Experiences of novel cotton device for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: CS Two-Way Handle(TM)

In Japan, cotton is commonly used in thoracic surgery for the gentle handling of organs as well as obtaining a good surgical field. While uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is being recognized as a major surgical approach, use of cotton is not noted in this technique. Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery needs curved instruments because they are effective in preventing the interference of instruments. Thus, we developed a novel curved cotton instrument, known as the “CS Two-Way Handle(TM)”, for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The CS Two-Way Handle(TM) can be used not only as a cotton bar but also as a suction aid. Moreover, surgical smoke can be suctioned with the insertion of cotton. This instrument was introduced in our institution in September 2019, along with some other prototypes. When anatomical lung resection using uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was first introduced, there were some instances of conversion to conventional multiportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. However, after the CS Two-Way Handle(TM) introduction, the procedure has become easy to perform and the need for conversion to conventional methods has reduced. The main uses of the CS Two-Way Handle(TM) are: (I) exposure of the surgical view, (II) lymph node dissection, (III) bleeding control, (IV) suction, and (V) evacuation of surgical smoke. We present our experiences using the CS Two-Way Handle(TM) in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.