A novel and simple Inflation-deflation method with inflated targeted segments for confirming the intersegmental border under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a technical note

Abstract With the increase in the diagnosis rate of small pulmonary nodules, the segmentectomy has been increasingly used in clinical practice worldwide. However, for the segmentectomy, the confirmation of intersegmental plane has always puzzled many thoracic surgeons. This paper described a new method, named artery-based Inflation-deflation method, used to confirm the intersegmental border under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. After only dividing the targeted segment artery and preserving the targeted segmental veins and bronchi, the intersegmental plane was successfully generated by this novel Inflation-deflation method. Compared with other current methods, this new technique had some advantages including the smaller airway damage, easier to determine the intersegmental plane, the higher fault-tolerant rate and easy to operate without any additional devices. And a further clinical study should be carried out to verify the feasibility and applicability of this new technique.