Closure of bronchopleural fistula by interventional bronchoscopy using sealants and endobronchial devices

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a communication in the form of a sinus tract between the pleural space and the bronchial tree. Chronic bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a rare but a serious complication of several pulmonary and postoperative conditions. BPF carries a high morbidity and mortality and is associated with prolonged hospital stay and thus high resource consumption. Till date surgical intervention has been the main stay of management of chronic BPF. Our study was carried out to study the efficacy of sealants like Bioglue, Tissel glue and endobronchial devices like coils to close the BPFs through bronchoscopic interventions in those cases which failed to close with the conventional treatment regimen and progressed to chronicity.

This study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. A total 25 patients of chronic BPF/air leaks were selected and subjected to bronchoscopic localization and subsequent intervention using sealants and coils.

Total 25 patients with chronic BPF were treated with bronchoscopic interventions using glues, and coils.23 patients were males and 2 were females and 14 were postoperative while 11 patients were non operative. Only smaller fistulas were amenable to glues and coils while there was recurrence in patients with larger air leaks requiring surgical intervention.

From this study it is concluded that non-operative bronchoscopic interventions to seal the air leaks are effective only in smaller air leaks i.e. alveolopleural fistula (APF). The larger air leaks like leaking stump and larger bronchopleural fistula have not got long lasting and encouraging results with sealants and endobronchial devices.