Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and limitations of thoracoscopic segmentectomy of the basal segment (S10).
Methods
Clinical data of 15 children with congenital lung malformations (CLM) who underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy of S10 via the inferior pulmonary ligament approach from January to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The demographics, clinical presentation, intraoperative time, blood loss, postoperative events, and follow-up duration were assessed.
Results
There were 15 patients in this group (nine males and six females). Age ranges from 4.3 to 96.0 months (median, 7.7 months). Fourteen patients underwent S10 segmentectomy, with one undergoing right S10 segmentectomy and right S6 partial wedge resection. The surgical time was 57–125 min (median, 80 min), intraoperative bleeding volume (5–20 ml; median, 10 ml), postoperative drainage tube indwelling (2–4 d; median, 3 d), and postoperative hospitalization time (4–7 d; median, 5 d). No intraoperative conversions, surgical mortalities, or major complications were observed among these patients. Subcutaneous emphysema appeared in three patients; however, it disappeared following conservative observation without pneumothorax or bronchopleural fistula occurrence.
Conclusions
Thoracoscopic segmentectomy of S10 via the inferior pulmonary ligament approach is technically feasible for treating CLM; however, this surgical approach may have certain limitations for CLM with large cysts.