Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic bronchoplastic and carinal sleeve procedures

Effect of preoperative three-dimensional modeling on uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic bronchial sleeve resection and early postoperative outcomes

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative three-dimensional (3D) modeling on the performance of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic bronchial sleeve resection and early postoperative outcomes.

Methods

A total of 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age: 53.8±16.9 years; range, 18 to 75 years) who underwent uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic bronchial sleeve resection with preoperative 3D modeling between April 2021 and November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative 3D modeling was prepared using computed tomography with an open-source 3D software program. Demographic, clinical, intraoperative, and postoperative data of the patients were recorded. Anatomical landmarks identified by preoperative 3D modeling were compared with intraoperative findings.

Results

The anatomical landmarks created with the 3D model were in 100% agreement with the intraoperative findings. The procedures performed were three left lower lobes, three right upper lobes, one middle lobe, one right lower lobe, and one parenchyma-sparing intermediate bronchial sleeve resection. Bronchial sleeve resection was completed using uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic technique in 90% of patients, with only one patient requiring conversion to open thoracotomy. The mean resection time was 264.2±40.5 min, and the mean anastomosis time was 86.0±20.3 min. Anastomosis times decreased with increasing experience (p=0.008). Postoperative atelectasis was observed in two patients, and there was no mortality. The mean follow-up duration was 12.2±11.8 months.

Conclusion

Preoperative 3D modeling significantly contributed to the successful implementation of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic bronchial sleeve resection surgery. In the future, with advancements in simulation programs, patient-specific 3D modeling is expected to benefit the identification of anatomical landmarks for bronchial sleeve resections.

Vats lobectomy for lung cancer. What has been the evolution over the time?

Video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is the treatment of choice for early-stage lung cancer. It is safe and effective compared to open surgery, as demonstrated by a large body of scientific evidence over the last few decades. VATS lobectomy's evolution was driven by the need to decrease post-operative pain by reducing the extent of surgical accesses, maintaining the same oncological efficacy of open lobectomy with less invasiveness. VATS lobectomy just turned 30 years old, evolving and changing significantly from its origins. The aim of this mini review is to retrace the history, starting from a multiport approach to a single port approach. At the end of this mini review, we will discuss the advanced and the future challenges of the technique that has revolutionized thoracic surgery.

[Improving surgical technique for tracheal resection with anastomosis]

OBJECTIVE

To present modern aspects of improving surgical techniques in tracheal resection developed in recent years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The authors have the most extensive experience in tracheal surgery (>2.000 patients over the past 50 years). Diagnostic capabilities, perioperative management and surgical techniques have changed over such a long period. This concerns the proposed classification of cicatricial tracheal stenosis, features of endoscopic and X-ray diagnostics, indications for various surgeries, choice of surgical approach, technique of tracheal tube mobilization and anastomosis after tracheal excision. Preventive measures for severe postoperative complications are described.

CONCLUSION

Such an extensive experience allowed the authors to develop an algorithm for the treatment of patients with tracheal stenosis. This significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality. Replication of such equipment is associated with technical support of hospitals and professional level of specialists consisting of endoscopist, anesthesiologist, intensive care specialist and thoracic surgeon.

Current perspective on uniportal and multiportal video-assisted thoracic surgery during lobectomy for lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most typical type of lung cancer, and it is the leading cancer-related mortality globally. Lobectomy for early-stage NSCLC has been characterized in the previous decade using a wide range of methodologies. The development of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) allowed surgeons first to reduce the thoracotomy size, which is generally anterior, limiting it to trocar incisions or a single portal approach. This review aimed to describe current perspectives on operative outcomes, lymph node removal, oncologic outcomes, and advantages for surgeons performing uniportal VATS (uVATS) and multiportal (mVATS) lobectomy. The advantages of uVATS include comfortable operating for surgeons with a direct view and safety, and for patients more favourable operative outcomes. Also, the uVATS approach has previously been demonstrated to be effective and safe, with positive outcomes not just with respect to cosmetics but also in terms of a speedy recovery. Oncological uVATS clearance is comparable to multiportal VATS with respect to early mid-term survivability as well as nodal staging, as per retrospective comparison studies. However, the interpretation of outcomes must be made cautiously due to selection bias as well as lack of long-term follow-up; the choice of which VATS approach to utilize for patients' treatment following pulmonary resection is largely based on the preferences of the surgeon. As a result, it is difficult to say if one VATS method is better than another.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery sleeve resection and bronchoplasty using 3D imaging system: its safety and efficacy

