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Development of a novel lung-stabilizing device for VATS procedures

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Abstract

Background

The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has substantially increased in recent years. These procedures involve the insertion of specialized devices into the thoracic cavity via access ports. However, conventional devices such as cotton-tipped applicators and graspers can limit the field of view and injure the fragile lung tissue. The aim of this study was to develop a novel lung-stabilizing device for VATS that provides a good surgical field of view without causing lung injury.

Methods

We developed a novel suction-based lung-stabilizing device equipped with three hemispheric 20-mm-diameter silicon suction cups. The utility and safety of the novel device were evaluated using a resected pig lung and canine models. In order to assess potential organ damage arising from the use of the novel device, canine lung parenchyma and pleura were macroscopically and microscopically examined after the device had been continuously applied under negative pressure conditions of −400 or −540 mmHg for 1 h.

Results

To assess the utility of the novel device, we performed lobectomies in the resected pig lung and VATS in canine models. The device demonstrated sufficient power to stabilize the lungs and provided a clear field of view during surgery, which enabled us to perform VATS lobectomies more easily than conventional stabilizing forceps. Assessment of the dogs’ lungs immediately after detaching the suction-based device revealed no complications such as hemorrhage, air leaks, and bullae formation. Pathological examination after 7 days also showed no substantial damage, except for a small impression in the parenchyma and pleura of the surface layer where the device had contacted the lung tissue.

Conclusions

Although further validation studies in clinical settings are required, our study indicates that the novel lung-stabilizing device has potentially useful applications in VATS procedures.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation to Messrs. Fumikazu Watanabe and Akihiro Asai of Fuji Systems Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) for supplying us with the device prototype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioartificial Organs, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Yusuke Muranishi, Yojiro Yutaka, Yasuto Sakaguchi, Teruya Komatsu & Tatsuo Nakamura

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Yusuke Muranishi, Toshihiko Sato, Yojiro Yutaka, Yasuto Sakaguchi, Teruya Komatsu & Hiroshi Date

  3. Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Akihiko Yoshizawa & Masahiro Hirata

Authors
  1. Yusuke Muranishi
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  2. Toshihiko Sato
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  3. Yojiro Yutaka
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  4. Yasuto Sakaguchi
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  5. Teruya Komatsu
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  6. Akihiko Yoshizawa
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  7. Masahiro Hirata
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  8. Tatsuo Nakamura
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  9. Hiroshi Date
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshihiko Sato.

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Disclosures

The funding source had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, or the decision to publish. This work was supported by Fuji Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

The video shows that the novel device had sufficient power to stabilize and lift up the isolated porcine lung at -400 mmHg. (WMV 43935 KB)

The unmodified OVALEADTM device tended to become detached from the lung due to the softness of the tissue and the limited insert angle during VATS. The video shows the use of the novel device to perform VATS lower lobectomy in a canine model. The device demonstrated sufficient power to stabilize the lung, and allowed a clear and unobstructed view to be obtained. (WMV 12763 KB)

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Muranishi, Y., Sato, T., Yutaka, Y. et al. Development of a novel lung-stabilizing device for VATS procedures. Surg Endosc 31, 4260–4267 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5440-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5440-1

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