Bilateral staged uniportal VATS for synchronous lung cancers

Abstract

We report a case of bilateral staged uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) pulmonary resections for synchronous early stage squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with limited respiratory reserve. Wide wedge resections and lymph nodes sampling were performed. Postoperative respiratory function and pain scores were unaffected by the bilateral operations. Uniportal VATS proved to be a feasible alternative to more traditional procedures (three portal VATS or minithoracotomy) in case lesser resections are required for compromised respiratory function and may contribute to increase operability in high-risk patients. © 2006 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.