Application of pulmonary venoplasty in the surgical treatment of lung cancer.

Presented in this study were three cases of lung cancer undergoing pulmonary venoplasty. In the 3 patients with central type of carcinoma of lung involving pulmonary vein, the main branch of right superior pulmonary vein and the distal end of the superior-lobe vein were occluded. The root part of the vein of right-middle lobe, plus part of vessel of of right superior vein was resected. The right superior vein was reconstructed by continuous 6-0 Prolene sutures. After the operation, the reconstructed was patent and the surgical margin was tumor-free. Postoperatively, clinical manifestations and plain chest films did not show any signs of venous blockade. The patients were discharged healed 3 weeks after the operation. The technical details of the surgery were presented, the improvements on the basis of traditional methods were discussed and its clinical application was evaluated. It is concluded that pulmonary venoplasty is a safe and feasible operation. Further improvement of the surgery will help conserve more lung tissue and benefit more patients because of expanded indications.