Background

Video-assisted thoracic surgery sleeve resection with bronchial anastomosis or bronchoplasty is a technically demanding procedure. Three-dimensional endoscopic surgery has been reported to be helpful in decreasing operation time and improving spatial perception with less surgical errors, but there have been rare reports about relatively difficult thoracoscopic procedures utilizing 3D thoracoscope. We performed this study to evaluate early clinical outcomes of thoracoscopic sleeve resection and bronchoplasty utilizing 3D thoracoscope.

Methods

Data from a total of 36 patients who underwent thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy or bronchoplasty at our institution from December 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Three-port approach with one utility incision was used with a 10 mm, 30° three-dimensional thoracoscope. Twenty-three patients (81%) were male, and mean age was 65.9 ± 9.4 years. Fourteen patients (38.9%) underwent sleeve resection with bronchial anastomosis, 22 (61.1%) underwent wedge or simple bronchoplasty, and one patient received concomitant PA procedure. Bronchial anastomosis sites were not covered with viable tissue flaps.

Results

There was no (0%) suture needle injury from spatial misperception during bronchoplasty or sleeve anastomosis. There was no (0%) operative mortality. The pathologic report revealed squamous cell carcinoma (63.9%), adenocarcinoma (19.4%), carcinoid (6.9%), adenosquamous carcinoma (3.4%), and sarcomatoid carcinoma (2.8%). One (2.8%) late mortality was due to systemic recurrence of sarcomatoid carcinoma. There was no (0.0%) anastomotic failure. The mean number of dissected lymph nodes were 27.4 ± 13.2, and mean operation time was 216.8 ± 60.0 min. Median postoperative 24-h drain amount was 315 mL. Median chest tube days and hospital days were 4 and 6, respectively. Two patients (5.6%) had complications greater than Clavien-Dindo grade II—one case of ARDS, and the other case of a delayed bronchopleural fistula.

Conclusions

Thoracoscopic sleeve resection and bronchoplasty utilizing HD 3D thoracoscope is a safe and effective procedure with excellent early clinical outcomes. Further investigation for long-term outcomes will be needed.

The learning curve of video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy in a high-volume pulmonary center

Objectives

To evaluate the time course and caseload required to achieve proficiency by plotting the learning curve of video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy.

Methods

We reviewed 127 cases of video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy by a single surgeon at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital to evaluate its learning curve using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. The changes of perioperative outcomes were assessed.

Results

The inflection points of the CUSUM curve were around case 30 and 90, according to which 3 phases were identified: Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. Significant downtrends were observed regarding operative time (Phase I, 194 [173-233 minutes] vs Phase II, 172 [142-215 minutes] vs Phase III, 138 [117-164 minutes], P < .05, all), blood loss (Phase I, 200 [100-238 mL] vs Phase II, 100 [50-200 mL] vs Phase III, 50 [50-100 mL]; P < .05, all), drainage duration (Phase I [5.53 ± 1.11 days] vs Phase II [4.52 ± 1.38 days]; P < .05), and length of postoperative stays (Phase I [6.60 ± 1.13 days] vs Phase II [5.68 ± 1.47 days], P < .05). The rate of severe complications significantly decreased from Phase I to Phase II (P = .03).

