BACKGROUNDTo summarize the experience of carinal resection and bronchial sleeve lobectomy in the treatment of 105 patients with central lung cancer from November, 1991, to November, 2001.

METHODSA total of 105 patients with central lung cancer underwent pulmonary resection. Carinal resection and reconstruction was performed in 19 patients, bronchial sleeve resection in 81, and bronchial sleeve combined with pulmonary artery sleeve lobectomy in 5.

RESULTSThere was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications such as anastomotic leakage, cardiac arrhythmia, asthma, pulmonary atelectasis occurred in 10.5% of total group. The 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates were 89.9%, 60.0% and 47.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSBronchial sleeve lobectomy and double-sleeve lobectomy are capable of excising pulmonary tumor as much as possible while remaining healthy lung tissues. Carinal resection and reconstruction is helpful to extend the surgical indication.