Total thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer

Abstract

Our standard procedure for clinical stage I lung cancer is a total thoracoscopic lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection (ND2a) through one window and two ports. To maintain a good operative field, we usually make it a rule to perform adequate retraction with three surgical instruments, two for the 1^st assistant and one for the 2^nd, inserted beside the thoracoscope.