title: Preventive diaphragm plasty after pneumonectomy on account of lung cancer.
abstract: Experience is presented of 53 cases of diaphragm plasty of the bronchial stump, tracheobronchial anastomosis, pericardium, and esophagus wall after extended pneumonectomy on account of lung cancer. A pedicled diaphragm flap was used to prevent bronchopleural fistula in 53 patients, as well as heart dislocation after wide resection of the pericardium in 26, and esophagopleural fistula after resection of the muscle coat of the esophagus in 2. In all cases, there was a high risk of these complications. Dehiscence of the bronchial stump or tracheobronchial anastomosis occurred in 9 patients, but due to diaphragm plasty, a bronchopleural fistula formed in only 3. Restoration of the pericardium and the esophageal muscle coat was successful in all cases. Overall morbidity was 22.6%, 30-day mortality was 7.5%, hospital mortality was 11.3%. Causes of death were fulminant pneumonia of the single lung, cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, heart failure, early tumor progression, and sepsis, in one case each. The results were compared with those in 49 patients who underwent other methods of bronchial stump or tracheobronchial anastomosis reinforcement. The analysis revealed that the diaphragm flap was highly efficacious as a multipurpose plastic material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Penza Regional Oncology Health Center, 37a Prospect Stroitelei, 440071 Penza, Russia. rohthor@sura.ru
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chichevatov
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorshenev
authors.forename: Eugeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinev
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome