title: Technique of bronchial closure after pneumonectomy.
abstract: Three hundred thirty-two patients had a pneumonectomy at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. England, between 1974 and 1984. In all patients, the bronchus was closed with a posterior flap from the pliable membranous bronchus, leaving no stump, and with the suture line proximal to the carina. In a mean follow-up of 54 months, none of the patients had bronchopleural fistual, and 10 patients had empyema in the pneumonectomy space (3%). A fistula could not be found in any of these patients. The suture material used in closing the bronchus in all these cases was 2-0 chromic catgut, which underlines the fact that bronchial healing is not affected by the type of suture material as long as no tension exists at the suture line.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, England.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sarsam
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moussali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013536:Suture Techniques