Surgical management of broncholithiasis

Fifty-two patients (31 men and 21 women) were treated for complications of broncholithiasis between 1969 and 1984. Mean age was 50.8 years (range 26 to 74 years). Indications for operation included symptoms in 49 patients and an abnormal chest x-ray film in three. Broncholithectomy was initially attempted by thoracotomy in 40 patients and by bronchoscopy in 12. In the thoracotomy group broncholithectomy was successful in all patients, 32 of whom underwent pulmonary resection. Significant postoperative complications occurred in five patients (12.8%). There was one postoperative death (2.5%). In the bronchoscopy group broncholithectomy was successful in eight patients (67%); significant complications occurred in two and there were no early deaths. Subsequent thoracotomy was done in three of the four patients in whom bronchoscopic removal was unsuccessful. Follow-up averaged 76.5 months (range 6 to 183 months). The 15 year survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) for all patients was 75.1% and did not differ from a control group of patients. No patient in the thoracotomy group had recurrent complications of broncholithiasis. In contrast, complications recurred in three of the eight patients (37.5%) successfully treated by bronchoscopy. We conclude that broncholithectomy via thoracotomy is the preferred treatment, as the risks are low and the long-term results are excellent.