A new variation of tracheobronchoplastic operation.

A new variation of tracheobronchoplastic operations that we named modified plastic surgery was applied successfully on six patients with lung cancer and one with carcinoid adenoma. Modified plastic surgery consists of adaptive shaping of healthy portions of the bronchi and elimination of parts affected by the pathologic process, which usually required the respective lung resection. Suturing of the fragments reestablished the airways and rendered the formation of postoperative stenoses and anastomoses practically impossible. Indications for this type of operation were decided individually according to the location of the process and the requirements for complete resection in the cases with lung cancer. In many instances this type of operation was the only option for preservation of the organ.