Bilateral trans-septal approach to right lung cancer invading the left atrium

Abstract

We describe a 69-year-old woman with primary lung cancer in the right lower lobe inva-sive to the left atrium (LA) via the pulmonary vein (PV). The tumor in the LA measured 30 × 26 mm, and to avoid critical embolism preoperative induction therapy was not per-formed. The patient underwent right thoracotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the atrial septum was incised via the right atrium. The tumor was placed out of the LA, followed by lobectomy. For right lung tumors invading the LA, the bilateral trans-septal approach is useful for confirming the surgical margin.