Anatomic thoracoscopic segmentectomy for early-stage lung cancer

How to identify intersegmental planes in performing sublobar anatomical resections

Pulmonary segmentectomy is a common surgical procedure in thoracic surgery nowadays. Though this technique helps preventing postoperative pulmonary function loss, potential challenges are the management of air leaks and the difficulty of palpating ground-glass components during surgery, as well as how to deal with the intersegmental planes. Several techniques have been proposed for the identification and treatment of the intersegmental planes during sublobar anatomical resections: this review focuses on preoperative planning and workup and intraoperative strategies. Three-dimensional computed tomography bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA), virtual-assisted mapping (VAL-MAP) using bronchoscopy multi-spot dye marking and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) are preoperative tools that may facilitate the planning of operation. Inflation-deflation techniques, infrared-fluorescence-enhanced method combined with bronchial and intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIF) mapping with ICG have been described as intraoperative strategies to identify the intersegmental plane. The treatment and section of the intersegmental planes is mainly accomplished by stapler and electrocautery or energy devices. The use of staplers reduces postoperative air leaks, bleeding risks and operative time but seems to reduce preserved lung volume, compromising adjacent lung expansion; in addition, higher costs and sometimes non-adequate oncological margins, being a non-anatomical technique have been described. The electrocautery and energy devices allow for a more anatomical and precise dissection maintaining safe oncological margins, with a better lung expansion and so an increased postoperative lung function. Time consuming procedure and frequent requirement of aero-haemostatic tools to treat air and blood leaks are the main drawbacks. In conclusion, there are several methods to identify and treat the intersegmental planes but there are no significant differences between the different tools, therefore the use of one technique rather than another depends overall on surgeon's preference and the location of the segment.

[A Review on Comparison of Lobectomy and Segmentectomy in the Treatment of Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

Lung cancer is a worldwide malignancy with high morbidity and mortality in the world. With the application of low-dose spiral computed tomography in the screening and diagnosis of lung cancer, more lung cancers are detected at an early stage and cured by surgical treatment. Anatomical lobectomy has long been the standard procedure for the treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, whether intentional segmentectomy can be more used remains controversial. And this paper focuses on the question.
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Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic left S4 anatomical segmentectomy

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy is a demanding technique but is safe and feasible in selected patients and confers favorable efficacy. It presents an acceptable alternative to conventional VATS. Lingulectomy is usually performed with left S4 + S5 segmentectomy. This report describes a case of uniportal VATS of left S4 anatomical segmentectomy alone.

Using novel technology to augment complex video-assisted thoracoscopic single basilar segmentectomy

There are many novel technologies that enable complex segmentectomy to be performed. As lung cancer screening becomes more prevalent, patients are increasingly diagnosed with early stage lung cancer, multifocal disease, and second primary tumors. This shift to an earlier clinical presentation combined with advances in technology and an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques have led to the current developments we are now seeing with anatomic segmentectomy. In this paper, we describe the operative technique of an indocyanine green (ICG)-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) single basilar segmental resection, augmented with methylene blue dye marker localization via SuperDimension electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy. The CT scans of the posterior basal segment tumor are enhanced with three-dimensional (3D) modeling. A description of the approach is detailed with a video, intraoperative photographs, and illustrations. Successful removal of the S10 segment with novel techniques permitted the patient to have five percent of the lung removed (segmentectomy) instead of 25% (right lower lobectomy). In the setting of multifocal disease, future treatment options for the tumors in other locations of the lung are enhanced. Novel lung imaging techniques along with careful intraoperative identification of appropriate segmental anatomy allow patients to be offered an optimal basilar parenchymal-sparing segmentectomy.