Deeper wedge resection and parenchymal-sparing bronchoplasty of the secondary carina: an alternative surgical technique for removal of tumor located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus

BACKGROUND Sleeve resection and reconstruction of the bronchial corner between the upper lobar bronchus and the intermediate bronchus is technique demanding. CASE PRESENTATION A 33-year-old Chinese man suffered from recurrence of low-grade malignant mucoepidermoid carcinoma located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus with invasion to the main bronchus nearly 1 year after he had undergone an incomplete bronchoscopic resection. With detailed preoperative and intraoperative evaluation by computed tomography and bronchoscopy, a deeper wedge resection and bronchoplasty of the secondary carina was performed. The freedom from tumor cells at the cut-edges was guaranteed by frozen examination. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was free from recurrence for 18 months after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS With an R0 resection, the procedure described in the present case report was feasible and relatively easy, thus an alternative to sleeve lobectomy or sleeve bronchial resection for small-size low-grade malignancy located at the orifice of upper lobar bronchus.