[An operative approach of extrapleural pneumonectomy]

We present a case of breast cancer with pleural metastasis and empyema treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy. We showed the some of technically important points for this operation. The careful preparation was needed to prevent hemorrhage from such as great vessels, bronchial arteries and intercostal arteries. Especially in this surgical procedure, we should select the best approach method to have enough surgical field for complete tumor resection. We suggest that we should make additional thoracotomy and skin incision immediately when we feel the surgical field is not wide enough during the operation. The extrapleural pneumonectomy is one of the most highly invasive operation in general thoracic surgery, so careful perioperative managements should be required.