Figure 2.

Procedures of station 2R, 4L, 4R lymph node dissection in single-port approach. (A) Opening the mediastinal pleura in the triangular region delineated by the azygos vein arch, superior vena cava, and vagal nerve; (B) lifting the azygos vein arch to expose the inferior paratracheal lymph nodes; (C) retracting the lymph node superiorly and dissecting; (D) mobilizing the structures in the aortopulmonary window space; (E) lifting the mediastinal pleura to ensure sufficient exposure of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve and enabling lower paratracheal lymphadenectomy; (F) dissecting the lymph nodes and surrounding fat between the aortic arch and pulmonary artery trunk; (G) retracting the pulmonary artery and pericardium anteriorly to open the posterior mediastinal pleura; (H) retracting the esophagus posteriorly to expose the left subcarinal lymph node; (I) dissecting the subcarinal lymph nodes.