Sleeve lobectomy for bronchial tumors

Six patients underwent sleeve lobectomy for bronchial tumors. Five had bronchogenic carcinoma, one had a carcinoid. All neoplastic tissue was resected, with maximum preservation of functioning lung parenchyma. There were no hospital deaths and no complications. Ten months after surgery, one patient died of cancer; one died of apparently unrelated causes 60 mo after surgery; a third was lost to follow-up 14 mo after operation. The remaining three patients are well, without evidence of recurrence. Sleeve lobectomy is a safe operation, enabling adequate resection with maximum preservation of functioning lung parenchyma. It is equally applicable to lung cancer and to other bronchial neoplasms and, when feasible, should be used in preference to pneumonectomy. Careful selection of patients and meticulous operative technique are mandatory.