[Surgical treatment of bilateral thoracotomy in patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the outcome for surgical treatment of bilateral thoracotomy in patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina by bilateral thoracotomy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 4 patients with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina undergoing bilateral thoracotomy were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

There were two male and two female patients with a median age of 37.5 (range: 27 - 55) years old. Four patients were all accessed by bilateral thoracotomy, and received carinal reconstruction. Of these 4 patients, three patients received left pneumonectomy and one patient received carinal resection without concomitant pulmonary resection. Pathological results showed that one patient had tuberculosis. And other three patients were of 1 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 adenoid cystic carcinomas. Three patients received mechanical ventilation for a period of 3 - 21 days. one patient died of anastomotic dehiscence at 5 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral thoracotomy is an alternative approach for relatively young patients with decent cardiopulmonary functions with lesions of left main bronchus invading carina. Operation type should be based on histopathological type and length of involved left main bronchus.