[Clinical application of the omentum in chest surgery]

The benefit of the omentum in chest surgery was experimentally evaluated on the basis of findings in relation to recanalization of the bronchial artery in bronchoplasty with and without omental wrapping. The arterial blood supply at the anastomotic sites was observed in the early stage following bronchoplasty using the omental wrapping. Clinical application of the omentum in chest surgery was performed by wrapping anastomotic site at tracheobronchoplasty in 3 cases, bronchial stump coverage after lobectomy or pneumonectomy in 2 cases, repair of bronchial fistula following pneumonectomy in 1 case and repair of bronchopleurocutaneous fistula in pulmonary tuberculosis in 1 case. Six of these clinical cases could have favorable postoperative results. Based on these experimental and clinical results, we consider that the omentum is very useful tissue for wound healing in chest surgery.