SLEEVE LOBECTOMY or PNEUMONECTOMY

These terms refer to a very specific type of lung resection, which is needed whenever the tumour is located at the orifice of a bronchus (main or lobar bronchus). The tumour may be a bronchogenic cancer or a low grade malignancy tumour such as the carcinoid.
The sleeve pneumonectomy is indicated also in case that a tumour (bronchogenic cancer) is located at the orifice of the lobar bronchus and the patient can’t tolerate pneumonectomy because of his limited respiratory reserves. Furthermore it is performed in every case of carcinoid tumour located at the orifice of the lobar – bronchus, even if the patient has normal lung reserves.
Sleeve lobectomy is indicated in every case where the bronchogenic cancer is originating from the orifice of the main bronchus or when the distance between the tumour and the main carina is very short.
These operations need a specific experience in combination with perfect knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the lungs.