title: Total port-access lobectomy via a subcostal trans-diaphragmatic approach for lung cancer.
abstract: Video-assisted thoracic surgery has been recognized as an acceptable technique for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer, with the potential advantage of lower postoperative pain than that experienced after open thoracotomy. However, the procedure cannot completely alleviate postoperative pain and paraesthesia and causes some degree of intercostal nerve damage. To minimize postoperative pain in video-assisted thoracic surgery, several new approaches have recently been reported. We describe the case of a 51-year old woman who successfully underwent total port-access, video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for Stage IA lung cancer via the subcostal trans-diaphragmatic approach. Our results demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this procedure, which offers the advantages of minimizing intercostal nerve damage and facilitating better handling of staplers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. odamak@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waseda
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000293:injuries; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome