Glasses-free three-dimensional endoscopic bronchoplasty, arterioplasty, and angioplasty of the superior vena cava for the radical treatment of right middle upper lung cancer

The role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) radical resection in the treatment of lung cancer has widely recognized. Studies have demonstrated that the thoracoscopic radical treatment of lung cancer can achieve similar long-term survival as that of conventional open surgeries; meanwhile, it can be applied for bronchial sleeve resection that is more challenging for most thoracic surgeons. Bronchial sleeve pneumonectomy can avoid total pneumonectomy when removing tumors, and therefore it can lower the surgery-associated mortality and improve the long-term survival by maximizing the preservation of lung function. Thus, it has become a standard procedure for central-type lung cancer. We have completed a glasses-free three-dimensional (3D) complete thoracoscopic surgery in a patient with central-type lung cancer in his right lung. During the surgery, we found the tumor had invaded the right pulmonary trunk, right main bronchus, and lateral wall of superior vena cava.