[Combined thoracoscopic and open chest approach of lobectomy with inferior chest wall resection for advanced lung cancer].

Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer invading a chest wall are surgical candidates if complete resection is possible. When a primary tumor locating the lower lobe invades an inferior chest wall, either a wide skin incision or double skin incisions to secure surgical views both for dissection of hilum and mediastinum and for inferior chest wall resection is necessary. Wider incision causes higher rate of wound necrosis and infection. We describe a combined approach of thoracoscopic and open chest surgery for lobectomy and inferior chest wall resection, respectively. Patient was a 68-year-old man with an advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Video-assisted thoracoscopic middle and lower lobectomies and mediastinal nodal dissection was completed via 5 ports. Chest wall resection including the posterior portion of the 9th and 10th ribs and the transverse process followed inferior postero-lateral thoracotomy. Postoperative course was uneventful. The present surgical approach can avoid a wide thoracotomy for an advanced lung cancer invading an inferior chest wall.