Right, middle, and lower bronchial sleeve lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery

Surgical treatment remains the most effective approach to extending the long-term survival of patients with lung cancer (1). However, for tumors that have already invaded the orifice of upper lobe bronchus and/or main bronchus, lobectomy alone can not completely remove the tumors, whereas pneumonectomy will severely damage the lung functions. On the contrary, bronchial sleeve lobectomy is featured by not only the maximal resection of tumors but also the maximal reservation of the normal lung tissues and lung functions and the remarkably decreased complications.