Transverse bronchoplasty of the membranous wall after resection of an endobronchial hamartoma

Lung hamartomas are rare benign tumors of the bronchi. Their management consists of bronchoscopic excision or removal through a thoracotomy and bronchotomy whenever there is a large tumor totally obstructing the bronchial lumen. As a lung-sparing procedure is usually the aim, various bronchoplastic techniques have been described, providing a functional lumen of the repaired bronchus. We describe a simple technique that can be safely undertaken to preserve a satisfactory diameter of the bronchus or trachea and prevent a stenosis at the site of repair.