Pneumonectomy for severe inflammatory lung disease. Results in 64 consecutive cases.
Severe inflammatory lung disease resulting in severe unilateral pulmonary pathology necessitating pneumonectomy is still encountered in third world populations. A retrospective study of the last 64 patients undergoing pneumonectomy was performed. The underlying lung pathology was: destroyed lung due to tuberculosis in 33 patients; severe bronchiectasis in 25; necrotizing pneumonia in 4; lung abscess in 1 and hypoplastic lung in 1 patient. The perioperative management of these patients is outlined. Perioperative complications included respiratory failure in 4, secondary haemorrhage in 2 and post-pneumonectomy empyema in 5 patients. There were 2 mortalities (3.1%), both due to contralateral spillage with fulminant respiratory failure. Excellent results were achieved in 89% of the patients.
Stevens
M S
MS
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pretoria Medical School, South Africa.
de Villiers
S J
SJ
Stanton
J J
JJ
Steyn
F J
FJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004653:Empyema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies