Transthoracic Closure of a Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula With Coils and Cyanoacrylate

Embolization coils in treating postoperative bronchopleural fistula: a systematic review

Objective

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate embolization coils in treating postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF).

Methods

A systematic review based on PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library studies was conducted. All cases receiving embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF were included. The primary outcome was the efficacy of embolization coils in achieving closure of postoperative BPF.

Results

20 patients from 9 studies were included in this systematic review. A median number of 3 (range: 1-10) embolization coils with sealants obtained a complete closure rate of 80% in patients with postoperative BPF with sizes ranging from 2 to 3.1 mm. Three patients with BPF over 3 mm and one with multiple organ failure failed this treatment. Two cases of coil migration were reported without causing respiratory failure or fistula recurrence.

Conclusion

Embolization coils might be considered a safe and effective bronchoscopic treatment for small postoperative BPF of less than 3 mm in size. More extensive and rigorous studies are needed to further evaluate and confirm the optimal use of embolization coils in the context of an alternative to surgical repair.

Case report: Endobronchial closure of postoperative bronchopleural fistula with embolization coil: a sandwich-like approach

Background

Embolization Coil has been reported to effectively treat postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF). Little detailed information was available on computer tomography (CT) imaging features of postoperative BPF and treating procedures with pushable Embolization Coil.

Objective

We aimed to specify the imaging characteristics of postoperative BPFs and present our experience treating them with the pushable Embolization Coil.

Methods

Six consecutive patients (four males and two females aged 29-56 years) diagnosed with postoperative BPF receiving bronchoscopic treatment with the pushable Nester® Embolization Coil (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana) were included in this single-center, retrospective study. Multiplanar reconstruction of multidetector CT scans was reviewed for the presence, location, size, and radiological complications of each BPF, including air collection, pneumothorax, bronchiectasis, and chest tube. Using standardized data abstraction forms, demographic traits and clinical outcomes were extracted from the medical files of these patients.

Results

The underlying diseases for lung resection surgery were pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 3), lung adenocarcinoma (n = 2), and pulmonary aspergillosis (n = 1). All patients had air or air-fluid collection with chest tubes on radiological findings. Multiplanar reconstruction identified the presence of postoperative BPF in all patients. Five fistulas were central, located proximal to the main or lobar bronchus, while one was peripheral, distant from the lobar bronchus. Fistula sizes ranged from 0.8 to 5.8 mm. Subsequent bronchoscopy and occlusion testing confirmed fistula openings in the bronchial stump: right main bronchus (n = 1), right upper lobe (n = 2), and left upper lobe (n = 3). The angioplasty catheter-based procedure allows precise fistula occlusion "like a sandwich" with the pushable Embolization Coil. Five patients with BPF sizes ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 mm were successfully treated with a pushable Embolization Coil, except for one with a BPF size of 5.8 mm. No adverse events or complications were observed throughout follow-up, ranging from 29 to 1,307 days.

Conclusion

The pushable Nester® Embolization Coil seems a minimally invasive, cost-effective, and relatively easy-to-perform bronchoscopic treatment for postoperative BPF with a size less than 2 mm. Further studies are required to ensure the use of pushable Embolization Coil in treating postoperative BPF.

A non-surgical option in large bronchopleural fistulas: Bronchoscopic conical stent application

Background

This study aims to compare the results of the open surgical approach versus endobronchial conical stent application in the treatment of extensive fistulas.

Methods

Between December 2004 and April 2016, a total of 36 patients (34 males, 2 females; mean age 59.6±8.1 years; range, 40 to 72 years) with a bronchopleural fistula of ≥8 mm in diameter and underwent either conventional open surgery with stump-supported intercostal muscle flap or endobronchial ultra-flex expandable stenting were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, operative data including the length of hospital stay, thoracic drainage time, and early mortality, and survival data were recorded.

