Blood stasis may cause thrombosis in the left superior pulmonary vein stump after left upper lobectomy

Background We previously reported that arterial infarction of vital organs after lobectomy might occur only after left upper lobectomy and be caused by thrombosis in the left superior pulmonary vein stump. We hypothesized that changes in blood flow, such as blood stasis and disturbed stagnant flow, in the left superior pulmonary vein stump cause thrombosis, and this was evaluated by intraoperative ultrasonography.