[Bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy].

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy. The records of 844 consecutive patients who underwent pneumonectomy within a period between the January 1962 and December 2000 either for the lung cancer or for benign diseases have been assessed. There were 12 cases of bronchopleural fistula representing an incidence of 1.42 %. All operations were performed using an uniform hand suture technique. Eight fistulas developed in patients who underwent pneumonectomy for lung cancer while four occurred in patients with benign diseases. Bronchial dehiscence was confirmed by bronchography or bronchoscopy in each patient. Resuturing of the stump and single completed muscle flap closure was performed in five patients. In three patients with very small fistulas we used the drainage of the pleural cavity and antibiotics only. Three other patients were treated by thoracoplasty. In one patient bronchoscopy closure by tissue adhesive and bone graft was done. The treatment was successful in nine patients from our set while the other three developed fatal complications.