[Successful Treatment by Performing a Middle Lobectomy for a Postoperative Bronchus Intermedius Membrane Perforation...

We report a case of postoperative perforation in the bronchus intermedius membrane after pulmonary resection for lung cancer. An 83-year-old man with lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy+ND2a-1 dissection. On postoperative day 11, subcutaneous emphysema appeared to him, and chest radiograph showed niveau formation and pleural effusion on the operative side. Chest computed tomography( CT) suggested a bronchial membrane defect of the bronchus intermedius. We confirmed a bronchial perforation in the bronchus intermedius membrane by bronchoscopy and performed urgent operation. The defect of the perforated membrane was too large to be sutured directly, so a middle lobectomy was performed. After this operation, the patient had a small bronchial stump fistula which was successfully treated with endoscopic bronchial occlusion. Although the patient required treatment for heart failure, he recovered and was discharged 44 days after the reoperation. This perforation could be caused not only by bronchial ischemia due to subcarinal lymph node dissection, but also by injury to the adventitia of the bronchus intermedius membrane due to rough handling and unrecognized burning of the injured area with an electric scalpel. Thermal damage caused by energy devices needs to be noted.