Uniportal VATS wedge pulmonary resection

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has emerged as a common approach in surgical procedures involving the lung, mediastinum, thoracic wall, and diaphragm. Recent studies have described the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic VATS procedures via a single port, and the technique has become the preferred diagnostic modality for various intrathoracic pathologies and for patients deemed unsuitable for fine-needle biopsy.

The records of 57 patients who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic uniportal VATS for wedge pulmonary resection between January 2024 and January 2025 were reviewed retrospectively, and details regarding the surgical method, length of hospital stay, complications, and diagnostic accuracy were recorded. The procedures were performed for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and for the treatment of undiagnosed pulmonary nodules and primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Of the total sample, 15.8% (n = 9) were female and 84.2% (n = 48) were male, and the mean age was 39.9 years (range 16-77 years). All 57 patients underwent uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection, with 35 treated for pneumothorax and 22 for other conditions. Those treated for pneumothorax were predominantly younger, with a mean age of 26.6 years ( range 16-77 years), while the mean age of the nonpneumothorax patients was 56 years (28-77 years).

Thoracoscopic surgery is now the preferred method for both patients and surgeons, and the role of VATS in diagnosis and treatment is growing and gaining value. As a minimally invasive procedure, VATS is associated with a comfortable postoperative period for both the patient and surgeon, which supports its role as a safe and feasible approach to wedge pulmonary resections for certain indications.