Figure 1.

Schematic presentation of right sleeve pneumonectomy. (A) The pulmonary artery and veins are divided with a vascular stapler. The azygos vein is divided with a stapler and the vena cava superior is mobilized in order to obtain a better exposure. The distal trachea and the left main bronchus are exposed, mobilized, and encircled with tapes; (B) first the stay suture at the contralateral edge is tied and the membranous part is sutured in a running fashion beginning from the far edge. After completing the membranous part the stay suture on the near edge is tied; (C) for the reconstruction of the cartilaginous part we start from the far edge with already knotted suture of this edge with 2 or 3 continuous stiches and then insert interrupted sutures; (D) the sutures are tied after they all have been inserted.