title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic closure of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas.
abstract: Despite improved surgical techniques and advances in medical-surgical treatment, postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas remain an important cause of morbidity and a therapeutic challenge. Video-assisted thoracoscopic closure of these fistulas reinforced by transposition of bulky chest wall muscles or omentum to obliterate the residual space may lessen risks and complications of repeated thoracotomy in these often frail, debilitated, and compromised patients. We report our initial experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement of the empyema cavity and closure of the postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula by transposing an entire pectoralis major muscle in one patient and by transposing a pedicled omentum in another patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Hayward, California 94545-4297, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramachandra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tapper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum / Q000637:transplantation; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy