Successful treatment of bronchial obstruction after lobectomy in a patient with scoliosis

Abstract Scoliosis can cause various respiratory complications, even in the natural course, because of rearrangement of the intrathoracic anatomy due to chest wall deformity. We experienced a patient with scoliosis who developed acute respiratory failure due to bronchial obstruction induced by bronchial compression by the dorsal thoracic vertebra after right upper lobectomy for cancer. The symptom resolved after mobilization of the ipsilateral lower lobe which was achieved by releasing the inferior pulmonary vein by U-shaped pericardial dissection with division of the pulmonary ligament. When planning lobectomy for patients with severe scoliosis, the anatomical changes caused by pulmonary resection must be considered.