Bronchopleural Fistula: Causes, Diagnoses and Management (original) (raw)
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ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2017
Background: The bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of major thoracic surgery. The purpose of this work is to investigate the risk factors associated with the development of fistulas after lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 835 patients who underwent major anatomic lung resection at our centre from January 2003 to December 2013. Of these, 49 underwent pneumonectomy (P group) and 786 lobectomy (L group). Results: A total of 18 patients (2.6%) developed a BPF in the postoperative period, of which there were 11 in the L group (1.3%) and seven in the P group (14.28%). The 30-day mortality was 0.05% (one patient after right pneumonectomy). In the L group, three patients developed a fistula after a left lobectomy and eight after a right one, of which four developed after bilobectomy. Univariate analysis showed that induction therapy, lower lobectomy, manual suture of the bronchus, 'not covered' bronchial stump, empyema, postoperative anaemia and pulmonary infections and mechanical ventilation >24 h are associated with the development of fistulas after lobectomy. Multivariate analysis confirmed that induction therapy, manual closure of the bronchus, postoperative pulmonary infections and anaemia are the main risk factors involved in our series. In the P group, four patients developed a fistula after a right pneumonectomy and three after a left one. Postoperative empyema and pulmonary infections, mechanical ventilation >24 h and female gender emerged as the main risk factors on univariate analysis, while on multivariate analysis, only the female gender presented a trend towards significance. Conclusions: Postoperative pulmonary infections, empyema and mechanical ventilation >24 h are strongly associated with the development of BPFs after both pneumonectomy and lobectomy in our series.
Surgery Today, 2019
Purpose Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a potentially fatal complication of pneumonectomy. We analyze its occurrence rate, risk factors, and the methods used for its prevention. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent pneumonectomy at our Institution between January, 1990 and March, 2016. The risk factors for postoperative BPF were analyzed by univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression. Results Over the study period, 511 patients underwent pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and had the bronchus closed by manual suturing. BPF developed in 23 patients (4.5%). Multiple logistic regression identified no coverage of the bronchial stump, right-sided pneumonectomy, residual tumor in the bronchial stump, postoperative ventilatory support, and completion pneumonectomy, as independent risk factors for BPF. The cumulative rate of BPF decreased significantly over time from 18% between 1990 and 1995 to 1% between 2011 and 2016 (p < 0.001). Concurrently, the data of several patients showed a significant positive trend over time, including bronchial stump coverage (BSC). Discussion Several known risk factors for BPF were confirmed. The more frequent usage of tissue flaps for coverage of the bronchial stump may have contributed to the reduction in the rate of postoperative BPF over time.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1996
Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula remains a morbid complication after pneumonectomy. The incidence, risk factors, and management of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula were evaluated in 256 consecutive patients who underwent pneumonectomy with a standardized suture closure of the bronchus. Methods: Pneumonectomy was performed for lung cancer in 198 cases, for other malignancy in 20 cases, and for benign causes in 38 cases. The bronchial stump was closed with interrupted simple sutures to emphasize a long, membranous wall flap. All stumps were covered by autologous tissue. Results: The incidence of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula was 3.1%. Risk factors for bronchopleural fistula were the need for postoperative ventilation (p = 0.0001) and right pneumonectomy (p = 0.04). Five patients had bronchopleural fistulas as a result of pulmonary complications necessitating ventilation; the cause in the remaining three cases appeared to be technical. Reclosure was successful in five cases (mean postoperative day 12); in one case a pinhole fistula was healed by drainage alone. Two (25%) of the eight patients who had bronchopleural fistulas died. Conclusions: Careful, sutured closure of the main bronchus with a tissue buttress after pneumonectomy yields excellent results. The most significant risk factor for bronchopleural fistula is a pulmonary complication necessitating ventilation. Contrary to previous reports, reclosure is usually successful even if performed late.
2009
Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy for NSCLC remains a highly morbid complication. We examined possible factors including the surgical techniques associated with BPF development. From 221 pneumonectomies for NSCLC, bronchial stump closure was mechanically performed in 192 patients and manually in the remaining 29. In all right-sided pneumonectomies mechanical closure was performed with associated stump coverage. In 114y130 left-sided procedures where mechanical closure was selected, bronchial stump remained uncovered. In the remaining 16 left-sided cases where manual stump closure was selectively performed, the stump was covered utilizing various tissues. Risk factors were classified into preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative. Five patients (2.3%) developed BPF. Univariate analysis revealed peri-operative transfusion, respiratory infection at the time of presentation, neoadjuvant therapy, rightsided pneumonectomy, manual type of bronchial closure, days of postoperative hospitalization and mechanical ventilation as significant risk factors for BPF development. Multivariate analysis followed revealing preoperative respiratory infection and right pneumonectomy as the only independent risk factors. In our series, a selected stump coverage policy showed a low incidence of BPF development. Mechanical stapling was superior to manual closure, although not as an independent factor. Early recognition of possible risk factors associated with fistula development is of paramount importance.
