Palliation of left main bronchus compression due to malignant tumor by intubation via a tracheostomy tube.

Intubation of the left main bronchus via a tracheostomy tube was performed in a patient with local recurrence of lung cancer associated with invasion and obstruction of the left main bronchus after right sleeve pneumonectomy. The result was satisfactory not only for preventing asphyxia, but also for maintaining the patency of the airway after extubation of the endotracheal tube.