Division of the intersegmental demarcation using the “modified hand‐tearing method” is safe and feasible in thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy

BACKGROUND: The accurate and safe division of the intersegmental demarcation (ISD) is critical and challenging during thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy. Here, we provide an improved technique which emphasizes the application of an electric hook and blunt division of ISD. The technique is termed as the “modified hand‐tearing method” (MHT method) with combined application of an electric hook and staplers. The study aimed to review the outcomes of patients who underwent thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy, with or without the MHT method in our institute and assess its feasibility and safety. In addition, we compared the feasibility between video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) using the MHT method. METHODS: From 2018 July to 2021 June, we retrospectively analyzed 701 patients who underwent segmentectomy. Using propensity score matching, data of two well‐matched pairs of 276 cases in the MHT method and non‐MHT method groups, and two well‐matched pairs of 40 cases in the VATS and RATS subgroups were obtained. The clinical and perioperative characteristics of patients were compared between groups. RESULTS: Compared with the non‐MHT method group, the MHT method group had shorter operation time and shorter postoperative hospital stay. Period of chest tube drainage and postoperative total drainage and postoperative complications had no between‐group difference. Compared with VATS, the RATS subgroup had less intraoperative bleeding and shorter postoperative hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Division of ISD using the MHT method has advantages in precision and ease of operation, so it has the potential to become a feasible and effective method for thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy.