Thoracoscopic resection of the anterior segment of the left upper lobe (S3) is technically challenging because of the intricate hilar structure and multiple intersegmental planes to be dissected. A single-direction approach for S3 segmentectomy is a technique in which surgeons dissect the hilum structures exclusively from the ventral side without dividing the interlobar fissure. Our consecutive case series and a representative surgical video demonstrated the feasibility of this approach in cases where the lingular artery arises from the first branch of the left pulmonary artery (mediastinal lingular artery).
Keywords: mediastinal lingular artery; single-direction approach; thoracoscopic lung segmentectomy; virtual bronchoscopy-assisted lung mapping.