Video-assisted thoracic surgery through card-sized utility thoracotomy
Tsubota, N.
Kyobu Geka. Japanese Journal of Thoracic Surgery 55(6): 468-470
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5252 PMID: 12058457 Document Number: 542224
The technique of video-assisted thoracic surgery, a minimum invasive surgical procedure is discussed. The characteristics are as follows: through utility thoracotomy, which is smaller than a card of 54 x 85 mm in size, we carry out the procedures using both eyes-vision with right perspective and palpation with fingers. We use conventional tools besides endoscopic tools, such as ultra-long scissors of 30 cm in length, 26 cm long Péan's forceps, which have 2 groove at the tip that allow one to push the knot. We covered a body of a forceps, while tip and the other end are not covered to allow transmission of the electrostream. We have carried out more than 70% of standard lobectomies with modified lymph node dissection for lung cancer according to this technique under the same quality of operation as conventional open thoracotomy. The procedure did not differ from conventional approach in the operation time and amount of bleeding.