Intrapulmonary sequestration operated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy; report of a case

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation of the respiratory tract. We here report an adult case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with aberrant artery of the right lower lobe. A 20-year-old man admitted to our hospital with a chest discomfort. Chest computed tomography (CT), angiography, and scintigraphy showed abnormal findings of the right lower lobe with an aberrant artery. Under the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy was performed. VATS is useful for the operation of pulmonary sequestration.     

Colonisation with Aspergillus of an intralobar pulmonary sequestration.

Pulmonary sequestration is a term used to describe an area of embryonic lung tissue supplied by an anomalous systemic artery. Two forms are recognised-extralobar and intralobar-with different clinical presentations. A patient is reported with intralobar pulmonary sequestration in the left lung and colonisation with Aspergillus which was successfully treated by lower lobectomy.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in the treatment of intralobar pulmonary sequestration

Pulmonary sequestration is a congenital malformation characterised by cystic, non-functioning embryonic lung tissue with vascularisation of an abnormal systemic artery. They are classified as intralobar (75%) and extralobar (25%) and are more common in the left lung and lower lobes (60-90%). We report two cases of intralobar pulmonary sequestration located in the lower lobe of the left lung which were subjected to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Both patients had recurrent infections for which, after performing imaging tests, they were diagnosed with intralobar pulmonary sequestration in the left lower lobe, with an afferent arterial branch to the malformation from the aorta. A lower lobectomy was performed by video-assisted surgery, dividing the aberrant aortic artery with an endostapler. A single thoracic chest tube was placed and removed on postoperative day 2 and the patients were discharged on the same day. In both cases, the pathology examination revealed intralobar pulmonary sequestration. Pulmonary sequestrations are uncommon malformations that can be operated on using minimally invasive techniques, thereby permitting early discharge and a low rate of complications.     

A video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy for a lung tumour with a rare anomalous pulmonary artery

A detailed knowledge of anomalies of the anatomical course of the pulmonary vessels is extremely important for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Inadvertent vascular ligation and dissection are catastrophic for patients undergoing lobectomy. We describe a case with a rare anomaly of the left pulmonary artery and highlight the importance of identifying the courses of pulmonary vessels for VATS lobectomy.     

Utility of preoperative visualization for intrapulmonary sequestration in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

We herein report the case of a 59-year-old male suffering from severe cough. The patient had previously experienced several episodes of pneumonia beginning in childhood. A three dimensional multidetector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) scan revealed pulmonary sequestration with a left gastric artery blood supply, and clearly revealed the other pulmonary vessels. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, in which the anomalous tissue was resected safely. Preoperative visualization of the vessels may be helpful for the safe treatment of a pulmonary sequestration, and the VATS approach is a suitable operation under corrective surgical planning.     

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to normal basal segment of the left lower lobe; report of a case

A 28-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of hemoptysis. A chest X-ray revealed an increase of vascular marking in the left lower field and a partial defect in the lateral line of the descending thoracic aorta. An aortogram and pulmonary arteriogram showed a large artery arising from the descending thoracic aorta and supplying the left basal segment, which had no normal pulmonary arteries. A bronchoscopy showed no abnormal findings in the bronchial tree. A clinical diagnosis of systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the left lower lung was made, and a left lower lobectomy and closure of the anomalous systemic artery by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were successfully performed. Vascular marking of the visceral pleura of left lower basal segment was observed and the anomalous arterial pressure was 84 mmHg, as high as systemic arterial pressure, during the procedure. The histopathological examination revealed normal alveolar structure, and sclerosis and hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries of the lesion (Heath-Edwards V, which means irreversible vascular changes due to pulmonary hypertension). The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 8. The VATS procedure is a more useful and less invasive method for cases of systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the left lower lung than an open thoracotomy.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants

