Thoracoscopic Lateral Basal Segmentectomy Based on Dissection Along the Intersegmental Veins.

In the conventional method of lateral basal (S9) segmentectomy, the intersegmental plane is first divided between the superior segment and the anterior segment, then the S9 segment is removed from the other basilar segments. We show here our modified method of thoracoscopic S9 segmentectomy based on dissection along the intersegmental veins. Our technique is unique in that we do not divide the intersegmental plane between the superior segment and the anterior segment. The merits are that it avoids additional parenchymal splitting from the superior segment and that it may be used when an incomplete interlobar fissure is present.