Results

The mean hospitalization time was 17.4±4.5 days for the bronchoscopic group and 22.5±6.7 days for the invasive surgery group (p=0.026). The median time to removal of thoracic drains was 15 (range, 10 to 30) days for the bronchoscopic group and 26 (range, 14 to 55) days for the surgical group (p=0.027). Early mortality rates of both approaches were in favor of the bronchoscopic approach (χ²=7.058; p=0.008). Two-year survival rate was 76.47% (n=13) in the bronchoscopic group and 70% (n=7) in the surgical group. There was no statistically significant difference in the survival rates between the two groups (χ²=0.132; p=0.716).

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that bronchoscopic approach can be the first choice in the treatment algorithm of fistulas with a diameter of ≥8 mm presenting with empyema in selected cases.

Endoscopic closure of a bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy with the Amplatzer occluder: a step forward?

OBJECTIVES

A bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy is a relatively rare but very serious complication. The development of endoscopic methods of treatment opens a new page in treating this condition. The goal of this paper was to confirm that the atrial septal defect Amplatzer device can be used for bronchopleural fistula closure in properly selected patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 13 patients with bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy was performed. There were 11 men and 2 women aged 26-70 years. Right-sided fistulas occurred in 10 patients and left-sided fistulas occurred in 3. The underlying disease was lung cancer in 7 patients and pulmonary tuberculosis in 6. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (N = 7) and open-window thoracostomy (N = 6) were used to treat the empyema. To treat occlusion of the bronchial fistulas, we used Amplatzer atrial septal defect occluders originally intended for closure of ventricular and interatrial septal defects. The occluder was inserted from the bronchus by flexible bronchoscopy with the patient under local anaesthesia, with the help of video-assisted thoracoscopy or through a window thoracostomy from the pleural cavity.

RESULTS

We noted 3 complications after the procedure. In 2 patients, displacement of the occluders required re-installation in 1 patient and latissimus dorsi muscle coverage in the other. In the third patient, the occluder became dislodged during severe exacerbation of tuberculosis that occurred after the patient violated the treatment regimen. She died of tuberculosis 6 months after the occluder was inserted. The course in the remaining 10 patients was uneventful.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience suggests that the use of an atrial septal defect occluder for the treatment of a bronchial fistula after pneumonectomy is a reliable option.

[Bronchial fistula management. Is the exit found?]

AIM

To present treatment of bronchial fistulas by using of occluders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For the period from March 2015 to October 2016 Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) occluders have been used for bronchial fistulas occlusion (Lepu Medical Technology Co., Ltd.; Lifetech Scientific Co., Ltd.). These are devices designed to close ventricular and atrial septal defects. The procedure was performed in 8 patients with main bronchus fistula occurred after pulmonectomy for tuberculosis in 5 patients and lung cancer in 3 patients. Fistulas' dimensions were 6-26 mm. The procedure was performed with double visualization from pleural cavity (through the thoracostomy and port-assisted approach) and from bronchial lumen.

RESULTS

Seven out of 8 patients are currently alive (1 patient died from advanced tuberculosis of single lung). Occlusion is adequate in 6 patients, air drainage around around the occluder is noted in 1 patient. In 1 patient esophageal-pleural fistula occurred besides bronchial fistula. There was significant 2-3-fold decrease of residual pleural cavities volume and output volume. Patients feel satisfactory.

Biocompatible alkyl cyanoacrylates and their derivatives as bio-adhesives

Cyanoacrylate adhesives and their homologues have elicited interest over the past few decades owing to their applications in the biomedical sector, extending from tissue adhesives to scaffolds to implants to dental material and adhesives, because of their inherent biocompatibility and ability to polymerize solely with moisture, thanks to which they adhere to any substrate containing moisture such as the skin.

The experimental use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in pulmonary wedge resections

BACKGROUND

In this experimental study, the effectiveness of N-butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive on preventing air leakage after pulmonary wedge resection was observed.

METHODS

Twenty pairs of sheep lungs were used. Before initiating the study, the sheep lungs were ventilated to identify any air leakage from the parenchyma. On positive results, those sheep lungs were then excluded from the study. Wedge resection was performed on the right and left lower lobes of sheep lungs by clamping the edges forming a triangle of 5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm. One side of parenchyma was sutured by 3/0 vicryl (Group A) while the other side of parenchyma was sealed by N-butyl cyanoacrylate (Group B). After waiting for 5 min for N-butyl cyanoacrylate to dry, the sheep lungs were intubated by 6F endotracheal tubes. The lungs were soaked in a bath tub filled with 10 cm deep water and inflated by 40 mmHg pressure to record any air leakage from the parenchyma partially sutured by vicryl and sealed by N-butyl cyanoacrylate.

