Thoracoscopic wedge lung resection using virtual-assisted lung mapping

Virtual-assisted lung mapping is a novel bronchoscopic preoperative lung marking technique using virtual images to conduct multiple concurrent lung markings with dye. This study analyzed the indications, mapping design, and outcomes of lung wedge resection using virtual-assisted lung mapping.

From August 2012 to October 2013, 35 patients with 59 lesions were planned to undergo thoracoscopic lung wedge resection aided by virtual-assisted lung mapping. The data related to virtual-assisted lung mapping were prospectively collected, with the exception of the mapping design which was retrospectively analyzed.

Suspected primary lung cancer (21 lesions in 18 patients) and metastatic lung tumors (38 lesions in 17 patients) were treated by thoracoscopic lung wedge resection with the aid of virtual-assisted lung mapping; 50 wedge resections were conducted with 107 markings. Virtual-assisted lung mapping was most frequently designed to place 2 (n = 15 wedge resections) or 3 (n = 17) markings to both identify the tumor(s) and secure a sufficient resection margin. In 7 wedge resections, anatomical landmarks and/or imaginary auxiliary lines functioned as complementary parts of the lung map when bronchial anatomy did not allow for markings at ideal spots. The resection outcomes were satisfactory without clinically evident complications.

Multiple markings of virtual-assisted lung mapping not only enabled tumor identification, but also secured sufficient resection margins. Special techniques using anatomical landmarks and imaginary auxiliary lines were complementary to the lung map when bronchial anatomy did not allow for markings at ideal spots.