Subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for synchronous bilateral lung resection

ABSTRACT

Objectives: With advancements in medical imaging and current emphasis on regular physical examinations, multiple pulmonary lesions increasingly are being detected, including bilateral pulmonary lesions. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is an important method for treating such lesions. Most of video-assisted thoracic surgeries for bilateral pulmonary lesions were two separate operations. Herein, we report a novel technique of synchronous subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for bilateral pulmonary lesions.

Methods: Synchronous bilateral lung resection procedures were performed through a single incision (~4 cm, subxiphoid).

Results: This technique was used successfully in 11 patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions. There were no intraoperative deaths or mortality recorded at 30 days.

Conclusions: Our results show that the subxiphoid uniportal thoracoscopic procedure is a safe and feasible surgical procedure for synchronous bilateral lung resection with less surgical trauma, postoperative pain and better cosmetic results in qualifying patients. Further analysis is ongoing, involving a larger number of subjects.

KEYWORDS:

• Uniportal thoracoscopy
• subxiphoid
• bilateral lung resection
• minimally invasive surgery

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.

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Additional information

Funding

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