VS-3 Tracheal Resection for Primary Tracheal Cancer

Recently, the number of tracheal resection has increased. We have performed 3 tracheal resections for primary tracheal cancer: 1 for mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and 2 for adenoid cystic carcinoma. A 72-year-old male with adenoid cystic carcinoma had a resection of a cervical tracheal segment and reconstruction with a heavy Marlex-mesh roll. Two years and six months later, the patient died of pulmonary metastasis.A 42-year-old male with mucoepidermoid carcinoma had a lower tracheal segmental resection; 12 years after the operation the patient is alive and well.A 65-year-old female complained of dry cough for 3 months; a history of dyspnea was also elicited. Tomograph and CT showed a tumor in her middle thoracic trachea. A diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was made by bronchoscopic biopsy.Median sternotomy was carried out and 2.5cm of the trachea was resected under high frequent jet ventilation with end-to-end anastomosis by monofilament suture material (4-0 PDS, 17 interrupted sutures). The patient is alive and well 5 years after the operation.