Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy: Centers of Excellence or Excellence of Centers?

Currently, an anatomic lobectomy or segmentectomy and complete mediastinal lymph node dissection can be achieved through two to four small incisions, without rib spreading, using videoscopic visualization. This article discusses the assimilation of this technique, video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy, into the practice of a thoracic surgeon and attempts to answer the question: How do we, as professionals, assure quality (defined as a proper oncologic surgery) and safety while introducing this new technology?