[Comparative study of mechanical and manual suture of bronchial stumps in pneumonectomy (author's transl)]

The incidence and time of onset of bronchial fistulae were retrospectively studied in 306 patients who underwent pneumonectomy at the Saint-Joseph Hospital, Paris, between 1975 and 1979. The bronchial suture was performed mechanically in 145 cases and manually in 161 cases. Patients in both groups were of comparable age, lung disease, side operated upon, nature of the bronchial division, post-operative course and surgeon's ability. From the results of the study, the authors have endeavoured to determine the advantages of mechanical suture as opposed to manual suture with regard to both operatory technique and quality of results.