Sleeve resection of the bronchus and pulmonary artery for pulmonary lesions.

The tissue preserving resections for non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma were grouped into 3 main categories: I. bronchoplastic procedures, II. angioplastic procedures, and III. concomitant bronchoplastic and angioplastic procedures, and into the subgroups of standard and extended sleeve resections. The indications were: elderly patients, impaired respiratory reserve, limited tumor growth, and palliative surgery. The analysis of 229 cases yielded follow-up data in 192 cases. The estimated 5-year survival rates were 34% in category I, 19% in II, and 14% in III. The decreasing survival is due to greater tumor burden. The operative mortality rate was 8.9% in category I, and 17% in category III, and therefore comparable with standard or extended pneumonectomy respectively. Surgical techniques and postoperative complications are discussed.