Triple reconstruction of pulmonary artery, superior vena cava and bronchus for lung cancer

Abstract

We report on a case of a complete resection for bronchogenic carcinoma necessitating right upper sleeve lobectomy with prosthetic replacement of right pulmonary artery (PA) and superior vena cava (SVC). A 74-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma had a tumor which extended to the right main bronchus, right PA and SVC. After reconstruction of the SVC with a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft between the left brachiocephalic vein (BCV) and right atrial auricle, the tumor was completely resected en bloc. Bronchial anastomosis followed by the prosthetic reconstructions of PA and SVC between the right BCV and the origin of SVC were performed. Pathological staging was t4n2m0 (stage IIIB). The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient discharged from the hospital on the 29th postoperative day. He has been doing well without recurrence and keeping a good graft patency for more than 3 years.