The 20th Anniversary VATS Lobectomy Conference was held in Edinburgh on November 1-3, 2012. Main Objective of the meeting was to reach a consensus pertaining to conceptual and technical aspects of Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Resection. The process was based on the level of current evidence in each conflicting point, using Delphi Methodology. Topics covered included: How did the experts start VATS lobectomy in the first place? – an interview conducted by Joel Dunning; Techniques on VATS lobectomy, focusing on Cedars Sinai technique, Copenhagen technique, Edinburgh technique, and Duke technique; Exploring technical tips and tricks on anterior approach, posterior approach, and nodal clearance. A Consensus Statement was generated on the following critical points: Eligibility for VATS lobectomy, Preoperative workup, Lymph node management, etc. At the meeting, the initial results of the Cross-sectional Survey on Lobectomy Approach (X-sola) Study (more than 800 thoracic surgeons participated in this study) were also presented.
Sponsored by Covidien, the first “ACS & Covidien VATS Lobectomy Video Contest” in China received an overwhelming response. Thirty-seven minimally invasive thoracic surgeons participated in this event and the best four video demonstrations (videos 1-4) were selected to present at the Edinburg meeting. Dr Yun Li, MD, PhD, from Peking University People’s Hospital demonstrated his techniques on right upper sleeve lobectomy and received first prize (Figure 1 and 2a). The other three finalists presented at the conference include: Dr Nan Wu, MD, PhD, from Beijing Cancer Hospital (figure 2b); Dr Zhidong Liu, MD, PhD, from Beijing Chest Hospital (figure 2c); and Dr Yucheng Wei, MD, PhD, from Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University (figure 2d).
Figure 1 Dr Yun Li (center), winner of “ACS & Covidien VATS Lobectomy Video Contest”, with Dr Henrick Hensen (left) and Dr William Walker (right)
Figure 2. The four finalists: (a) Dr Yun Li, (b) Dr Nan Wu, (c) Dr Zhidong Liu and (d) Dr Weicheng Yu, demonstrating their VATS lobectomy surgery at the 20th Anniversary VATS Lobectomy Conference.
Video 1. VATS Right upper sleeve lobectomy by Dr Yun Li, MD, PhD. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University, People's hospital, Beijing, China
Video 2. VATS left lower lobectomy by Dr Nan Wu, MD, PhD. Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Thoracic Surgery, Oncology School of Peking University, Beijing Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China.
Video 3. VATS right upper lobectomy by Dr Zhidong Liu, MD, PhD. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Video 4. VATS left upper lobectomy by Dr Yucheng Wei, MD, PhD. Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.