Videoendoscopic pulmonary lobectomy for cancer.

A videothoracoscopic right lower pulmonary lobectomy is reported. The excision was done in a 71-year-old man suffering from an adenocarcinoma of the right lower lobe, with an apparent absence of lymphnodal and systemic metastasis. The procedure has been performed using four 10-mm cannulas and a minimal inframammary thoracotomy (4 cm) by inserting a chip camera linked to the thoracoscope and connected to external monitors. The lobar hilar structures were dissected and then sutured-divided with Endo-GIA R shots. The specimen was extracted through the minimal thoracotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful with minimal postoperative pain, and the patient was discharged after complete surgical recovery with excellent functional and cosmetic results. This procedure in selected patients is a new and promising possibility in chest videoendoscopic surgery.