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Background: Visualization of intersegmental planes in the lung is desirable for precise anatomical lung segmentectomy. We developed the slip-knot method for creating inflation-deflation lines. This study aimed to assess relevant data for thoracoscopic segmentectomy performed using this method. Methods: In the slip-knot method, the objective segmental bronchus is looped with a monofilament thread. One end of the thread is then pulled during temporary bilateral ventilation, causing the knot to slip toward the bronchus. Thereafter, bronchial ligation is tightened to block the outflow of segmental air, ensuring that the segment remains expanded while the other reserved segments collapse on resumption of unilateral ventilation. Data from 221 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy between 2010 and 2016 were analyzed. Results: A total of 147 patients (67%) were indicated for the slip-knot method, and 74 cases (33%) were non-adaptive cases. Ninety six percent of 147 cases were well adapted to the slip-knot method, which allowed us to obtain good inflation-deflation line images to determine the intersegmental plane. The mean operative time was 171±51 min (range, 71–367 min). The mean duration of chest tube insertion was 1.5±1.2 days (range, 1–7 days). Three cases (2.0%) had prolonged air-leakage and one (0.7%) case had readmission for late air-leakage. Conclusions: Our method enables determination of anatomical intersegmental planes using only one monofilament thread, thus facilitating thoracoscopic pulmonary anatomical segmentectomy.

A 63-year-old woman who underwent a left hepatic lobectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma was referred to our department for further management. Chest computed tomography showed a lung nodule that was increased in size to 8 mm in the S4a. The differential diagnosis was metastasis versus primary lung cancer. Thoracoscopic left S4a subsegmentectomy was performed. The operative time was 158 min. The blood loss was minimal. Air leakage was not observed, and a chest tube was removed on POD 1. The patient was discharged home on POD 3. The final diagnosis was primary lung cancer (T1aN0M0 stage IA). Surgical margin was 2.0 cm.

Ciriaco and colleagues described some methods and advantages concerning the intraoperative localization for pulmonary nodules. The researchers previously reported the preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided hookwire localization method of pulmonary nodules (1). We thank them for mentioning our manuscript as an alternative method of resection for small nodules that require intraoperative localization.

A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 16-mm non-solid tumor with pure ground-glass nodule (GGN) contents in the posterior segment near the anterior segment of her right upper lung lobe that was suspicious of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). Three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) simulation was performed to identify the subsegmental artery and vein pre- or intra-operatively. Port-access thoracoscopic bisubsegmentectomy of the right upper lobe was performed. A frozen section revealed AIS. The tumor size was 13 mm and the surgical margin from the tumor edge to cutting line was more than 20 mm. The surgical time was 191 minutes and bleeding was 101 mL. The chest tube duration was 3 days and the post-operative hospital stay was 6 days.

A 77-year-old man with chronic obstructive lung disease was referred to our hospital for further management of his lung nodule. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a lung nodule that increased in size up to 1.9 cm in the S8a of his left lung. Primary lung cancer was suspected. Thoracoscopic anatomical left S6b-S8a-S9a multiplex subsegmentectomy was performed according to the CT simulation. The operative time was 142 min, and the blood loss was 13 mL. Air leakage was not observed and the chest tube was removed on postoperative day (POD) 1. The final diagnosis was a lepidic adenocarcinoma, and he lives well without recurrence in this 4-year period after the surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of small lung nodules has increased in recent years; limited resection and minimally invasive surgery are highly desirable in patients with these lesions. While wedge resection may be curative for small lung nodules, the technique is sometimes difficult to perform when the tumour nodule is near the pulmonary hilum. In such situations, either anatomical segmentectomy or subsegmentectomy can obtain an adequate surgical margin; port-access thoracoscopic surgery is the preferred type of minimally invasive surgery. Three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) simulations are reportedly useful in planning and performing thoracoscopic surgery. We use 3D CT simulation to aid thoracoscopic segmentectomy for small lung nodules and subsegmentectomy for even smaller nodules and conduct here a retrospective evaluation of the clinical results of subsegmentectomy. We present our technique for 3D CT simulation-assisted port-access thoracoscopic subsegmentectomy in the superior segment of the left lower lobe.

With the recent increase in the detection of small-sized lung nodules because of the widespread use of computed tomography (CT), limited resection and minimally invasive surgery are preferred by patients with these lesions. In particular, the detection of nodules that show ground-glass opacity during high-resolution CT has increased. Although lobectomy and lymph node dissection were the standard procedures used for treating lung cancer, limited wedge resection and segmentectomy have become acceptable for treating small-sized lung cancers with nodules showing ground-glass opacity. These limited procedures are widely performed, especially because they can be accomplished thoracoscopically. Furthermore, not only simple segmentectomy but also complex segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy can be performed using three-dimensional (3D)-CT to achieve sufficient resection based on tumor size. There are, however, technical difficulties in thoracoscopic wedge resection and segmentectomy. While it may be curative for small-sized lung nodules, it is sometimes difficult to correctly perform wedge resection when the tumor is not identified intraoperatively. In such cases, we usually perform tumor marking before operating. However, serious complications, such as cerebral air embolism, have been reported. Further, although it can sufficiently resect small-sized lung nodules, segmentectomy is more technically complex than wedge resection. Therefore, we have developed methods to overcome these technical difficulties. By using a hookwire method in a hybrid operating room and 3D-CT simulation for each wedge resection and segmentectomy, we have obtained good outcomes. Limited resection individualized for each patient will continue to evolve with applications such as CT.

Anatomical thoracoscopic segmentectomy is one of the most complicated surgeries. To perform the complex segmentectomy, pre-operative simulation and three-dimensional multi-detector computed tomography (3D-CT) are both essential for safely performing operations and for securing adequate surgical margins. Comprehension of the intersegmental and intrasegmental veins to visualize the segmental border facilitates an easier parenchymal dissection. We describe our method and knack for creating an inflation-deflation line for lung segmentectomy that could especially be useful in thoracoscopic procedures for lung segmentectomy.