Abstract
An improved technique for distinguishing the intersegmental plane of the lung was developed as follows. After the involved bronchus is identified, the lobe is inflated and the segmental bronchus is then tied to maintain gas inside of the segments that will be removed, and thereafter is severed at a point proximal to the tie. When almost done closing the stump, a line will develop between the deflated and the inflated area, which represents the intersegmental plane to be operated on. This technique is therefore completely different from the technique described in textbooks, in which the preserved segment is kept inflated while the resected one is kept deflated. Once the line develops, one can operate just on the line using either electrocautery under adequate tension or staples between the collapsed and inflated segments. The cutting surface is so close to the real intersegmental plane that the amounts of air leak and bleeding are negligible.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shields TW (1983) General thoracic surgery, 2nd edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, pp 326–338
Wells FC, Milstein BB (1990) Thoracic surgical techniques. Bailliere Tindall, London, pp 126–134
Tsubota N, Ayabe K, Doi O, Mori T, Namikawa S, Taki T, Watanabe Y (1998) Ongoing prospective study of segmentectomy for small lung tumors. Ann Thorac Surg 66:1787–1790
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsubota, N. An improved method for distinguishing the intersegmental plane of the lung. Surg Today 30, 963–964 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950070056
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950070056