Conclusions

Thirty cases should be accumulated to lay the technical foundation, and 90 cases were required to achieve proficiency. The focus should now shift to providing sufficient training opportunities for centers wanting to implement this technique.

Uniportal versus multiportal thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy for the surgical treatment of centrally located lung cancer: a single institution experience

Background

Uniportal thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy is rarely reported owing to its high degree of difficulty. We conducted a comparative study on the safety and efficacy of uniportal versus multiportal thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy for the treatment of centrally located lung cancer.

Methods

From January 2016 to December 2018, 30 thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomies (12 by the uniportal approach and 20 by the multiportal approach) for centrally located lung cancer at our institution were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The uniportal approach resulted in a significantly shorter chest drainage duration (5.3±1.9 vs. 7.1±2.8 days, P=0.028) and a smaller chest drainage volume (796.7±582.9 vs. 1,667.8±1,154.9 mL, P=0.004) than the multiportal approach. The two groups showed no significant differences in the dissection of lymph nodes, operation time, estimated blood loss, conversion rate, length of postoperative hospital stay and the proportion of patients with postoperative complications. The short-term overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between uniportal and multiportal groups were similar (3-year OS, 100.0% vs. 82.5%, P=0.222; 3-year DFS, 75.8% vs. 84.4%, P=0.641). For the eight cases of the uniportal approach conducted by the same surgeon, the cumulative sum (CUSUM) curve showed its inflection at patient number 4 and divided the series into phase I (learning phase) and phase II (experienced phase). A significant reduction in estimated blood loss (42.5±8.7 vs. 177.5±121.2 mL, P=0.037), chest drainage volume (280.0±155.8 vs. 972.5±464.5 mL, P=0.043) and chest drainage duration (3.8±1.0 vs. 6.8±2.2 days, P=0.027) was also noted in the phase II patients compared with the phase I patients.

Conclusions

Uniportal thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy is technically feasible and safe for the treatment of centrally located lung cancer and may achieve superior surgical outcomes compared with the multiportal approach.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lung sparing tracheo-bronchial and carinal sleeve resections

Pathology arising from the intrathoracic portion of the trachea (distal trachea), the carina and the main bronchi is usually neoplastic and is mainly treated with surgery. Resection of the intrathoracic portion of the trachea, the carina and the main bronchi for neoplastic lesions does not necessitate lung resection and is traditionally being conducted via open surgery. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is witnessing an exponential growth and is the treatment of choice for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The experience accumulated over the past two decades along with the introduction of reliable and ergonomic technology, has led to the expansion of its indications. In this article we provide a detailed description of lung sparing distal tracheal, carinal and main bronchi resection for primary neoplasms of the airway, without involvement of the lung, with the uniportal video-assisted technique. The chest is entered through the fourth intercostal space, mid-axillary line. Dissection of the paratracheal space anteriorly, the tracheoesophageal groove posteriorly and the subcarinal space and division of the azygos arch are essential to mobilize the distal trachea and carina. Lateral dissection should be avoided beyond the points of division of the airway, as it may hinder the blood supply to the anastomosis. Any tension to the anastomosis should be relieved by release maneuvers. Ventilation is achieved through an endobronchial catheter, inserted into the left main bronchus through which a high-frequency jet ventilation catheter can be also inserted through it. The rationale of applying a minimally invasive technique for the conduction of tracheal and carinal resections, is to exploit its advantages, namely less pain, earlier mobilization and lower morbidity. Uniportal video-assisted resections of the distal trachea, carina and the main bronchi, are safe when conducted by experienced surgical and anesthetic teams.

