Uniportal complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy with partial pulmonary arterioplasty for lung cancer with calcified lymph node

In the very recent several years, more and more complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (cVATS) surgeons are capable of performing lobectomy by uniportal approach. Growing evidence suggest it is technically feasible and safe with immediate outcomes comparable to traditional approach following a transition period of stepwise instruction (1). However, concerns regarding the safety of uniportal procedures for complex cases still remains (1). Whether extension of indications to uniportal cVATS approach will compromise the short-term results and increase the conversion rate (1)? With the recent developments in VATS technology and acquired experience, incompleteness of interlobar fissures, pleural adhesions, preoperative chemotherapy, big size of lesion, and some cases of centrally located tumors are not supposed to be the contraindications for uniportal lobectomy for experienced and skilled VATS surgeons (2). In contrast, peribronchial and perivascular lymph node calcification may complicate and even preclude cVATS lobectomy (3,4). Here we present a uniportal cVATS left upper lobe (LUL) lobectomy with partial pulmonary arterioplasty for lung cancer with calcified lymph node