title: Management of bronchopleural fistula in the adult respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: Bronchopleural fistula occurring as a complication in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome typically appears after 1 to 2 wks of illness, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Whether the bronchopleural fistula per se worsens outcome is not known because of the lack of studies on its natural history. There are several potential adverse effects of bronchopleural fistula in adult respiratory distress syndrome (e.g., incomplete lung expansion, loss of effective tidal volume or positive end-expiratory pressure, inability to remove CO2, etc.), but the actual frequency of these problems among patients with this complication appears to be low, and their magnitude and clinical impact remain uncertain. Most of the literature consists of anecdotal reports of innovative measures for reducing the leak, such as manipulation of chest tube suction, high-frequency jet ventilation, independent lung ventilation, and various maneuvers using the fiberoptic bronchoscope. Controlled studies are lacking, however, and the application of sound, general management principles is of primary importance. The great majority of patients can be managed satisfactorily without resort to unfamiliar, labor-intensive, potentially hazardous measures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle 98104.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors