Thoracoscopic Bilateral Wedge Resections of the Lung in a Child with Hepatoblastoma

Abstract

We report a 3-year-old boy with hepatoblastoma in whom thoracoscopy was used successfully to perform wedge resections of both lungs at the same time. The boy did well postoperatively, and chemotherapy was restarted on the fifth postoperative day. One-lung ventilation was maintained during the surgery by blocking the main bronchus with a Fogarty catheter. Although an automatic linear stapling device was useful in performing the wedge resections, we stress the importance of developing devices and instruments suitable for endoscopic surgery in children.