[Bronchoplastic and angioplastic operations in bronchial carcinoma]

The various forms of bronchoplastic and angioplastic procedures are the best means of avoiding pneumonectomy. Essential indications are limited respiratory reserve and central site of a malignancy. In a retrospective study 248 broncho- and angioplastic operations carried out in the years 1973 to 1983 were analyzed. Reference date for the analysis of survival was January 1986. In consequence the minimum period of follow-up was two years. For all patients (n = 248) the 5-year-survival was 22% with a 30-day-lethality of 13%. The 5-year-survival of all bronchial sleeve resections operated radically (stage I and II of the TNM-classification) (n = 44) was 42% with a 30-day-lethality of 7%. The 5-year-survival of all bronchoplastic operations of stage I and II (n = 88) was 38% with a 30-day-lethality of 14%. Improved suture material and surgical techniques caused a reduction of operative lethality from 23% to 8% during the described period. In the first thirty postoperative days the following complications caused death: Hemoptysis (n = 5), insufficiency of the anastomosis (n = 3), right heart failure (n = 5), pulmonary embolism (n = 4) and sepsis (n = 1).