Mediastinal and chest wall tumors contain various benign and malignant tumors. In order to further standardize the whole-course diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal and chest wall tumors, the consensus was formulated through discussion by the expert group. Based on the clinical diagnosis and treatment experience and various prospective and retrospective studies, the consensus was formed.
The subtype of lung cancer that presents as subsolid nodules on imaging exhibits unique biological behavior and favorable prognosis. Recently, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) issued "The 2023 American Associationfor Thoracic Surgery (AATS) expert consensus document: Management of subsolid lung nodules". This consensus, based on the latest literature and current clinical experience, proposes updated strategies for managing subsolid nodules. It emphasizes the correlation between imaging findings and pathological classification, individualized follow-up and surgical management strategies for subsolid nodules, and multimodal treatment approaches for multiple subsolid pulmonary nodules.
Wound infection can prolong wound healing time, increase hospitalization cycle and readmission rate, seriously affect patients’ quality of life and increase economic expenditure. Timely and accurate identification and management of wound infections is key to promoting wound healing and maximizing cost-effective management. In 2022, the International Wound Infection Association published the third edition of Wound Infection in Clinical Practice: Principles of Best Practice. The consensus incorporates new advances in research and clinical practice in the areas of wound environment, risk factors for infection, biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and the identification and management of wound infections, and provides detailed approaches to infection assessment and management. This article introduces the key elements of the 2022 expert consensus and interprets the updated content to help healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and policy makers understand the latest consensus document, promote its clinical application in the prevention and treatment of wound infection, and better improve the quality of clinical practice.
With the widespread adoption of low-dose CT screening and the extensive application of high-resolution CT, the detection rate of sub-centimeter lung nodules has significantly increased. How to scientifically manage these nodules while avoiding overtreatment and diagnostic delays has become an important clinical issue. Among them, lung nodules with a consolidation tumor ratio less than 0.25, dominated by ground-glass shadows, are particularly worthy of attention. The therapeutic challenge for this group is how to achieve precise and complete resection of nodules during surgery while maximizing the preservation of the patient's lung function. The "watershed topography map" is a new technology based on big data and artificial intelligence algorithms. This method uses Dicom data from conventional dose CT scans, combined with microscopic (22-24 levels) capillary network anatomical watershed features, to generate high-precision simulated natural segmentation planes of lung sub-segments through specific textures and forms. This technology forms fluorescent watershed boundaries on the lung surface, which highly fit the actual lung anatomical structure. By analyzing the adjacent relationship between the nodule and the watershed boundary, real-time, visually accurate positioning of the nodule can be achieved. This innovative technology provides a new solution for the intraoperative positioning and resection of lung nodules. This consensus was led by four major domestic societies, jointly with expert teams in related fields, oriented to clinical practical needs, referring to domestic and foreign guidelines and consensus, and finally formed after multiple rounds of consultation, discussion, and voting. The main content covers the theoretical basis of the "watershed topography map" technology, indications, operation procedures, surgical planning details, and postoperative evaluation standards, aiming to provide scientific guidance and exploration directions for clinical peers who are currently or plan to carry out lung nodule resection using the fluorescent microscope watershed analysis method.
Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in middle-aged and elderly population. In general, elementary therapy and drug therapy are the preferred choices for PFOA management. However, for those who cannot achieve satisfactory effectiveness with standard non-surgical treatment, surgical therapy stands as an alternative treatment. The surgical therapy includes repair surgery and reconstruction surgery. The choice of surgical plans for PFOA management mainly depends on the etiology, pathogenesis, location, and severity of the lesions. To aid clinical decision-making, the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital) and the Joint Surgery Branch of the Chinese Orthopedic Association arranged nationwide orthopedic specialists to set up a work panel. After reviewing the research progress of surgical therapy and the latest guidelines and consensus for PFOA management, the work panel discussed repeatedly to reach this consensus. The present consensus aims to provide valid evidences for clinical practices of the surgical therapy of PFOA, so as to avoid inappropriate and irregular treatment behaviors, reduce surgical trauma, improve surgical efficacy and the quality of life, and to ease the burden of PFOA.
Thymectomy is an important treatment for thymoma and myasthenia gravis. The application of minimally invasive surgery to complete thymectomy and rapid recovery of patients after surgery is a developmental goal in thoracic surgery technology. Surgical robots have many technical advantages and are applied for many years in mediastinal tumor resections, a process that has led to its recognition. We published this consensus with the aim of examining how to ensure surgical safety based on the premise that better use of surgical robots achieving rapid recovery after surgery. We invited multiple experts in thoracic surgery to discuss the safety and technical issues of thymectomy under nonintubated anesthesia, and the consensus was made after several explorations and modifications.
With the widespread application of minimally invasive esophagectomy, inflatable video-assisted mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (IVMTE) has gradually become one of the alternative surgical methods for transthoracic esophagectomy due to less trama, fewer perioperative complications and better short-term efficacy. However, there is no uniform standard for surgical methods and lymph node dissection in medical centers that perform IVMTE, which affects the standardization and further promotion of IVMTE. Therefore, on the basis of fully consulting domestic and foreign literature, our team proposed an expert consensus focusing on IVMTE, in order to standardize the clinical practice, guarantee the quality of treatment and promote the development of IMVTE.
Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. The pathological anatomy changes include ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract stenosis, aortic stradding and right ventricular hypertrophy. At present, the diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies of this disease are basically unified. However, there are controversies about the timing and method of surgical treatment. Based on the evidence-based information provided in the literature and the opinions of domestic experts of China, we formulate a consensus of Chinese experts to further standardize the surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot.
Hepatolithiasis is a common and frequently-occurring disease in China. Its condition is complex and variable, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. To standardize the diagnosis and treatment of hepatolithiasis, experts in hepatobiliary surgery from Hunan Province jointly discussed, drafted, and published the “Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Expert Consensus on Hepatolithiasis in Hunan (2024 Edition)”, providing a more solid basis and more comprehensive guidance for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of hepatolithiasis. To help hepatobiliary surgeons better understand and apply this consensus, we provide a detailed interpretation of its key points and innovations.
For mitral valve disease with mitral annular calcification (MAC), surgery remains challenging. Up to now, there is no ideal management strategy or patient selection standard, and perioperative and periprocedural morbidity and mortality rates remain high. The recent surge of patients presenting with MAC has been accompanied by increased interest in MAC surgery and interventions. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Clinical Practice Standards Committee is meant to provide a simplified outline for managing MAC. Combined with progress of MAC therapy, a detailed interpretation of the 2025 expert consensus is provided which include patient selection, preoperative evaluation (especially imaging evaluation), indications of intervention, surgical and transcatheter therapeutic options, and postoperative complications and remedial measures.