Self-made thoracic needled suspending device with a snare: An excellent aid for uniportal video-assisted thoracic lobectomy and segmentectomy for lung cancer

Safety and feasibility of the self-made thoracic needled suspending device with a snare in the uniportal video-assisted thoracic lobectomy and segmentectomy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer were explored. In total, 80 pulmonary lung major resections (including lobectomy and segmental resections) with systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. In the observation group, the device was used to hang affected lungs, left and right vagus nerve at the level of tracheal bifurcation, the arch of azygos vein, left phrenic nerve and left and right bronchus on the chest wall to offer a better exposure of the operation field. In the control group, the conventional uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed without using the self-made device. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed in both groups. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative extubation time, hospital stay and perioperative complications in the early stage of patients in both groups were compared. The operation time 120.2±40.32 min, intraoperative blood loss 100.51±50.23 ml, and postoperative suction drainage volume 208±97.56 ml/day in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in postoperative extubation time, hospital stay and perioperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). The self-made thoracic needled suspending device with a snare is an excellent helper for uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery, because it helps to expose surgical field and has no postoperative cicatrisation at puncture point on the wall of the chest. The device and its use are worthy of promotion.