Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
07:28
Donor Posterior Atrial Flap Rotation for Left Atrial Cuff Reconstruction in Lung Transplantation
Published on: October 11, 2024
540
Prophylactic Bronchial Stump Support With Intrathoracic Muscle Flap Transposition
Malke Asaad1, Amelia Van Handel2, Arya A Akhavan2
1From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|February 8, 2021
Summary
Intrathoracic muscle transposition for bronchial stump coverage is a viable option for preventing bronchopleural fistula (BPF) in high-risk patients undergoing pulmonary resection. This technique showed a low incidence of BPF and empyema in a retrospective review.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Surgical complications
- Pulmonary resection
Background:
- Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a serious complication after lung surgery.
- Vascularized tissue coverage of the bronchial stump is recommended for high-risk patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the experience with intrathoracic muscle transposition for bronchial stump coverage.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 160 patients undergoing muscle flap transposition between 1990 and 2010.
- Analysis of demographics, surgical characteristics, and complication rates.
Main Results:
- Serratus anterior was the most common flap (81%).
- Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) occurred in 6% of patients, and empyema in 8%.
- Median survival was 20 months, with 4% operative mortality.
Conclusions:
- Intrathoracic muscle transposition is a viable technique to potentially reduce BPF incidence.
- Further randomized studies are needed to confirm efficacy in BPF prevention.
