Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1996 May;61(5):1458-62; discussion 1462-3.
doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(96)00078-1.

Mainstem bronchial sleeve resection with pulmonary preservation

Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Mainstem bronchial sleeve resection with pulmonary preservation

R J Cerfolio et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 1996 May.

Abstract

Background: Resection of a mainstem bronchus with pulmonary preservation is a therapeutic option when disease is limited to the mainstem bronchus. We reviewed our experience with this procedure to determine the operative morbidity, mortality, and long-term outcome.

Methods: From January 1965 through January 1995, 22 patients (13 male, 9 female) underwent circumferential mainstem bronchial sleeve resection without removal of pulmonary parenchyma. Median age was 37 years (range, 12 to 70 years). The right mainstem bronchus was involved in 12 patients and the left, in 10. Nineteen patients (86%) were symptomatic; symptoms included cough in 5, dyspnea in 5, wheeze in 3, hemoptysis in 3, and a combination of these in 3. Conventional tomography was done in 8 patients and identified every lesion. Bronchoscopy was diagnostic in all patients. Resection was for cancer in 15 patients (68%), benign stricture in 5 (23%), and an impacted broncholith in 2 (9%). The cancer was a carcinoid in 9 patients, a mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 3, squamous cell carcinoma in 2, and adenoid cystic carcinoma in 1. Fourteen patients were postsurgically classified as stage IIIA (T3 NO MO) and 1 patient as stage IIIB (T4 N2 M0). The median length of the resected bronchus was 2.0 cm (range, 1.0 to 4.0 cm). Two patients required hilar release maneuvers. The bronchial anastomosis was reinforced with pleura in 10 patients, pericardium in 2, and serratus anterior muscle in 1.

Results: There were no operative deaths. Three patients (14%) had postoperative complications. Follow-up was complete and ranged from 6 months to 25.7 years (median follow-up, 10.2 years). Twenty-one patients are currently alive. All patients are asymptomatic except 1 patient, who required a stent for an anastomotic stricture. No patient has had recurrence of cancer.

Conclusions: In properly selected patients, mainstem bronchial sleeve resection with lung preservation can be performed safely and provides excellent relief of symptoms with good long-term survival.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types