Robotic-assisted tracheobronchial surgery

Robotic technology is positioned to transform the approach to tracheobronchial surgery. With its magnified 3D view, intuitive controls, wristed-instruments, high-fidelity simulation platforms, and the steady implementation of new technical improvement, the robot is well-suited to manage the careful dissection and delicate handling of the airway in tracheobronchial surgery. This innovative technology has the potential to promote the widespread adoption of minimally invasive techniques for this complex thoracic surgery.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for the treatment of lung cancer: a consensus report from Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (CSTCVS) and Chinese Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS)

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UniVATS) has been widely adopted in China, where several ultra-high volume thoracic surgical and training centers are located. The objective of this consensus from Chinese experts was to summarize the current application and give reference for the future development of UniVATS in the treatment of lung cancer. A panel of 41 experts from 21 Chinese hospitals was invited to join this project. The Delphi method was used in this consensus consisting of two rounds of voting. The questionnaire was based on the current clinical evidence. Forty (97.6%) experts completed the 2 rounds of questionnaires. The experts’ experience was relatively similar. We defined the UniVATS as monitor-dependent surgery, no use of rib-spreading and single incision less than 4 cm. Tumor with stage of T1–T3 and N0–N2 is considered amenable to UniVATS. Other consensus was reached on several points outlining the safety and feasibility, surgical skills, learning curve, short-term and long-term outcomes for lung cancer, and current application of subxiphoid and nonintubated UniVATS approach. This consensus statement represents a collective agreement among Chinese experts to suggest that UniVATS is an effective alternative to multi-portal approach, although high-level evidence is expected in the future. Some agreements can be referred in the training of young surgeons.

Carinal resection

Tracheobronchial tumors with involvement of the carina represent a challenging problem in the pulmonary surgery. Carinal resection is referred to removal and reconstruction of the airway itself, whereas concomitant removal of the lung parenchyma (usually a whole lung) is termed as carinal pneumonectomy. Thorough preoperative workup of these patients is mandatory. Meticulous surgical technique and aggressive postoperative management is required for the best outcomes in these difficult cases. In the paper authors review surgical technique, evaluation and management of this challenging patient population.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic S8 segmentectomy and S1a subsegmentectomy for synchronous multiple primary lung cancers

With the increasing incidence of synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLC), difficulties in diagnosis and decision making for treating patients with SMPLC can result in clinical dilemmas for clinicians. To simplify the diagnostic and treatment course, the less-invasive technique of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy can be selected preferentially. However, segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy are technically more sophisticated compared to lobectomy, and they involve the identification of the nodule locations, confirmation of the targeted structures and ensuring the surgical margin. Here, we describe the performance of uniportal VATS segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy technique in a patient with SMPLC in the right upper lobe with the assistance of three-dimensional (3D) navigation. We detected the intersegmental planes using infrared thoracoscopy with an intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG). The patient was discharged with no complication. We think that uniportal VATS segmentectomy is a feasible alternative and technically safe for treating patients with SMPLC.

Single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)-advanced procedures & update

The uniportal approach for major pulmonary resections began in 2010, with the first case being reported by D González-Rivas and colleagues in La Coruña, Spain. Since then, in different countries, thoracic surgeons had been performing hundreds of cases, with more advanced and complex procedures. Nowadays, there are reports of uniportal tracheal resection and reconstruction, carinal resection, bronchoplastic procedures, lobectomies with en bloc chest wall excision, and vascular reconstruction with optimal outcomes. The development of technologies and the potential benefits of a direct view, anatomic instrumentation, better cosmesis, and, potentially, less postoperative pain have led uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery to grow exponentially worldwide.

Extended uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer: is it feasible?

Since the first description of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (U-VATS) (or single-port) lobectomy, several centers in Asia and Europe rapidly adopted this technique as a standard approach for treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite the controversies regarding feasibility and completeness of resection, thoracic surgeons in high volume centers keep pushing the limits to perform very complex procedures also known as "extended resections" through minimally invasive surgery. Published series and case reports confirm the viability of U-VATS in highly complex surgical cases such as pneumonectomy, chest wall resection and bronchoplasty, which require experience and technical ability to be performed through a 3-6 cm single incision. In this article, the authors would like to present several clinical indications of locally advanced NSCLC and the technical aspects to accomplish an extended resection through U-VATS.

