Thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer after coronary artery bypass grafting using internal thoracic artery

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is useful during a typical lobectomy procedure, though challenging in complicated cases. We report successful video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy procedures performed after coronary artery bypass grafting in two lung cancer patients, with severe adhesion of lung parenchyma to grafts of the internal thoracic artery. We avoided dissection of the lung from the grafts and divided the lung parenchyma. No intrathoracic infection or local recurrence was found 5 years after surgery in either patient. The present 'non-dissection technique' is a feasible and safe optional procedure during a lobectomy after coronary artery bypass grafting using internal thoracic artery grafts.