Objective: Congenital lung malformations are often discovered on routine prenatal sonography or postnatal imaging. Lesions such as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation or pulmonary sequestration may be asymptomatic at birth, and their management is controversial. Thoracoscopy in children has been mainly used for lung biopsy and for the treatment of empyema and recurrent pneumothorax. Very few reports of more technically demanding procedures, such as lobectomy, are currently available. This report evaluates the safety and efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy in infants and small children with asymptomatic prenatally diagnosed lung lesions. Methods: During 2004, six patients underwent VATS lobectomy without a mini-thoracotomy. Mean age was 10 months (range, 6–19 months). Preoperative diagnosis included congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (n = 5) and an extralobar pulmonary sequestration. All patients were asymptomatic and surgery was performed electively. Three or four 3–5 mm ports were used. Single lung ventilation and controlled low pressure pneumothorax were used in every case. A bipolar sealing device was the preferred mode of vessel ligation and bronchi were closed with interrupted sutures. A chest tube was left in all cases. Results: All the procedures were completed thoracoscopically. Operating times ranged from 70 to 215 min (mean, 130 min). There were five lower lobe and one middle lobe resections. There were no intraoperative complications and chest tubes were left in place 1–4 days. Two patients showed postoperative hemothorax that stopped spontaneously. Hospital stay ranged from 4 to 9 days (mean, 7 days). Conclusions: VATS lobectomy in small infants is a feasible and safe technique. Decreased postoperative pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a better cosmetic result are definite advantages of this minimally invasive procedure. Long-term morbidity due to a major thoracotomy incision is avoided.     

Video-assisted thoracic resection for intralobar pulmonary sequestration

We present a case in which video-assisted thoracic resection for intralobar pulmonary sequestration (ILPS) was successfully performed. A 36-year-old woman had repeated pneumonia. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a round mass in the right lower lobe of the lung. Subsequent three-dimensional CT revealed that a large anomalous artery arising from the descending thoracic aorta was distributing to the posterior basal segment containing the lesion and was draining into the inferior pulmonary vein. The patient was diagnosed with ILPS and underwent surgery. The anomalous artery was divided, and the sequestered segment was completely resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We think that VATS resection for ILPS is feasible and is a major therapeutic option as noninvasive surgery.     

Treatment of pulmonary sequestration by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation of the respiratory tract that accounts for 0.15–6.4% of all congenital lung anomalies. Treatment requires resection of the lesion, provided that there is no technical contraindication. The lession should first be evaluated using video thoracoscopy and then resected whenever possible by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We report a case of extralobar pulmonary sequestration in a 48-year-old woman. She underwent lobectomy by VATS and achieved an excellent outcome.     

Techniques for Treating Aberrant Arteries During Resection of Pulmonary Sequestration by Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: Report of Two Cases

We describe the techniques we used for treating aberrant arteries during resection of pulmonary sequestration by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in two patients. In patient 1, the aberrant artery was transected after securing six rows of staples with a knifeless vascular endostapler. In patient 2, the aberrant artery was cut after ligation with special forceps that designed by one of us (S.K.) to push a knot, tied outside the body, into the thoracic cavity, then ligate the suture. Left lower lobectomy and right basal segmentectomy were both successfully performed by these methods. These two cases are reported to show that VATS lobectomy is a feasible and minimally invasive technique of treating pulmonary sequestration and other diseases of the lung. Received: October 12, 2001 / Accepted: July 2, 2002 Reprint requests to: S. Kaseda     

Lung cancer which accompanies anomalous venous connections, pulmonary and systemic-partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection and persistent left superior vena cava: report of 2 cases

We report the cases of a left partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) and a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC), combined with primary lung cancer. Our case of PAPVC, the anomalous pulmonary vein originated from the hilum of the left upper lobe flowed into the left brachiocephalic vein. A left lower lobectomy was performed uneventfully without correcting the anomalous vein. And a case of PLSVC, the left superior vena cava flowed into the right superior vena cava, running under the aortic arch. A left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in safety. Although PLSVC was detected by chest computed tomography (CT) before operation, PAPVC was noticed intraoperatively in our case. We should keep in mind the possibility of variations of pulmonary vessel distribution, especially PAPVC located in a different lobe for resection, when undertaking lung resection.     

