Video-assisted thoracoscopic hilar and pericardial release for long-segment tracheal resections

Long-segment tracheal resection is technically challenging due to its high tension during reconstruction. Therefore, tracheal release maneuvers, including pulmonary hilar release and pericardial dissection, were required to reduce the anastomotic tension. Traditional hilar release is performed via thoracotomy; however, this approach is invasive. We report a case of bilateral hilar and pericardial release via a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach in resecting a long segment tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma that spanned 50% of the trachea. The bilateral hilar and pericardial releases were performed under general anesthesia through biportal VATS, which contributed to a total of 2.5 cm of additional mobility to the trachea, and the infrahyoid release was then performed through a cervical collar incision. The tumor-involved tracheal segments were removed via median sternotomy, totaling 6.0 cm in length, and the remaining trachea could be successfully reconstructed with a tension-free anastomosis. The total operative duration was 4.5 hours. The patient suffered a transient swallowing dysfunction during the postoperative course, with a good luminal patency in the trachea after 1 month postoperatively. Therefore, bilateral hilar release via VATS can be considered to be a less invasive, avoiding the potential complications related to a thoracotomy, but similarly effective release maneuver for long-segment tracheal resections.