Bronchial stump coverage with a pedicled pericardial flap: an effective method for prevention of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula.
BACKGROUND
Bronchopleural fistula is a serious complication after pneumonectomy. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy of bronchial stump reinforcement with a pedicled flap of whole pericardium.


METHODS
The bronchial stump of 93 consecutive patients who underwent pneumonectomy between July 1988 and March 2003 was covered with a pedicled pericardial flap. Pneumonectomy was performed for primary lung cancer in 89.2% of patients. The study patients received concomitant extensive mediastinal lymphadenectomy, resection of adjacent structures (aorta, vena cava, thoracic wall), and neoadjuvant or planned adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. Operative and perioperative complications were recorded, and patients were followed up for a mean of 15 +/- 21.2 months (range, 9 to 126).


RESULTS
Perioperative mortality was 4.3% (n = 4; pulmonary embolism, sepsis, cardiac arrest, and sudden death in 1 patient each). Perioperative complications occurred in 2 patients: renal failure and hemiplegia in 1 patient and cardiac tamponade in 1 patient. The latter complication, caused by tight reconstruction of the pericardium, was directly related to the applied method and required reoperation. No evidence of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula was observed perioperatively and during the whole follow-up. One-year and 2-year survival was 65.7% and 44.8%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Bronchial stump reinforcement with a pericardial flap is a highly effective method for preventing postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula in selected patients.
Taghavi
Shahrokh
S
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Marta
Gabriel M
GM
Lang
Georg
G
Seebacher
Gernot
G
Winkler
Gunther
G
Schmid
Katharina
K
Klepetko
Walter
W
D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic