[Early surgical treatment of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the method of early surgical treatment of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy.


METHODS
Twelve patients (9 males and 3 females with a mean age of 58.6-/+5.7 years) with bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy received a reoperation within 72 h after a definite diagnosis. Empyema was found in none of the 12 cases. Fistula occurred within 4 to 17 days (8 days in average) after the operation. The fistula of the residual main bronchus was resected, and the thoracic cavity was asepticized by flushing.


RESULTS
Ten patients were discharged with complete healing. One patient was discharged following open drainage with daily change of the wound dress. One patient died due to multiple organ failure. The hospital stay of the patients ranged from 18 to 49 days (31 days in average) after the reoperation.


CONCLUSIONS
Bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy, in case that empyema and multiple organ failure do not occur, can be healed by closing the fistula with the stapling device in early stage. Flushing the thoracic cavity is also necessary after the reoperation.
Zhang
Bao-shi
BS
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100048, China. zhangbaoshi407@163.com
Yu
Chang-hai
CH
Liu
Ying
Y
Xia
Hui
H
Li
Ying-jie
YJ
Guo
Nan-nan
NN
D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013510:Pulmonary Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors