[Technique for vascular management under thoracoscopic surgery].

Vascular injury is the most life-threatening complication under thoracoscopic surgery. To reduce the risk of vascular injury, knowledge of the anatomy of the pulmonary artery, variations in its branching, skillful techniques and careful maneuver are necessary. Pulmonary artery being adherent to bronchus is dangerous to dissect under thoracoscopy, so it is better to convert to open thoracotomy.

[Current condition of early peripheral lung cancer and related problems].

Early peripheral lung cancer is defined as a tumor whose diameter is within 20 mm and that has not metastasized to lymph nodes. We developed thoracoscopic surgery (two windows method) in 1993. We have been conducting this thoracoscopic surgery in early peripheral lung cancers to identify possible indications as well as to clarify problems related to early peripheral lung cancer.