title: Incidence and management of anastomotic complications after bronchial resection: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchial resection and reimplantation in surgical management of lung cancer is intended to spare lung parenchyma, with curative intent. We studied the incidence and management of anastomotic complications after such procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients referred to our center for lung tumors who underwent bronchial resection and reimplantation from 1992 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 108 patients were included. Sixty-eight percent were male, and mean age was 58 years. Sleeve lobectomies were performed in 100 patients, bronchial resections without lung parenchymal resection in 8 patients. Squamous cell carcinoma represented 46.3% of cases, carcinoid tumors 22.2%, and adenocarcinoma 18.5%. Mean time between surgery and first bronchoscopic examination was 4.47 days. During the follow-up, anastomotic abnormalities were detected in 23 patients (21.3%): malacic or fibrotic bronchial stenoses in 9 cases (39.1%), dehiscences in 7 (30.4%), obstructive granulomas in 4 (17.4%), and bronchopleural fistulas in 3 (13.0%). Endoscopic treatment was indicated in 14 patients (13%) and consisted of stent placement in 6 cases (26%), mechanical dilations in 3 (13%), laser treatment for 1 case of bronchomalacia (4.3%), and resection of granulomas in 4 (17.4%). No risk factors were identified as predisposing for bronchial complications. There was a trend toward lower 1-year survival in patients with bronchial complications compared with those without (71.9% versus 83.4%; p = 0.114).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchial resection and reimplantation is a surgical procedure associated with an anastomotic complication rate of 21.3%, but only 13% required endoscopic management. Regular endoscopic surveillance is advised to detect and treat early complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases and Interventional Pulmonology, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France; Department of Pulmonary, Military Hospital Desgenettes, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bylicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases and Interventional Pulmonology, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France; Department of Pulmonology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandemoortele
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Bastien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases and Interventional Pulmonology, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laroumagne
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Xavier Benoit
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: D'Journo
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases and Interventional Pulmonology, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astoul
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Pascal-Alexandre
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases and Interventional Pulmonology, Hôpital Nord, University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France. Electronic address: herve.dutau@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dutau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult