Common and Uncommon Variations of Pulmonary Venous Drainage in Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Lobectomy

Abstract

Background: Variations in pulmonary venous anatomy should not be undermined by thoracic surgeons during procedures which involve the pulmonary veins.

Methods: We have identified vascular anomalies in 25 of 346 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy at our Thoracic Surgery Unit, between December 2016 and November 2018.

Results: Some vascular anomalies described have not been reported in recent literature and include right V⁷ draining into the middle lobe pulmonary vein, accessory right V⁶ behind the bronchus intermedius, two V⁶ from the apical segment of left lower lobe, two V⁶ from the apical segment of right lower lobe, and one of them draining into the superior pulmonary vein.

Conclusion: Thoracic surgeons should be aware of this type of anomalies because failure in the preoperative or intraoperative identification of the pulmonary venous variations may lead to serious complications.