Table 1.
Relationship between clinical features and stapling difficulty
| Variables | Stapling difficulty | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impossible/Difficult (n = 16) | Typical (n = 25) | Easy (n = 32) | ||
| Age, y | 70 ± 8 [66, 75] | 71 ± 8 [67, 74] | 69 ± 10 [65, 72] | 0.63 |
| Male | 6 (38) | 11 (44) | 19 (59) | 0.29 |
| Height, cm | 159 ± 9 [155, 163] | 159 ± 7 [155, 162] | 161 ± 9 [158, 164] | 0.45 |
| Weight, kg | 53 ± 10 [48, 58] | 54 ± 10 [50, 58] | 58 ± 10 [55, 62] | 0.17 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 21 ± 3 [19, 23] | 21 ± 4 [20, 23] | 22 ± 3 [21, 24] | 0.41 |
| Intrathoracic length, mm | 161 ± 16 [154, 167] | 159 ± 15 [154, 164] | 170 ± 9 [166, 175] | 0.005* |
| Seventh rib angle, degree | 39 ± 7 [35, 43] | 40 ± 9 [37, 43] | 38 ± 7 [35, 40] | 0.60 |
| VD, mm | 140.6 ± 12.2 [135.1, 146.1] | 144.4 ± 10.4 [140.0, 148.8] | 147.8 ± 11.2 [143.8, 151.7] | 0.11 |
| VD-136, mm | 4.6 ± 12.2 [-0.9, 10.2] | 8.4 ± 10.4 [3.9, 12.8] | 11.8 ± 11.2 [7.8, 15.7] | 0.11 |
| AD, mm | -3.5 ± 10.5 [-7.9, 0.9] | 9.4 ± 4.6 [5.9, 12.9] | 21.0 ± 10.3 [17.9, 24.1] | < 0.001** |
Values are mean ± standard deviation [95% Confidence interval], n (%)
*Significant difference between Impossible/Difficult/Typical and Easy
**Significant difference between all groups
Intrathoracic length: length from the sternum to the inside of the rib with the seventh rib arranged in the outermost computed tomography image
VD: Virtual distance between the resection target vessel and stapler port
AD: Actual distance between the resection target vessel and the anvil tip