title: Bilateral pulmonary resection for bronchiectasis: a 40-year experience.
abstract: Ninety-nine patients underwent bilateral pulmonary resection for severe multisegmental bilateral bronchiectasis at the Overholt Thoracic Clinic during the period 1937 to 1977. A total of 216 operations were performed, and 20 patients underwent three or more procedures. The operative mortality was 1.4% and the incidence of severe complications, 7%. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 30 years (average 10.2 years). Only 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Improvement in pulmonary symptoms was achieved in 83 patients; there was no improvement in 9 patients; and 4 patients were worse following resection. The results suggest that bilateral bronchiectasis need not be a contraindication to operation. In properly selected patients, lasting symptomatic improvement can be provided by resection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004653:Empyema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality