[Plastic and reconstructive surgery of the bronchial tree]

Bronchoplastic and reconstructive operations (BPRO) are a major issue in the broad methodological spectrum of thoracic surgery. It is the aim of the study to analyze the indications, operative technique and results of such operations on the basis of experience gained in the Clinic of Thoracic Surgery over a 5-year period. A total of 19 patients (14 men and 5 women) at mean age 50.7 y (range 16 to 70 y) are operated. By histological variant of the tumor operated on, the patients are distributed as follows: carcinoid--4 cases, fibromas--1, squamous cell carcinoma--10, adenocarcinoma--1, bronchoalveolar carcinoma--1, small-cell carcinoma--1 and leiomyosarcoma--one. The reconstructive operations performed include: isolated bronchus resection--2, right upper lobectomy with cuff resection--7, right upper bilobectomy with cuff resection--2, left upper lobectomy with cuff resection--7 (in two instances in conjunction with angioplasty), and left lower lobectomy with cuff resection and angioplasty--one. No intraoperative and perioperative lethality (within 30 days) is recorded. An overweight female patient with diabetes hardly lending itself to compensation develops severe suppuration. In two instances serious concurrent complications necessitate reoperation. Overall postoperative hospital stay--20 days; without the 3 severe complications--12.8 days. One patient dies of brain metastases within 6 months of the intervention. The survivorship term in the remainder varies from 1 year to 4 years 9 months, averaging 31 months. There are no stenoses or granulations of the anastomoses requiring endoscopic treatment. Presumably, BPRO are an adequate therapeutic approach to patients presenting centrally located malignant and benign tumors. The results of their application in the series being examined are estimated as very good.