Treatment strategies for bronchopleural fistula
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1995
Successful management of chronic postoperative bronchopleural fistula remains a challenge for thoracic surgeons. Forty-two patients (33 referred from other institutions) were treated for major postoperative bronchopleural fistula since 1978. Factors associated with bronchopleural fistula included right pneumonectomy (n = 23), left pneumonectomy (n = 8), long bronehial stump (n = 16), pneumonia (n = 13), radiation therapy (n = 12), stapled bronchial closure (n = 8), prolonged mechanical ventilation (n = 7), recurrent carcinoma (n = 6), and tuberculosis (n = 2). Patients had undergone an average of 3.3 surgical procedures to correct their bronchopleurai fistulas during a mean interval of 24 months before our treatment. Bronchopleural fistulas were located in the right main bronchial stump (n = 23), left main bronchial stump (n = 8), right lobar bronchial stumps (n = 10), and tracheobronchial anastomosis (n = 1). Thirty-five patients were treated by snture closure of the bronchial stump, buttressed with vascularized pedicle flaps of omentnm (n = 19), muscle (n = 13), or pleura (n = 2). In seven cases, direct snture closnre was not possible, and omental (n = 6) or muscle (n = 1) flaps were sutured over the bronchopleural fistula. Suture closure without pedicle coverage was performed successfully in one case. Initial repair of the fistula was successful in 23 of 25 patients treated with omentum, in nine of 14 patients treated with muscle and in neither of two patients treated with pleural flaps. In nine patients with persistent or recurrent bronchopleural fistula after our initial repair, four underwent a second procedure (three successful) and five were managed with drainage only. The fistula was successfully closed in 11 of 12 patients who had received high-dose radiation therapy (nine with omentum). Overall, successful closure of bronchopleural fistula was achieved in 36 of 42 patients (86%). Four in-hospital deaths resulted from pneumonia and sepsis, two in patients with recurrent bronchopleural fistula after pleural flap closure. In 16 patients the empyema cavity was obliterated during defnitive repair of the fistula. The cavity resolved with drainage in four others, nine had draining cavities at follow-up, and one was lost to follow-up. Ten patients required a total of 17 Clagett procedures and one had a delayed myoplasty. Direct surgical repair of chronic bronchopleural fistula may be achieved in most patients after adequate pleural drainage by suture closure and aggressive transposition of vascularized pedicle flaps. Omentum is particularly etfective in buttressing the closure of bronchopleural fistulas. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1995;
Bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy with a hand suture technique
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1994
We have reviewed the incidence of bronchopleural fistula among 530 consecutive pneumonectomies, all carried out by one surgical team using a uniform suture technique between January 1980 and November 1993. There were 7 fistulas (1.3%); all of them occurred within 15 days postoperatively. There were no cases of late fistula during a mean follow-up period of 23 months. The pathology for which pneumonectomy was undertaken was primary lung malignancies in 488 cases (92.1%), metastatic disease in 15 cases (2.8%), and benign diseases in 27 cases (5.1%). All fistulas developed after pneumonectomy for lung cancer. Other risk factors included age, preoperative radiotherapy, and the surgeon's level of A lthou gh the incidence of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (BPF) has decreased in recent years, this life-threatening complication remains a major challenge. It requires early diagnosis, leads to prolonged hospital stay, and despite extensive and sometimes multiple operations, it is often followed by a high mortality rate. Prevention has been a controversial matter during the last 20 years, and attention has focused on the technique of stump closure and the use of staplers. In this study we retrospectively reviewed our incidence of BPF after pneumonectomy and the results of our management of this problem.
Treatment of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy by using an omental pedicle
CHEST Journal, 1994
Treatment of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy Breakdown of the closure of the main-stem bronchus after pneumonectomy is a dreaded complication, andempyema andbronchopleural fistula frequently developin patients who survive. Management of these fistulas remaim a formidable therapeutic challenge, which has been approached with a variety of surgical tecbniques. We report our experience with anterior transpericardial closure, emphasizing the ability to expose either main-stem bronchus by this approach. The case histories of three patients who had bronchopleuralfIStula after pneumonectomy are presented. The first patient had left penumonectomy for complicated tuberculosis; the second had right pneumonectomy for neoplasm; and the third had right pneumonectomy for trauma. All fistulas were treated surgically via a median sternotomy and pericardial approach to the distal trachea. The posterior pericardium was divided between the superior vena cava and aorta. In-continuity staple closure (with two lines of staples) of the proximal main-stem bronchus was employed in all cases. Two patients remain clinically weD 21 and 17 montlIS after the operation. The third patients did weD initially but developed a recurrent bronchopleural fIStula 21h montlIS after the operation and has required repeat closure with pedicled muscle flaps. In postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fIStula, the anterior, transpericardial approach to bronchial closure bas several advantages: the relatively weD-tolerated median sternotomy, the avoidance of dealing directly with areas of postoperative scarring and the devascularized bronchial stump, the avoidance of areas of chronic sepsis, and the avoidance of thoracoplastic surgical deformity of the chest wall, with possible associated compromise in pulmonary function. Our experience also indicates that either main-stem bronchus is accessible through an approach between the superior vena cava andaorta, without division of either pulmonary artery. .
Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, 2007
A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether bronchoscopic or other minimal access approaches to the closure of bronchopleural fistulae (BPFs) were effective compared to a conventional re-thoracotomy. Our search identified 1052 abstracts, from which we identified six case series of greater than two post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula patients. These series included reports of bronchial stenting, glue occlusion and scar obliteration of fistulae. No thoracoscopic techniques were reported except in case report form. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. We identified 85 post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulae reported in the literature who underwent bronchoscopic procedures to attempt repair. There was a 30% cure rate using a range of bronchoscopic techniques in t...