[Formation of the bronchial stump in pulmonectomy]

An analysis of different incidence of the development of the bronchus stump incompetence after right and left pulmonectomies (228 observations) has shown that the width of the membranous part and the form of the transverse cross-section of the main bronchus might influence the reliability of the stump created in suturing by approximating stitches. A method of strengthening the posterior wall of the bronchus stump has been developed by means of suturing the bronchus wall in the lateral direction so that the longitudinal axis of the stump be oriented in the sagittal plane. The method was used in 39 pulmonectomies. The punctate incompetence of the bronchus stump made its appearance in 3 patients.