[Comparison of various methods to close the stump of the main bronchus after pneumonectomy]

In 58 patients who underwent pneumonectomy, the stumps of the main bronchus were sutured manually (by the Sweet method in 13, the Overholt method in 12, and the modified Overholt method in 8) or with machines (TA-30 + S method in 15, TA-30 + O method in 10), and the methods to close the stump were evaluated according to the outcome and postoperative endoscopic findings. Cancer was positive at the stump in 3, and rupture of the membranous portion was observed in 1 in the mechanical suture group. Bronchial fistula was observed in 2 (12%) of the 25 patients in the mechanical suture group but in none of the 33 patients in the manual suture group. The line of closure of the bronchial stump observed by endoscopy was perpendicular to the crest at the tracheal bifurcation in patients sutured by the Sweet or TA-30 + S method, angulated in a chevron shape in many of those sutured by the Overholt method and those sutured by TA-30 + O method, and parallel to the crest in part of those sutured by Overholt method and those sutured by modified Overholt method. The mucosa at the stump was uneven in many patients who showed chevron shaped closure lines. By the modified Overholt method, the wall of the main bronchus could be resected more extensively, the mucosa at the stump was smooth, and the airway lumen showed no marked deformation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)