[Reconstructive surgery of the bronchi in inflammatory lesions]

"Reconstructive bronchial surgery" and "parenchyma-preserving operation" are terms which define the surgical purpose of restoring patency of the bronchial system or avoiding non-patency. This is beyond the limits of bronchoplasty. Inflammatory lesions are rare as reasons for reconstructive surgery. This indication applied to merely 13 of 120 of the author's patients who underwent reconstructive operations on their tracheobronchial system. Tuberculous aetiology was predominant. Bronchoplastic measures, therefore, were associated with lobectomy in almost all cases. Parenchyma-preserving operations may yield lasting success with minor complications even in cases of inflammatory processes, provided that indications were carefully established and operations performed with subtle techniques.