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Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula: analysis of risk factors and the role of bronchial stump coverage

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Abstract

Purpose

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a potentially fatal complication of pneumonectomy. We analyze its occurrence rate, risk factors, and the methods used for its prevention.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent pneumonectomy at our Institution between January, 1990 and March, 2016. The risk factors for postoperative BPF were analyzed by univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression.

Results

Over the study period, 511 patients underwent pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and had the bronchus closed by manual suturing. BPF developed in 23 patients (4.5%). Multiple logistic regression identified no coverage of the bronchial stump, right-sided pneumonectomy, residual tumor in the bronchial stump, postoperative ventilatory support, and completion pneumonectomy, as independent risk factors for BPF. The cumulative rate of BPF decreased significantly over time from 18% between 1990 and 1995 to 1% between 2011 and 2016 (p < 0.001). Concurrently, the data of several patients showed a significant positive trend over time, including bronchial stump coverage (BSC).

Discussion

Several known risk factors for BPF were confirmed. The more frequent usage of tissue flaps for coverage of the bronchial stump may have contributed to the reduction in the rate of postoperative BPF over time.

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Author notes

  1. Marco Mammana and Giuseppe Marulli contributed equally to the paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Marco Mammana, Andrea Zuin, Giovanni Maria Comacchio, Elisa De Franceschi & Federico Rea

  2. Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University Hospital of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, 70120, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Marulli

  3. Biostatistic Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Egle Perissinotto

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  1. Marco Mammana
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  2. Giuseppe Marulli
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Marulli.

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Mammana, M., Marulli, G., Zuin, A. et al. Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula: analysis of risk factors and the role of bronchial stump coverage. Surg Today 50, 114–122 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-019-01871-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-019-01871-0

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