Bronchopleural Fistula after Pneumonectomy: Autosuture Versus Manual Suture

Lim, Hyoun Soo; Kang, Jung Ho; Chung, Won Sang; Kim, Young Hak; Kim, Hyuck; Lee, Chul Bum; Jee, Heng Ok

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Staple closure of bronchial stump was compared with manual suture closure among 100 cases of pneumonectomy during the recent 5-year period. We have reviewed the incidence of bronchpleural fistula between autosutured group and manual sutured group. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the recent 5-year period, 100 patients underwent pneumonectomy at Hanyang University Hospital. Staple closure of bronchial stump was performed in 65 patients and manual suture in 35 patients. There were 55 males and 10 females in the autosutured group, and 26 males and 9 females in manual sutured group, which showed no significant statistical difference between the two groups. The mean ages of patients for autosutured group and manual sutured group were 56.7+/-10.3 years and 61.4+/-9.2 years, respectively, which showed no significant statistical difference between the two groups. There were 38 cases of left pneumonectomy and 27 cases of right pneumonectomy in autosutured group, and 22 cases of left pneumonectomy and 13 cases of right pneumonectomy in manual sutured group. There were 53 cases of malignancy and 12 cases of benign imflammatory disease in autosutured group, and 27 cases of malignancy and 7 cases of benign imflammatory disease in manual sutured group. RESULT: The incidence of bronchopleural fistula was 6.1% in autosutured group and 5.7% in manual sutured group. The incidence of other postoperative complication between the two groups showed no significant statistical difference.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of bronchopleural fistula between autosutured group and manual sutured group was not different stastically. Both method for closure of bronchial stump can be performed in pneumonectomy.