Combination of subxiphoid and intercostal uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral lung lesions: report of two cases and review of the literature

ABSTRACT

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is carried out to reduce postoperative pain after treatment of thoracic diseases. Here, we report a novel method that combines a subxiphoid and intercostal uniportal VATS approach that can be used to treat bilateral pulmonary lesions simultaneously. The first case is a 50-year-old female with bilateral pulmonary lesions who received left lower lobectomy associated with right middle lobe wedge resection synchronously; the other case is a 14-year-old male who was admitted for resection of bilateral lung metastases as a result of previous osteosarcoma. We combined a subxiphoid approach with intercostal uniportal surgical procedure for bilateral pulmonary lesions. Less postoperative pain, faster postoperative recovery, and a better aesthetic effect are possible superiorities of this method if patients are selected carefully. Our results show that the combining of a subxiphoid approach with intercostal uniportal VATS is a feasible and efficient surgical procedure for bilateral pulmonary lesions, with good outcomes. Moreover, this procedure is more suitable for patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions.

KEYWORDS:

• Subxiphoid
• intercostal
• uniportal
• minimally invasive
• bilateral

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20122104120015).