Simulation of the Fissureless Technique for Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy Using Rapid Prototyping

• Published in: Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 84 - 86
• Main Authors: Akiba, Tadashi, Nakada, Takeo, Inagaki, Takuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Anatomic Landmarks; Computer Simulation; Female; fissureless technique; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Models, Anatomic; New Methods; Pneumonectomy - methods; Printing, Three-Dimensional; pulmonary segmentectomy; rapid prototyping technique; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - methods; thoracoscopic surgery; Thoracoscopy - methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1341-1098; 2186-1005
• DOI: 10.5761/atcs.nm.13-00322

The fissureless lobectomy or anterior fissureless technique is a novel surgical technique, which avoids dissection of the lung parenchyma over the pulmonary artery during lobectomy by open thoracotomy approach or direct vision thoracoscopic surgery. This technique is indicated for fused lobes. We present two cases where thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy was performed using the fissureless technique simulated by three-dimensional (3D) pulmonary models. The 3D model and rapid prototyping provided an accurate anatomical understanding of the operative field in both cases. We believe that the construction of these models is useful for thoracoscopic and other complicated surgeries of the chest.