VATS right upper lobectomy for primary lung cancer after esophagectomy: Report of a case

A 75-year-old man had undergone videothoracoscopy-assisted subtotal esophagectomy, two-field lymph node dissection, and posterior mediastinal reconstruction using a gastric tube for lower thoracic esophageal cancer. One year and three months after the esophagectomy, chest computed tomography suggested the enlargement of the lung nodule in the right upper lobe and right hilar lymph node, so we suspected primary lung cancer (cT1bN1M0, StageIIB). Videothoracoscopy-assisted right upper lobectomy was planned. We peeled off severe adhesion between the lung and reconstructed gastric tube carefully to avoid injuring the gastric tube. We could complete right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection at the superior mediastinum under videothoracoscopy. We report the pre- and intraoperative cautionary points and measures for right upper lung cancer after esophageal cancer resection, with a review of the literature.