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to normal Basal segments of the left lower lobe of the lung: therapeutic implication

We describe a 5-month old infant who presented with a continuous murmur and enlargement of the left heart. The patient's diagnosis was an anomalous systemic arterial supply to basal segments of the left lower lobe characterized by a lack of a pulmonary arterial supply. This condition was treated without lobectomy. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe an anomalous systemic arterial supply to basal segments of the lower lobe of the left lung with a single arterial supply that was treated in childhood without lung resection. Our case offers an alternative treatment to surgical lobectomy for this abnormality.     

全胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗肺部疾病

目的探讨全电视胸腔镜（VATS）下肺叶切除治疗肺部疾病的可行性、近期疗效，总结围手术期处理经验。方法回顾分析我科2006年3月至2007年11月，采用不撑开肋骨、完全在电视胸腔镜下完成肺叶切除56例，其中施行右肺上叶切除12例，右肺中叶3例，右肺下叶15例；左肺上叶9例，左肺下叶14例；双肺叶3例（右肺中上叶1例、中下叶2例）；恶性肿瘤患者同期行纵隔及肺门淋巴结清扫。结果全组56例患者中52例（92．8％）在全胸腔镜下顺利完成肺叶切除及淋巴结清扫，手术时间45～168min（107±29min）；术中失血量50～310ml（121±32m1）；2例（3．6％）延长手术切口至8cm左右，在电视胸腔镜辅助下完成手术；2例（3．6％）因肺门解剖困难需行全肺切除或术中出血而中转为开胸手术。术后病理诊断为肺癌39例，结核瘤7例，炎性假瘤4例，硬化性血管瘤4例，支气管扩张1例，转移性软骨肉瘤1例。无手术死亡。术后发生中叶肺不张1例，经纤维支气管镜吸痰后痊愈；肺轻度漏气2例，未经治疗均于3d内痊愈。术后住院时间8～14d（8．9±3．1d）。结论全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗肺部疾病更加微创，且手术安全可行，术后并发症少、恢复快。     

Pulmonary sequestration in older child and in adults.

Pulmonary sequestration is often found in children with recurrent pneumonia, but is not rare in adults. During the last 6 years (1985-1990), 6 patients with pulmonary sequestration were surgically treated. One 40-year-old patient had an extralobar sequestration, and 5 patients ranging in age from 14 to 26 years had an intralobar sequestration. The patient with extralobar sequestration was asymptomatic. In cases of intralobar sequestration, 4 patients were symptomatic. All 6 patients had an abnormal chest roentgenogram. Preoperative arteriography revealed anomalous blood supply came from a systemic artery in 4 patients. All cases with intralobar sequestration had a lower lobectomy, and one case with extralobar sequestration had an extirpation. Even in cases without any symptoms, there was the possibility of a microscopic infection in the sequestrated lesion with the occurrence of later symptoms. Therefore, patients diagnosed with pulmonary sequestration should be considered for surgical resection.     

Anomalous intrathoracic left vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerve course

An anomalous course of the vagus nerve is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who had left lung cancer. We performed a left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy, paying attention to the pathway of the left vagus nerve, which had an anomalous course passing anteriorly to the left pulmonary trunk between the apical and anterior branches. The left recurrent laryngeal nerve hooked around the lower border of the apical branch of the left pulmonary artery.     

Pulmonary Function After Lobectomy: Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Versus Muscle-Sparing Mini-thoracotomy

Although pulmonary function was better after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy than after open thoracotomy lobectomy, it is unclear whether postoperative pulmonary function after VATS lobectomy is better than that after mini-thoracotomy lobectomy. The aim of this study is to determine whether the former is better than the latter. VATS lobectomies were performed using endoscopic techniques through a 3–4-cm skin incision spread by a silicon rubber retractor and two or three trocars. Mini-thoracotomy lobectomies were performed through a 7–12-cm skin incision spread by rib retractors made of metal and one or two trocars. Pulmonary function tests were performed a week before surgery and 3 months after surgery. There were 14 males and 11 females in VATS lobectomy and 32 males and 30 females in mini-thoracotomy lobectomy. For lobe location (right upper/right lower/left upper/left lower), there were 12/1/8/4 in VATS lobectomy and 16/19/13/14 in mini-thoracotomy lobectomy, respectively. The percent predicted postoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) (postoperative FVC/predicted postoperative FVC?×?100) (110?±?15 %) of VATS lobectomy was significantly higher than that (101?±?16 %) of mini-thoracotomy lobectomy (P?=?0.0124). The percent predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (postoperative FEV1/predicted postoperative FEV1?×?100) (110?±?15 %) of VATS lobectomy was not significantly higher than that (104?±?15 %) of mini-thoracotomy lobectomy (P?=?0.091). Multiple regression analysis revealed that operative procedure (VATS lobectomy or mini-thoracotomy lobectomy) was the only significant variable contributing to percent predicted postoperative FVC (P?=?0.0073) and percent predicted postoperative FEV1 (P?=?0.0180). Postoperative FVC after VATS lobectomy is better than after mini-thoracotomy lobectomy.     

