A novel approach for the complete extraction of large tumours in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy has recently become the standard for treating lung cancer. However, the complete removal of large tumours from the chest cavity is often difficult. Therefore, we developed a novel approach to extract large tumours from the wound without rib resection or fracture (the eXtraction of resected specimens through the Lower INterCostal route [XLINC] method).

In XLINC, a skin incision is made on the tenth intercostal space, and the resected lung tissue is extracted. This retrospective study included patients who underwent VATS lobectomy using XLINC in our institution from 2016 to 2018. As a control group, six patients who had undergone thoracotomy during VATS surgery due to a large tumour diameter were included in the conversion group.

Four men and six women (median age = 66 years, maximum median tumour diameter = 59 mm) were included in the study. The median length of the wound incision for XLINC was 4.5 (range: 4-8) cm. The median operative time was 183 min, and the estimated blood loss was 50 ml. Rib resection was not required, and no fractures were noted. The median length of hospital stay was 8 days. No patients developed major complications caused by XLINC. There were no significant differences, except in operation time and amount of blood loss, between the two groups. However, the XLINC group used fewer post-operative analgesics.

Our report suggests that XLINC might be a simpler, less invasive procedure that could be used in patients with large tumours.