A tip for controlling the main pulmonary artery during video-assisted thoracic major pulmonary resection: the outside-field vascular clamping technique

Abstract

Cross-clamping the main pulmonary artery (PA) is a risky, stressful procedure for the general thoracic surgeon performing video-assisted thoracic major pulmonary resection (VATS). However, converting VATS to thoracotomy each time PA clamping is planned is a poor tactic. We present a simpler technique for VATS than the traditional method involving a thoracotomy. In VATS, DeBakey vascular clamps with double angle jaws are inserted through 1-cm access incisions. We clamped the main PA so as to maintain the limited visual field through the working port. Thus, we modified the position of these vascular clamps, which we call 'the outside-field vascular clamping technique'. Our technique should be used for VATS lobectomy to prevent conversion to open thoracotomy when one requires scheduled control of the PA during VATS.