Application of right bronchial blocker under artificial pneumothorax in thoracoscopic enucleation of oesophageal leiomyoma

Abstract Background Oesophageal leiomyomas are one of the most common benign oesophageal tumours. This study summarized and analysed the clinical experience of thoracoscopic enucleation of oesophageal leiomyoma. Methods A total of 36 patients who underwent thoracoscopic enucleation of oesophageal leiomyoma at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2014 and 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Fifteen patients received single-lumen endotracheal intubation combined with a right bronchial blocker (SLET-B group), and twenty-one patients received double-lumen endotracheal intubation (DLET group). Clinical data, surgical variables, and postoperative complications were analysed and compared. Results The average tumour size in all patients was 4.31 ± 1.96 cm. The average tumour size among symptomatic patients was significantly larger than that among asymptomatic patients (5.08 ± 2.02 vs 3.71 ± 1.72, P < 0.05). Patients in the SLET-B group had a significantly larger average tumour size than patients in the DLET group (5.39 ± 2.13 vs 3.54 ± 1.42, P < 0.05). The SLET-B group had a significantly shorter operation time and shorter total hospital stay than the DLET group. No mucosal injury, conversion to thoracotomy, or other operative complications occurred in the SLET-B group. In the follow-up, no recurrence, dysphagia, or regurgitation was found in any of the patients. Conclusions Compared with traditional double-lumen intubation, artificial pneumothorax-assisted single-lumen endotracheal intubation combined with a bronchial blocker for thoracoscopic oesophageal leiomyoma enucleation can achieve complete removal of larger tumours, with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.