Three-dimensional (3D) guided robotic-assisted thoracic surgery is increasingly recognized as a leading technique for undertaking the most complex pulmonary resections, providing high-definition 3D visualization, advanced instrument control and tremor-free tissue handling. Compared with open thoracotomy, the robotic platform offers reduced peri-operative complications, shorter hospital stays and faster patient recovery. Nevertheless, sublobar resections, such as segmentectomies, remain both anatomically intricate and technically challenging, particularly when resecting multiple segments, as in this left S1 and S2 segmentectomy. Incorporating 3D reconstruction imaging facilitates comprehensive pre-operative evaluation of bronchovascular anatomy, enabling tailored operative planning and therefore more precise dissection. Despite these benefits, the consistent use of 3D virtual modelling in thoracic surgery is still limited and underrepresented within the current literature. This video tutorial constitutes the fifth entry in the "Segmentectomies Made Easy" atlas and showcases a robotic left S1 and S2 segmentectomy performed for a primary pulmonary lesion in the S2 segment. Pre-operative 3D imaging identified key anatomical variances that directly informed the surgical approach. The tutorial delivers a structured, step-by-step overview of the operation, from port placement through to vascular division and complex anatomical delineation, highlighting the ways in which 3D visualization augments surgical precision, enhances intra-operative decision-making and contributes to optimized robotic-assisted thoracic surgery outcomes.
Abdelmajeed et al. (Mon,) studied this question.