Thoracoscopic left mediastinal lymph node dissection.

In Japan, the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary lung cancer is increasing. However, it is not easy to perform mediastinal lymph node dissection using VATS as effectively as it is performed using thoracotomy. Herein, I have presented two techniques for subcarinal lymph node dissection from the left thoracic cavity: one involves the retraction of the lower bronchus towards the visceral and cranial side before inferior pulmonary vein resection to secure the view of the right lower portion. The other involves the separation of lymph nodes from the right main bronchus before separation from the left bronchus, to prevent the lymph nodes from falling down and interrupting the right-side view. Moreover, I have also described a technique that facilitates left upper mediastinal lymph node dissection. It involves traction of a thoracic cardiac branch from the recurrent laryngeal nerve allowing visualization of the bottom of the #4L lymph node, so that it can be dissected easily. There has been no observation of recurrent nerve paralysis using this procedure.