title: Protection and revascularization of bronchial anastomoses by the intercostal pedicle flap.
abstract: We used an improved method for preparation of the intercostal pedicle flap for encircling bronchial anastomoses, and we studied its vascular supply after the operation. The flap was used in 56 patients undergoing various types of sleeve resection and in three patients undergoing single lung transplantation. The technique is simple, fast, and causes neither extra surgical trauma nor complications. It allows satisfactory isolation and sealing of the bronchial anastomosis. Even if complete anastomotic dehiscence occurs (one case), the flap preserves the continuity of the airway, thus avoiding bronchopleural fistulas or other complications. The postoperative arteriographic study of the intercostal artery supplying the flap (performed in 14 patients) demonstrated the full patency of the vessel in all cases. It also showed that a fine vascular network develops around the anastomosis early in the postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rendina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Venuta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bognolo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*