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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
Inadvertently transected left superior pulmonary vein during thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, 807 Hogukno, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41404, Republic of Korea.
Background:
There are several anatomical variations of the pulmonary vein which can cause serious complications in pulmonary lobectomy.
Case Presentation:
We inadvertently divided the left superior pulmonary vein during thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy in a lung cancer patient. Retrospective review of the preoperative computed tomography showed extra-pericardial common trunk of the left pulmonary venous system. Left superior pulmonary vein was reimplanted into stump of divided common trunk via thoracotomy.
Conclusions:
Awareness of vascular anomalies will help thoracic surgeons to prevent potential morbidity and mortality from complications.
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