Robotic-assisted left upper lobectomy: facing the challenge head-on

Abstract

Left upper lobectomy is the most challenging pulmonary lobar resection for thoracic surgeons. The anatomy of the pulmonary artery and its relation to other hilar structures put it at risk of injury, more so than during any other lobectomy. It is, therefore, not surprising that multiple techniques for resection of the left upper lobe have been developed, via both open and minimally invasive approaches. Different techniques call for a specific order in which the hilar structures should be divided, all aiming to accomplish the same thing: a safe, efficient and oncologically optimal removal of the left upper lobe and its associated lymph nodes.