Giant emphysematous bullae: surgical treatment using the median sternotomy approach

Seven patients were operated for simultaneous excision of giant emphysematous bullae through a median sternotomy. They were all symptomatic and with a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse. Preoperative evaluation included bilateral chest tomograms and complete pulmonary function test. Surgical technique included bilateral resection of giant bullae and pleurodesis with minimal postoperative morbidity and no mortality. No correlation was found between symptomatic clinical improvement and measured postoperative pulmonary function. The median sternotomy approach is indeed the method of choice for bilateral giant emphysematous bullae.