in anatomical variables was considered between Aortic stenosis (AS) and Aortic regurgitation (AR) groups by preoperative computed tomography (CT) in minimally invasive cardiac surgery for aortic valve replacement (MIAVR).

This study evaluates the initial surgical results of our proposed minimally invasive extended thymectomy procedure using the "lateral view preceding method," which precedes dissection of the lower poles of the thymus and mediastinal fat around the cardiophrenic angles with lateral thoracoscopic views, followed by a robot-assisted subxiphoid approach for the remaining extended thymectomy.

To identify predictors of left atrial appendage thrombus formation.

Although retrosternal route reconstruction is commonly used in esophagectomy, its anatomical constraints may increase the risk of anastomotic leakage because of the compression of reconstructed organs and deformation of the anastomosis. Therefore, this study retrospectively investigated the effect of anastomosis deformation on leakage.

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk in patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection and an entry ≤ 10 mm distal to the left subclavian artery.

Recent advances in therapeutics have substantially improved breast cancer treatment outcomes. However, data on prognostic factors after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from breast cancer remain limited.

Thrombus formation in atrial fibrillation is caused by blood flow stagnation within the left atrial appendage (LAA). It is believed that blood flow tends to stagnate within the LAA even in patients with sinus rhythm and high risk of stroke. This study evaluated blood flow within the LAA using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging among patients stratified by the congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke, vascular disease, age, sex category (CHADS-VASc) score.

Despite advances in cerebral protection strategies, aortic arch surgery remains associated with significant neurological risk. Unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (uACP) and bilateral ACP (bACP) are widely used during moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest, but the optimal strategy remains controversial.

This study aimed to report "real-world" mid-term clinical experiences and outcomes after surgical mitral valve replacement with the Epic bioprosthesis in a high-volume Japanese heart center.