Radical resection of right upper lung cancer using uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery with non-intubated anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Presently, the clinical effect of radical video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is equal to that of traditional open chest surgery and has received worldwide recognition of its advantages: less trauma and faster recovery. In the attempt to further the advancement of minimally invasive surgery the operative techniques of uniportal VATS and non-intubated anesthesia have been developed. These techniques have been widely applied in hospitals around the world, however there are few reports on the combined use of these techniques: non-intubated uniportal VATS.

METHODS: We report a case of peripheral lung cancer in the right-upper-lobe for which a non-intubated uniportal VATS resection was performed. This method was chosen as a result of the small size of the lesion and the placement in the right upper lobe.

RESULTS: The postoperative course of this patient was good. Pathological results indicated infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe; there was no metastasis in hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes. Pathology results of the stump of the bronchus and vessels were also negative.

CONCLUSIONS: Uniportal VATS with non-intubated anesthesia was a feasible and safe option for this patient, and may be an alternative minimally invasive option for patients with peripheral lung cancer.