A two-stage approach to a patient with hydatid cysts inside the right pulmonary artery and multiple right lung involvement

We report on the surgical treatment of a patient in whom hydatid cysts inside the right pulmonary artery and multiple right lung involvement were detected. Since the right pneumonectomy carried a high risk of cyst rupture, and migration of the cysts to the opposite lung during ligation of the pulmonary artery, a two-stage surgical approach was scheduled. Hydatid cysts located at the proximal pulmonary artery were removed by performing a longitudinal arteriotomy along the pulmonary artery to the bifurcation. Subsequently, a right pneumonectomy was performed on a safe right pulmonary artery in a different session.