Accurate identification of intersegmental plane is one of the key steps of segmentectomy. Identification of intersegmental plane is usually based on differences in ventilation or circulation between the targeted segment and the reserved segment. In recent years, many methods of showing the intersegmental plane after blocking pulmonary circulation have emerged, and these methods have simplified segmentectomy and shortened the operation time. In this paper, we reviewed the related methods of blocking pulmonary circulation to identify the intersegmental plane.
ObjectiveTo introduce a new method for identifying intersegmental planes during thoracoscopic segmentectomy using pulmonary circulation single-blocking in the target segment. MethodsTo retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 83 patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy from January 2019 to March 2020 using the pulmonary circulation single-blocking method. There were 33 males and 50 females, with a median age of 54 (46-65) years, and they were divided into a single vein group (SVG, n=31) and a single artery group (SAG, n=52), and the clinical data of two groups were compared. ResultsThe intersegmental planes were identified successfully in both groups and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of intersegmental plane management (P=0.823), operating time (P=0.786), intraoperative blood loss (P=0.775), chest drainage time (P=0.659), postoperative hospital stay (P=0.824) or the incidence of postoperative complications (P=1.000). ConclusionThe use of pulmonary circulation single-blocking for intersegmental plane identification during thoracoscopic segmentectomy is safe and feasible, and the intersegmental plane can be satisfactorily identified by the single-blocking of arteries or veins.