Handling benign interlobar lymphadenopathy during thoracoscopic lobectomy

The presence of calcified or inflammatory lymph nodes between the target bronchus and pulmonary artery is a huge challenge when performing thoracoscopic lobectomy as it may frequently result in tearing of the vessel, and massive bleeding. Herein, we describe a simple strategy in which thoracoscopic lobectomy was safely completed in similar cases. After fissure dissection, the target pulmonary artery was exposed by more than two-thirds of its circumference. A needle was passed across the nodes and the target vessel was closed with a proximal and distal suture. After dissection of lymphadenopathies, the target bronchus was exposed, and stapled. This strategy was applied with success to complete right lower lobectomies for cancer in three patients. No complications occurred during the operation. Only one patient had persistent air leaks that spontaneously ceased 11 days later. Final pathology showed pN0 disease in all cases.