A case of bronchial atresia treated by thoracoscopic segmentectomy

Abstract

The patient was a 40-year-old man. He was referred to our hospital for close examination and treatment owing to abnormal findings on chest computed tomography (CT). Chest CT showed no branching of B⁶ from the left lower lobe bronchus, and a distended bronchial structure was identified in the left S⁶. Although a normal pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein were observed in S⁶, the lung field showed emphysematous changes. Therefore, we diagnosed him with bronchial atresia in the left B⁶ lesion. As it was considered that the lumen of the severed B⁶ and its surrounding area could become susceptible to future infection, we decided to perform surgical resection. The patient underwent thoracoscopic left S⁶ segmentectomy. Adhesions were noted around the left S⁶, suggesting past inflammation. An aberrant fissure was found between the left S⁶ and basal segment, and the boundary between the emphysematous change of S⁶ and normal basal segment could be grossly confirmed. The administration of intravenous indocyanine green enabled precise resection of the lesion. The patient has been doing well postoperatively.