Minimally Invasive Right Pulmonary Resections Techniques

Over the past years, minimally invasive thoracic surgery has become standard in many centers for patients affected by early-stage non-small cell lung cancer with survival outcomes comparable to traditional thoracotomy at 3 and 5 years. Minimally invasive thoracic surgery includes Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) and Robotic Assisted Surgery (RATS) (Fig. 1). The best approach and technique is still debated between surgeons, while there is agreement in its benefits. Compared to open techniques, VATS lobectomy reduces incidence of post-operative complications as atrial fibrillation, atelectasis, pneumonia, prolonged air leak and renal failure, it induce less immune response and cause less postoperative pain, allows faster rehabilitation, faster recovery and outcomes, particularly when experienced surgeon performs the operation. Thoracoscopic techniques may be virtually applied to all pulmonary resections providing that a complete resection and recostruction can be achived. The techniques for video-assisted right lung resection will be discuss in this chapter.