Wound retraction system for lung resection by video-assisted mini-thoracotomy.

Wound retraction system (WR; Alexis Wound Retractor, Applied Medical, CA, USA), designed for laparoscopic abdominal surgery, is instrumental in offering retraction and protection when an organ or specimen requires removal through a small incision. We performed lobectomy or segmentectomy with systematic lymph nodes dissection by video-assisted mini-thoracotomy for patients with primary lung cancer using this tool. This technique was used for elective operations in 24 men and 10 women; the length of major skin incision was 6.5+/-0.7 cm. The operative views and the ease of using endoscopic instruments were good. Only two patients required initial pleurectomy for pleuro-pulmonary adhesions before using WR. There were no patients with severe postoperative chest pain, wound infection and contamination.