Surgical Anatomy of the Lungs

Abstract

Anatomical lung resections are specialized procedures that require a good knowledge of anatomy and high surgical experience. Individual isolation and dissection of hilar structures, including pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, and bronchus, are the basic steps of anatomic lung resection. Today, lobectomy is still the gold standard treatment method in many lung pathologies, especially in early-stage lung cancer. In-depth knowledge of anatomy, including variations, is required to perform this surgical procedure safely and successfully, which has a relatively high risk of intraoperative complications. Technological developments and the spread of minimally invasive surgery paved the way for the recording of procedures and their use for educational purposes and that ushered in a new era in surgical education. These developments in video-assisted surgery, which is an excellent advantage for patient comfort and education, have made the digital exploration of the surgeon impossible and increased the importance of theoretical anatomy knowledge even more. This chapter will discuss the lobar distribution of the lung, tracheobronchial airway, vascular structures, and their variations.