The history of lobectomy and segmentectomy including sleeve resection.

The evolution of pulmonary lobectomy during the past six centuries is presented. The anesthetic problems of an open thorax, the absence of antibiotics, and the absence of radiology initially complicated thoracic surgery. Surgical pioneers differed strongly on the best techniques for lobectomy. Concurrence in their opinions evolved by the formation of a specialty group, meetings, and journals. The recent techniques of segmentectomy and sleeve resection provide further refinement of pulmonary resections.