Figure 2.

Right upper lobectomy (6). Single port was made in the 5th intercostal space about 4 cm. Wedge resection was first performed, which confirmed the malignant lesion; the right upper lobe was gripped and tucked dorsally; the front of the right hilus was exposed, and the pleura were peeled with the electrocoagulation hook; the right superior pulmonary vein was dissected and transected by a stapler; the apico-anterior arterial trunk was dissected and transected by a stapler; after that, the posterior ascending artery was ligated with silk thread and transected by harmonic scalpel; the next step was to dissect and transect the right upper bronchus; at last, the pulmonary fissures were completed by stapler; the specimen was then retrieved via a self-made protective bag using a rubber gloves; systemic mediastinal lymph node dissection was following. We stuck to the non-grasping and en bloc strategies. Firstly, stations 2 and 4 LNs were dissected; station 3 LNs were dissected; the inferior pulmonary ligament was transected and the station 9 LNs were simultaneously harvested if there was any; the last step was to dissect the subcarinal station 7 LNs; bronchial arteries across the subcarinal area were clipped by hem-o-lock and cut by the harmonic scalpel. Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/277