Simultaneous cone beam computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic marking and video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge...

The increasing need for pulmonary resection by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has presented a greater opportunity to detect small-sized pulmonary nodules by computed tomography (CT). In cases where it is difficult to identify tumor localization intraoperatively, it is necessary to place the VATS marker near the pulmonary nodules before surgery. Conventional percutaneous or bronchoscopic VATS marker placement under local anesthesia is accompanied by patient pain. We clinically applied a new technique to place VATS markers using a bronchoscope under general anesthesia in a hybrid operating room. Multiple pulmonary nodules were successfully marked and securely excised simultaneously by VATS. This technique enables secure, minimally invasive resection of multiple small-sized pulmonary nodules without causing distress to the patient.