[Bronchopleural fistula as a complication of pulmonary resection]

During a 15-year period, when in the department for thoracic surgery in the Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1612 resections of the lungs were performed, the authors recorded 18 patients with bronchopleural fistulae. After pneumonectomies and lobectomies the incidence of this complication was recorded in 1.4%. The majority of fistulae was observed after resection on the lungs on account of bronchogenic carcinoma, in two patients after resection on account of a pulmonary aspergilloma. After resection on account of TB and bronchiectas is the authors did not observe bronchopleural fistulae. Treatment of the fistula was in two thirds of the patients of the investigated group conservative with a 33% lethality. In six patients on account of the fistula rethoracotomy was performed with a lethality of 66.6%. The total lethality during treatment of bronchopleural fistulae was 44.4%. The purpose of the present work is to draw attention to the serious character of this post-resection complication and to its possible prevention by preoperative preparation and surgical technique.