Left partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection found during a lobectomy for lung cancer: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 68-year-old man in whom a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) was found during an operation for primary lung cancer. The preoperative clinical findings did not suggest a vascular shunt, and intraoperatively the anomalous vein was seen to drain only from the left upper lobe into the left innominate vein. The lower pulmonary vein connected normally, and there was no atrial septal defect nor any other anomalous condition. A left upper lobectomy with ligation of the anomalous connected vein was performed uneventfully. This type of PAPVC is extremely rare, and is especially noteworthy because there were no clinical signs.     

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration

Sequestration is defined as an area of abnormal pulmonary tissue not connected with the bronchial tree, supplied by an aberrant systemic artery and without a normal pulmonary function. Extralobar (ELS) and intralobar (ILS) forms are distinguished. During the year 2002 the authors diagnosed and operated upon two cases of the intralobar form of pulmonary sequestration, and in last 25 years five cases - 4 x ILS and 1 x ELS. Reported are a 35 year old man with relapsing infections of the sequester and a 21 year old woman where the sequestration was accidentally found without clinical symptoms. The focus was localized in both cases in the left lower lobe of the lungs, anomalous supply arteries derived from the thoracic aorta. Venous drainage of the sequester was different - in the man a systemic drainage via the v. azygos, in the woman via the pulmonary veins was found. In one case the diagnosis was made on the basis of angiography and computer tomography, in the other case it was made on the basis of multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA). Both findings were treated by primary surgical intervention lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful.     

Neonatal hyperreninemia and hypertensive heart failure relieved with resection of an intralobar pulmonary sequestration

Intralobar pulmonary sequestrations are congenital lung malformations sometimes known to cause symptoms of heart failure in the neonate because of shunting of blood flow from an anomalous systemic feeding artery into the pulmonary venous system. These are cured by pulmonary lobectomy. We report the case of a 37-weeks' gestational age infant who presented with bilateral pleural effusions perinatally, followed by hypertensive heart failure and hyperreninemia 2 weeks postnatally. Computed tomography revealed a large artery from the infradiaphragmatic aorta proximal to the celiac axis supplying a right lower lobe intralobar pulmonary sequestration and 4 small nonstenosed renal arteries. Subsequent to a right lower lobectomy, the patient recovered with a precipitous drop in plasma renin assay level and was discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit in good condition 12 days postoperatively. This is the first reported case of hyperreninemia treated by lobectomy. We hypothesize that the aberrant feeding vessel resulted in a relative deficiency in renal perfusion via a “steal” effect that was relieved by surgical ligation of the artery.     

Anomalous V2 of the left pulmonary vein detected using three-dimensional computed tomography in a patient with lung cancer: A case report

We report one of the rare anatomical variations of the pulmonary vein wherein the left V2 drained into the inferior pulmonary vein. A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow in the left lower lung field that was noted on chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor in the left lower lobe. A biopsied tumor specimen was diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma, and thus, left lower lobectomy was performed. Preoperative three-dimensional CT revealed that an anomalous V2 of the left lung drained from the superior segment into the inferior pulmonary vein. This variation type was confirmed during thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy. We were able to perform left lower lobectomy with the preservation of the anomalous V2. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 12. It is important to identify anatomical variations of the pulmonary vein and reliably preserve and process the affected area to prevent postoperative complications.