[Healing of bronchial anastomoses in lung transplantation: comparison of two techniques]

The authors present a group of patients with transplantations made in 1988 at the Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery of the Surgical University Clinic in Vienna under the guidance of Prof. W. Klepetko. This department serves also as a training place for the centre for transplantations of the lungs in the Faculty Hospital Motol. The standard technique of suture of bronchial anastomoses in transplantations of the lungs is continuous suture on the pars membranacea and individual stitches on the pars cartilaginea of the bronchus. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the results when using the established technique with the use of a new technique--suture of the anastomsis by one continuous stitch. The technique of one continuous stitch when suturing bronchial anastomoses is a safe method which gives similar results as the established technique. As it is simpler and saves time, it may be recommended for bronchial anastomoses during transplantation of the lungs. While using the mentioned techniques only a minimum of complications was recorded.