Oesophagopleural fistula after pneumonectomy: A systematic review and case series

There is a paucity of data on the optimal management of oesophagopleural fistula (OPF) following pneumonectomy. The current published literature is limited to case reports and small case series. Although rare, OPF can have a significant impact on both the morbidity and mortality of patients.

Two cases of OPF managed at our institution were reported. A systematic review was then conducted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance concerning OPF following pneumonectomy. Demographic, operative and management data were analysed.

Systematic review-identified data pertaining to 59 patients from 31 papers was collated. Median patient age was 59.5 years with pneumonectomy performed typically for malignancy (68%) or tuberculosis (19%). Median time from pneumonectomy to a diagnosis of OPF was 12.5 months. Twenty-five per cent of the patients had a synchronous bronchopleural fistula. Management of OPF in this setting is heterogenous. Conservative management was often reserved for asymptomatic or unfit patients. The remainder underwent endoscopic or surgical correction of the fistulae or a combination of the two with varying outcomes. Median follow-up was 18 months. All-cause mortality was 31% (18/59) with a median duration from pneumonectomy to death of 35 days (range 1-1,095).

Major heterogeneity of management for this rare complication hinders the introduction of standardised guidance of post-pneumonectomy OPF. Surgical and endoscopic intervention is feasible and can be successful in specialist centres. Adopting an multidisciplinary team approach involving both oesophagogastric and thoracic surgery teams and the introduction of a registry database of postoperative complications are likely to yield optimal outcomes.