Left upper lobectomy and pulmonary angioplasty by uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery

Diego Gonzalez-Rivas and his colleagues performed the first case for pulmonary major resection by the uniportal approach in 2010. In the following years, more and more expert surgeons developed the uniportal approach and even applied it to very complex cases. Many centers have showed that uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy is a safe and feasible technique. The patient presented here is a complex case: The lingular segmental artery was invaded seriously by the tumor and it was difficult to divide it freely, and the pulmonary artery plasty was needed. Although this condition made the procedure some technically challenging, the case was performed successfully without any operative complications.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for complicated pulmonary resections

In the past 20 years, video-assisted thoracic surgery has made a great progress, from 4-ports to 2-ports, and eventually to this revolutionary approach-uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). It can share the same instruments, the same surgical principles, the same strategies of trouble-shooting and the same postoperative short-term outcomes with conventional VATS via the improvement of instruments and surgical skills. And it has already been safe to adopt uniportal VATS in complicated pulmonary resections. In this study, we shared five video clips about uniportal VATS for complicated pulmonary resections: sleeve resection, segmentectomy, pneumonectomy and angioplasty. We hope these video clips can be instrumental for young surgeons.

Nonintubated uniportal VATS pulmonary anatomical resections

Nonintubated procedures have widely developed during the last years, thus nowadays major anatomical resections are performed in spontaneously breathing patients in some centers. In an attempt for combining less invasive surgical approaches with less aggressive anesthesia, nonintubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomies and segmentectomies have been proved feasible and safe, but there are no comparative trials and the evidence is still poor. A program in nonintubated uniportal major surgery should be started in highly experienced units, overcoming first a learning period performing minor procedures and a training program for the management of potential crisis situations when operating on these patients. A multidisciplinary approach including all the professionals in the operating room (OR), emergency protocols and a comprehensive knowledge of the special physiology of nonintubated surgery are mandatory. Some concerns about regional analgesia, vagal block for cough reflex control and oxygenation techniques, combined with some specific surgical tips can make safer these procedures. Specialists must remember an essential global concept: all the efforts are aimed at decreasing the invasiveness of the whole procedure in order to benefit patients' intraoperative status and postoperative recovery.

Deeper wedge resection and parenchymal-sparing bronchoplasty of the secondary carina: an alternative surgical technique for removal of tumor located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus

BACKGROUND

Sleeve resection and reconstruction of the bronchial corner between the upper lobar bronchus and the intermediate bronchus is technique demanding.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 33-year-old Chinese man suffered from recurrence of low-grade malignant mucoepidermoid carcinoma located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus with invasion to the main bronchus nearly 1 year after he had undergone an incomplete bronchoscopic resection. With detailed preoperative and intraoperative evaluation by computed tomography and bronchoscopy, a deeper wedge resection and bronchoplasty of the secondary carina was performed. The freedom from tumor cells at the cut-edges was guaranteed by frozen examination. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was free from recurrence for 18 months after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

With an R0 resection, the procedure described in the present case report was feasible and relatively easy, thus an alternative to sleeve lobectomy or sleeve bronchial resection for small-size low-grade malignancy located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for major lung resections: pitfalls, tips and tricks

Nearly six years since inception, uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become a growing part of major lung resections and has revolutionized the way thoracic surgeons treat pulmonary lesions. This technique is being touted for various benefits. It ensures direct visualization together with a better exposure of the lung and allows the chance of a digital palpation of the lesion through a small incision. Postoperative pain is reduced due to the involvement of only one intercostal space without rib spreading and muscle disruption. The comfort and aesthetics factors are improved significantly since the oncological principles and radicality of open surgery are restored. As the surgeons gain more experience in uniportal-VATS lobectomy, more complex cases can be managed by this technique. The objectives of this work are to set the basic steps for performing major lung resections (lobectomy, bilobectomy and pneumonectomy) by utilizing uniportal-VATS and to analyze some common pitfalls that thoracic surgeons face when practicing this technique and provide practical tips and tricks on how to avoid.

