Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic carinal resections: technical aspects and outcomes

Important benefits in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer have recently been achieved. However, the use of this technique for complex sleeve procedures is limited. We describe the technical aspects of and patient outcomes following carinal resections using uniportal VATS.

Since 2015, 16 sleeve carinal resections, including 11 right pneumonectomies, 4 right upper lobectomies and 1 lung-sparing carinal resection, have been performed at the Regional Clinic Hospital, Tyumen, Russia.

The mean surgical time was 215.9 ± 67.2 min (range 125-340 min). The mean blood loss volume was 256.3 ± 284.5 ml (range 50-1200 ml). There was 1 case of conversion to thoracotomy. The morbidity rate was 25%, and the mortality rate was 0%. The median overall survival was 38.6 ± 3.5 months.

The use of uniportal VATS for carinal resections in certain patients allows for radical resections with low rates of morbidity and mortality.