Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: The preferred method to manage pulmonary sequestration

This study aims at describing the feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in benign diseases such as pulmonary sequestrations (PSs) and report the surgical outcomes.

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of 25 patients who were operated for PS over 7 years at a dedicated thoracic surgery centre in India. Pre-operative details, operative technique and details, post-operative details and complications were recorded and analysed.

There were 15 (60%) males and 10 (40%) females, with a median age of 22.28 years (range, 16-28 years). All patients had intra-lobar type of sequestration. The most commonly involved was left lower lobe (n = 15 patients, 60%) followed by the right lower lobe (n = 10 patients, 40%). The origin of blood supply was from the descending thoracic aorta in 18 patients (72%), the abdominal aorta in 5 (20%) and the coeliac trunk and the inferior phrenic artery in one patient (4%) each. All patients underwent complete lobar resection. One patient was converted because of dense hilar adhesion. The average duration of surgery was 179 min and the average blood loss was 204 ml. The median hospital stay and chest tube duration were 4 and 3 days, respectively. One patient was re-explored because of post-operative bleeding. Only one patient had an air leak for >7 days. The median follow-up was 42 months (range, 6-90 months) without any recurrence.

VATS is a safe, feasible and effective option for PS at experienced centres.