[Complications in bronchoplastic surgery of benign and malignant lung neoplasms]

Out of 1629 patients who were hospitalised 1963 to 1973 for diagnosis and treatment of bronchogenic tumors, 731 underwent resection. 20 patients could be operated upon by lobectomy or bilobectomy and bronchial resection (Sleeve-resection). In two other patients the tumor could be resected through a bronchotomy. Postoperative complications were frequent (n = 6) on patients with malignant tumors (n= 15). We saw 3 times a bronchopleural fistula (2 patients had to be reoperated, 1 death), once a fatal empyema, once a fatal pneumonia of the contralateral side and once a bronchial stenosis of 50% of the lumen. On the patients with a benign tumor (n = 7) we saw in one patient a bronchopleural fistula and in another endobronchialgranulomas due to non resorbable suture material. Methods to prevent or cure these complications are presented consisting in the use of absorbable suture material and long lasting intrathoracic suction.