Two-port approach for fully thoracoscopic right upper lobe sleeve lobectomy

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Pulmonary Oncology

Background:

• Lung cancer diagnosis requires effective surgical interventions.
• Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly preferred for thoracic procedures.
• Sleeve lobectomy is a complex procedure often necessitating open surgery.

Observation:

• A case report details a novel two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) right upper sleeve lobectomy.
• The procedure involved dissection, vessel stapling, and bronchial anastomosis through two ports.
• Key challenges included managing pulmonary artery blockage and ensuring adequate surgical space.

Findings:

• The VATS right upper sleeve lobectomy was successfully performed with minimal blood loss (150 ml) and a total operative time of 220 minutes.
• The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 9.
• Histopathology confirmed T3N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma, with no signs of atelectasis on chest X-rays.

Implications:

• This two-port VATS sleeve lobectomy represents a potentially groundbreaking, less invasive surgical option.
• The technique demonstrates feasibility and convenience, potentially reducing patient morbidity.
• Further research and broader adoption could advance thoracic surgical practices for lung cancer.