Technological aids in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

With the evolution of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the technological aids have come to help skill surgeons to improve the results in thoracic surgery and feasible to perform a complex surgery. The technological aids are divided into three important groups, which make surgical steps easy to perform, besides reducing surgical time and surgical accidents in the hands of experienced surgeons. The groups are: (I) conventional thoracoscopic instruments; (II) sealing devices using in uniportal VATS; (III) high definition cameras, robotic arms prototype and the future robotic aids for uniportal VATS surgery. Uniportal VATS is an example of the continuing search for methods that aim to provide the patient a surgical cure of the disease with the lowest morbidity. That is the reason companies are creating more and new technologies, but the surgeon have to choose properly and to know how, when and where is the moment to use each new aids to avoid mistakes. The future of the thoracic surgery is based on evolution of surgical procedures and innovations to try to reduce even more the surgical and anesthetic trauma. This article summarizes the technological aids to improve and help a thoracoscopics surgeons perform a uniportal VATS feasible and safe.

Modified procedure of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy with muscle sparing incision

BACKGROUND

To describe modified procedure for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS) lobectomy with a small, total muscle-sparing incision.

METHODS

Forty-eight UVATS leucotomy were attempted and successfully completed. A single incision of approximately 3 cm was made in an intercostal space along the anterior axillary line. Muscle-sparing technique was applied with this single-incision approach using muscle sparing technique.

RESULTS

Incision size was kept to a minimum, with a median of 3 cm. Mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in all patients with malignancy. Overall median operative time was 1.3 hours. Median hospitalization was 13.5 days (range, 6-21 days). Morbidity rate was low at 3%. There were no other postoperative complications, mortality, or re-admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified procedure of lobectomy with UVATS might be easy to operate with less surgical time and morbidity rate, muscle sparing technique might reduce post-operation pain.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery right upper lobectomy with systemic lymphadenectomy

This video demonstrated a performance of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) right upper lobectomy with systemic lymphadenectomy. The patient had a malignant mass in his right upper lobe. The operator took a posterior to anterior approach to dissection the right upper lobe, the adjacent structures were clearly demonstrated after the entire dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes. Postoperative pathological report suggested the stage of the tumor was T1bN0M0 (stage IA).

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for left upper lobe: single-direction lobectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy

A 62-year-old female was admitted to our hospital after computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.5 cm × 2.1 cm mass in the left upper lobe. PET/CT scan diagnosed as malignant lesion with no signs of metastasis. Under general anesthesia, the patient was placed in right lateral decubitus position. A 4cm incision was made in the 4th intercostal space with plastic protector. The camera was placed in the upper part of the incision and the instruments were inserted below the camera. Left upper lobectomy along with systematic lymphadenectomy was performed. Total surgical time was 135 min and estimated blood loss was 70 mL. The chest tube was removed on the 2nd postoperative day and the patient was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day with no complication. This uniportal VATS single-direction lobectomy for the left upper lobe is feasible and amplifies the concept of thoracotomy-like minimally invasive surgery.

Complex uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy during live surgery broadcasting

The uniportal approach for major pulmonary resections began in 2010 with the first case being performed by González-Rivas and colleagues in La Coruña. Since then a number of teams around the world had being performing hundreds of cases, applying it to more advance and complex cases recently. The technique has been reported to be feasible and reliable with similar results to that obtained in early stage lung cancer lobectomies. The case presented in this article is an example of an extreme condition: very obese patient, strong adhesions, fused lower lobe to the diaphragm and enlarged inflammatory adenopathies that made the procedure very technically challenging. In addition, the surgery was performed during a live surgery event and it was broadcasted to an auditorium. However, the case was successfully completed through a uniportal VATS approach with no complications.