Bronchopleural fistula: a review of 86 cases

A review of all the bronchopleural fistulas which developed following pulmonary resection in the Department of Cardio-Vascular and Thoracic Surgery of The London Hospital between 1953 and 1973 is presented. During this period 3150 pulmonary resections were performed for various conditions and 86 fistulas occurred, an incidence of 2-7 per cent. The aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of these fistulas are discussed.