Surgical management of upper- and lower-lobe bronchiectasis without middle lobe involvement: is middle lobectomy necessary?

Postoperative quality of life is a crucial factor in decisions regarding surgical management of bronchiectasis. The goal of surgical treatment in such cases is to eradicate diseased portions of lung while preserving as much healthy lung parenchyma as possible. The volume of remaining lung must be sufficient to fill the pleural space. In patients with bronchiectasis, it is extremely unusual to have upper- and lower-lobe involvement without middle lobe involvement. A normal-sized middle lobe alone is usually not adequate to fill the right hemithorax. When the disease involves both the upper and lower lung lobes, surgeons must assess whether pneumonectomy is required. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with bronchiectasis who was successfully treated with upper and lower lobectomy and preservation of the middle lobe.