Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
[Full thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy for benign or metastatic conditions]
D Gossot1, J B Stern, P Girard
1Département Thoracique, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France. dominique.gossot@imm.fr
Introduction:
Several techniques for video-assisted pulmonary lobectomy have been reported. However full thoracoscopic lobectomy, i.e., without the help of a utility incision has seldom been performed. We report our results based on a series of resections for benign or metastatic conditions where mediastinal lymphadenectomy is not indicated.
Patients And Methods:
Fifty-six patients (29 males and 27 females) with a mean age of 46 years (range: 8-82 years) had an attempted major pulmonary resection (54 lobectomies and 2 segmentectomies) via thoracoscopy alone for either a benign lesion (30 cases) or a metastasis (26 cases).
Results:
There was no operative mortality. Six patients required conversion to thoracotomy (11%). In the 50 remaining patients who underwent an exclusively thoracoscopic operation, there was 1 intra-operative complication that was managed thoracoscopically. The duration of the procedure ranged from 65 to 230 minutes (mean: 157 minutes). Intra-operative blood loss was 55 cc (range: 0 to 200 cc) in the "metastasis group" and 109 cc (range: 0 to 280 cc) in the "benign lesion group". There were 5 postoperative complications (10%). Postoperative duration of stay ranged from 3 to 15 days (Mean: 6.7 days). All patients were seen at the first postoperative month and no clinical or radiological complication was noticed.
Conclusion:
Full thoracoscopic lobectomies are feasible and safe provided appropriate equipment is used and the surgical team is experienced in endoscopic surgery.
