title: Novel retractor for lymph node dissection by video-assisted thoracic surgery.
abstract: In nonrandomized studies, the video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) lobectomy seems to be a safe and effective procedure for treatment of lung cancer. However, there are some difficulties in VATS complete mediastinal lymph node dissection. The presence of the lymph node deep in the mediastinal space necessitates retraction of the surrounding organs. Therefore, we developed a retractor to create enough working space during the VATS procedure. To dissect lymph nodes, we use endoscopic bipolar forceps. These instruments are connected to a special electrosurgical generator to apply bipolar soft coagulation, which enables simultaneous dissection and sealing. Thus, "en bloc" lymph node dissection can be performed during the VATS procedure.
authors: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. tcvysato@jichi.ac.jp
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Sato
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Tezuka
authors: Yoshihiko
authors: Y
authors: Kanai
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Otani
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Tetsuka
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Sohara
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted