Preoperative evaluation of a patient to detect any inflammatory LN infiltration is central to preparing for pulmonary angioplasty and bronchoplasty. If any LN infiltration is preoperatively detected, converting to thoracotomy during thoracoscopic surgery is recommended to avoid catastrophic bleeding. Some studies have evaluated inflammatory LN infiltration using preoperative CT [
3,
4]. Uramoto et al. [
4] reported that preoperative contrast-enhanced CT of 5 mm slices could detect inflammatory LN infiltration based on the presence of an intervening adipose layer between the PA and LNs. In our case, an adipose layer was visible between the PA and LNs on the central side of A2, but it was unclear on the peripheral side. Moreover, no fat layer was found between the LNs surrounding A6, suggesting extensive inflammatory LN infiltration. Initially, A2 was considered treatable on the central side, and thoracoscopic lobectomy was attempted, but A2 could not be taped. Although the hilar region could be clamped for pulmonary angioplasty, taping the PA by retracting A2 was difficult because of the challenges in peeling around A6. We considered clamping the PVs of the lower and middle lobes, but 3 months after the treatment for MI, adverse effects on cardiac function were expected. A right upper en-masse lobectomy was performed after confirming the absence of LN metastasis by frozen section diagnosis of hilar LNs.
An en-masse lobectomy raises the following concerns [
5]: intraoperative rupture of the PA stump, the risk of a bronchial pleural fistula (BPF) or bronchovascular fistula (BVF), and the curative value of the lung resection. Several technical details should be noted when en masse lobectomy is performed [
6]: the surgeon must carefully dissect the target vessel and bronchus to ensure sufficient distance and space for placement of the auto-stapler, clamp the target at the thinnest part using the auto-stapler to ensure safe firing, use the thickest stapler cartridge, and shorten the stump and reinforce it to avoid postoperative bronchopleural fistula or bleeding. Additionally, surgeons are advised to switch to thoracotomy to avoid catastrophic intraoperative complications. Table
1 summarizes the cases of en-masse lobectomy for lung cancer reported in the literature. In all cases, the auto-stapler was used to process the lobe root structure. The cartridge used was green or black. When advanced auto-suturing devices are used, stapler failure rarely becomes an issue. Choosing the correct cartridge is essential. To the best of our knowledge, unlike a BPF, a BVF after en-masse lobectomy has not been reported [
7]. Murakami et al. reported a microscopic examination of the stump with simultaneous bronchus and PA stapling 6 weeks after swine underwent lobectomy [
8]. The stapled bronchial tissue remained as it was just after stapling, without degradation of the cartilage, smooth muscle, or epithelial layers. In contrast, the stapled PA tissue disappeared, resulting in the formation of a new vascular stump with recruitment of new intimal and adventitial layers and fibrotic tissue. Based in the results, they concluded that BVF will not develop after simultaneous bronchovascular stapling unless the anterior wall of the bronchus has fallen away due to major stump necrosis. Due to the different repair process, the BS was attached only by staples and covered with fibrotic tissue without histological fusion [
8]. Therefore, more care was required to protect the BS. Herein, the BS was covered with free pericardial adipose tissue. Postoperative CT demonstrated the presence of intervening LNs between the PA stump and BS, while the risk of a BVF was considered low. Although no metastasis in the hilar LNs was confirmed, the possibility for insufficiency of LN dissection with the en-masse procedure remained. This patient required strict long-term follow-up.
Table 1
Summary of simultaneous stapling of the lobar root structure for lung cancer
1 | 69 | M | ND | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | VATS | LLL | A6 + LLB | AS | Green | 180 | 300 | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | |
2 | 67 | M | ND | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | VATS | RUL | A2 + ULB | AS + suture | Green | 330 | 300 | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | |
3 | 78 | M | ND | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | VATS | LLL | A6 + LLB | AS | Green | 210 | Slight | T1aN0M0, Stage I A | |
4 | 77 | M | ND | T1bN0M0, Stage I A | VATS | RML | A5 + V5 + MLB | AS | Green | 150 | Slight | T1aN0M0, Stage I B | |
5 | 66 | F | Ad | ND | VATS | LUL | PVS + ULB | AS | Green | ND | ND | Stage I A | |
6 | ND | ND | ND | ND | VATS | RLL | PVI + LLB | AS | Green | ND | ND | ND | |
7 | 75 | F | Ad | T1bN0M0, Stage I A2 | VATS → thoracotomy | RUL | A2 + ULB | AS | Black | 183 | 70 | T1bN0M0, Stage I A2 | Our case |
In conclusion, the en-masse technique may be recommended as an alternative to A2 treatment in lobectomy with inflammatory LN infiltration. Surgeons should not consider switching to thoracotomy, in such cases, to avoid fatal intraoperative complications.