Initial experience in uniportal subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for major lung resections

There is a rediscovered interest in use of a subxiphoid incision to perform lung surgery. This work follows a review of 105 lobectomies published in March 2016 in the Journal of Thoracic Disease from the same institution, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital.
Although technical limitations exist when compared with transthoracic VATS and despite patient selction being more restrictive than for traditional surgery, the authors demonstrate the feasibility of anatomical lung resection for benign or malignant disease through the subxyphoid port. The conversion rate is acceptable (5.2%) and no post operative mortality in 153 cases (lobectomies and segmental resections) was observed. One of the main outcomes considered is post operative pain.