RESULTS

Air leakages were observed on the parenchyma surfaces of group of lungs (100%) sutured by vicryl (minimal 30%, mild 50% or massive 20% levels), while only on four of (20%) the other group of lungs sealed by N-butyl cyanoacrylate, minimal air leakage was observed on the parenchymal surface. There was an extremely significant difference between Group A and Group B in terms of the development of air leakage (p=000).

CONCLUSION

We consider that, N-butyl cyanoacrylate could be used effectively and safely to prevent air leakage from the pulmonary wedge resection surface.

Successful closure of intractable tracheoesophageal fistula using a combination of a modified silicon stent and metallic stents

Although surgery is the usual management strategy for acquired benign tracheoesophageal fistula, sometimes this approach is contraindicated or the patient declines surgical management. In this report, we describe a case of a patient with tracheoesophageal fistula at the level of the carina due to bronchial arterial infusion chemotherapy. Closure could not be achieved in response to multiple treatment strategies, including airway stenting, esophageal stenting, occlusion with microcoils, or cyanoacrylate glue. We subsequently achieved closure of this fistula through the combination of a modified silicon stent and metallic stents.

Bronchopleural fistula treated with a silicone-covered bronchial occlusion stent

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF), one of the potentially fatal complications after pulmonary resection, remains a therapeutic challenge. We present a case of postpneumonectomy BPF successfully managed with a silicone-covered bronchial occlusion stent. The BPF was successfully occluded without complications, and there was no stent migration or any other problem seen at the 1-year follow-up. This novel technique can be an effective option for the treatment of postoperative BPF.

Current surgical treatment of thoracic empyema in adults

A review of the recent literature on treatment modalities of adult thoracic empyema was conducted in order to expose the controversies and verify where consensus exists. Critical reading filtered through clinical experience was the method followed. The roles of surgical drainage, lavage techniques, debridement via VATS, decortication, thoracoplasty and open window thoracostomy were considered using the Oxford Center of Evidence Based Medicine criteria. The roles of the different therapeutical modalities were interpreted in the light of the triphasic nature of empyema thoracis. The randomised controlled trials came up with conflicting results. With two exceptions all of the papers reviewed provide level (2b) or below evidences. The lack of a single ideal treatment modality or policy reflects the complexity of the diagnosis and staging of this heterogeneous disease. Basic elements of intervention--drainage, different evacuation techniques, decortication, thoracoplasty and open window thoracostomy--are well-established technical modalities; however, neither a universally acceptable primary modality nor the gold standard of their sequence is available. Drainage remains to be the initial treatment modality in Phase I disease. Debridement via VATS is a safe, reliable and efficient method in the fibrinopurulent phase. Organised pleural callus requires formal decortication. Open window thoracostomy is a simple and safe procedure for high-risk patients and results in quick detoxication. Thoracoplasty kept its final role in pleural space management. Acute postoperative bronchial stump insufficiency requires immediate surgery. Evacuation of toxic material is mandatory. No single-stage procedure offers a solution. An optimised agressivity treatment modality should be tailored to the condition of the patient and to the potential of the persisting cavity. Decision-making involves a triad consisting of the aetiology of empyema (i.e. primary vs secondary), general condition of the patient and stage of disease, while considering the triphasic nature of development of thoracic empyema. The current attitudes show that the present concepts are based mainly on expert opinion. Flexibility and patience on behalf of the surgeon and nursing staff, the patient and the hospital management, as well as a good understanding of the complexity of this condition are the cornerstones of the treatment. No exclusive sequence of procedures leading to a uniformly predictable successful outcome is available. Individualised approaches can be recommended based on institutional practice and local protocols. Thoracic empyema in general seems to remain resilient to fit completely into the categories of evidence-based medical approach.