Thoracic Key

Figures 24.1 and 24.2 Median sternotomy, VATS. A complete median sternotomy is performed in apnea. Because emphysema patients often do not have any retrosternal fat, there is a high risk…

Figure 9.1 The modern rigid bronchoscope—essentially a straight, hollow stainless steel tube—has not changed much in the past 100 years. It is available in various lengths, and diameters range from…

Figure 11.1 Patient positioning and port distribution for conventional three-port VATS wedge resection. With the patient in the lateral decubitus position, the target area in the lung is placed at…

Figure 12.1 Single-stapler resection aided by a cotton peanut retracting the lung tissue toward the cartridge hinge Figure 12.2 Trapezoidal resection, with the final stapling connecting both ends of the…

Figure 13.1 (a, b) Laser resection of small metastases located at the lung periphery is easy and self-explanatory. Using the diode laser system, the bare fiber is grasped with a…

Figure 8.1 After general endotracheal anesthesia is established, the endotracheal tube usually is placed beyond the tumor under bronchoscopic guidance in all but the most distal tumors. Airway obstruction should…

Figure 10.1 (a, b) The most common type of resection involves the carina and right lung; the reconstruction is perfomed by end-to-end anastomoses between the distal trachea and left main…

Figure 7.1 The patient receives general anesthesia and is intubated with a modified double-lumen endotracheal tube. To facilitate custom resizing of the airway, the tracheal lumen of a double-lumen tube…

Figure 2.1 (a, b) Anterior thoracotomy. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the back toward the edge of the table, with the middle of the table…

Figure 1.1 Standard positioning of the patient for VATS is lateral decubitus with flexion of the torso. The point of flexion should be about two fingers below the tip of…