Abstract: Objective To investigate the feasibility of videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) ronchial sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer, and to describe this treatment method. Methods Between December 2010 and April 2011, three patients in our hospital underwent VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy as treatment for right upper lobe nonsmall cell lung cancer. The patients were one female and two males, aged 61, 65, and 62 years. Surgical incisions were the same as for singledirection VATS right upper lobectomy. The right superior pulmonary vein was firstly transected, followed by the first branch of the pulmonary artery. Then, the lung fissure was transected and the mediastinal lymph nodes, including the subcarinal nodes, were also dissected to achieve sufficient exposure of the right main bronchus. The bronchus was transected via the utility incision, and the anastomosis was accomplished by continuous suture with 30 Prolene stitches. Another 0.5 cm port in the 7th intercostal space at the posterior axillary line was added in the third operation for handling of a pair of forceps to help hold the needle during anastomosis. A sealing test was performed to confirm that there was no leakage after completion of the anastomosis, and the stoma was covered with biological material. Bronchoscopy was performed to clear airway secretions and to confirm that there was no stenosis on postoperative day (POD) 1. Results The lobectomy and lymph node dissection was finished in 5158 minutes (averaging 54.7), and the time needed foranastomosis was 4055 minutes (averaging 45.7). Total blood loss was 55230 ml (averaging 155.0 ml). Number of dissected lymph nodes was 1821 (averaging 19.3). One patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the right upper lobe with metastatic hilar lymph node invasive to the right upper lobar bronchus. The other two patients were both diagnosed with centrally located squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper lobe, and all the patients achieved microscopically negative margins. There was no stenosis of the anastomosis stoma, and the postoperative course was uneventful. These patients were discharged on POD 810 (averaging 8.7 days), and they recovered well during the followup period, which lasted 2 to 6 months. [WTHZ]Conclusion [WTBZ]For experienced skillful thoracoscopic surgeons, VATS bronchial sleeve lobectomy is safe and feasible. Making the incisions of a singledirection VATS lobectomy with an additional miniport may be an ideal approach for this procedure.

Citation： LIU Lunxu,MEI Jiandong,PU Qiang,et al .. Videoassisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Bronchial Sleeve Lobectomy for Lung Cancer: Report of Preliminary Experience. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2011, 18(5): 387-389. doi: Copy