title: Single-stage bilateral thoracic surgery via a combined VATS and open approach for left central bronchogenic carcinoma with carinal invasion: report of two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery for patients with left central bronchogenic carcinoma invading the carina is challenging due to the complexity of left sleeve pneumonectomy, carinal resection, and airway reconstruction and management. Here we describe a modified approach to overcome this problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2011 and September 2012, two patients with left central bronchogenic carcinoma invading the carina underwent single-stage bilateral thoracic surgery via a combined approach incorporating video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy in our hospital. We reviewed our experience with this type of surgery and analyze its outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-stage, bilateral thoracic surgery incorporating video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy provides optimal exposure of the operative field, reduces surgical trauma, and ensures the integrity of tumor excision and exactness of tracheobronchial anastomosis. This may be a safe and feasible alternative for left carinal pneumonectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, TongJi Hospital, TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China. tjaibo@126.com.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, TongJi Hospital, TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China. liaotjxw@126.com.
authors.forename: Yongde
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, TongJi Hospital, TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China. zheng88107@126.com.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, TongJi Hospital, TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China. fuxn2006@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Xiangning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*