Extended video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy.

VATS lobectomy was first performed more than twenty years ago. Early experience with the procedure led to the enumeration of contraindications, many of which have been circumvented by increasing familiarity with the approach and equipment changes. These previous contraindications to VATS lobectomy (pleural symphasis, chest wall involvement, sleeve resections, etc.) we define as extended lobectomy. This article reviews the literature and discusses some technical points to facilitate the completion of these operations.