title: A long-term study assessing the factors influencing survival and morbidity in the surgical management of bronchiectasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the prevalence of bronchiectasis decreased significantly in developed countries, in less developed and in developing countries, it still represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this retrospective study is to present our surgical experiences, the morbidity and mortality rates and outcome of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 129 patients who underwent surgical resection for bronchiectasis between April 2002 and April 2010, at Van Training and Research Hospital, Thoracic Surgery Department. Variables of age, sex, symptoms, etiology, and surgical procedures, mortality, morbidity and the result of surgical therapy were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 21.8 year (the eldest was 67 year, the youngest was 4 years-old). Male/female ratio was 1.86 and 75% of all patients were young population under the age of 40. Bilateral involvement was 14.7%, left/right side ratio according to localization was 2.1/1. The most common reason for bronchiectasis was recurrent infection. Surgical indications were as follows: recurrent infection (54%), hemoptysis (35%), empyema (6%), and lung abscess (5%). There was no operative mortality. Complications occurred in 29 patients and the morbidity rate was 22.4%. Complete resection was achieved in 110 (85.2%) patients. Follow-up data were obtained for 123 (95%) of the patients. One patient died during follow-up. The mean follow-up of this patient was 9 months. Mean postoperative hospitalization time was 9.15 ± 6.25 days. Significantly better results were obtained in patients who had undergone a complete resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of bronchiectasis can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality at any age. The involved bronchiectatic sites should be resected completely for the optimum control of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Van Training and Research Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Van, Turkey. abidin_sehitoglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abidin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sehitogullari
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilici
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sayir
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cobanoglu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahraman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult