[Lung cancer with heart failure--a cardiac and thoracic surgeon's collaboration]

Surgical resection is a validated therapeutic option for selected cases of pulmonary tumors invading the important mediastinal structures (caval vein, atrium, aorta or supra-aortic trunks). Here, we present a patient with a necrosed pulmonary tumor invading the left atrium, causing cardiac insufficiency. A complete surgical resection under extracorporeal circulation was performed by the thoracic and cardiac teams. Admitted in a bed-ridden state, the patient was discharged completely rehabilitated on postoperative day 13. He survived 1 year at home with a good quality of life.