Thoracoscopic anatomic lung resections for cancer in patients with previous cardiac surgery

We reported the feasibility of thoracoscopic anatomical resections for lung cancer in four consecutive patients undergoing previous cardiac surgeries as coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) using left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft (n=1), cardiac transplantation (n=2), and mitral valve replacement (n=1). A three-port approach was used in all patients but one where an uniportal approach was adopted. Lobectomy was carried out in two patients; left upper three-segmentectomy and upper bilobectomy in the other two. All procedures were successfully performed without needing conversion. No intra-operative, post-operative morbidity and mortality were recorded. At last follow-up, all patients were alive without recurrence but one who had cerebral metastasis. Thoracoscopic lung resection after cardiac surgery is a feasible but complex procedure that should be performed in centres having a cardiac surgery team ready to operate in case of cardiac complications.