[Is endoscopic treatment of bronchopleural fistula useful?]

Extensive Subcutaneous Emphysema Post-traumatic Tube Thoracostomy

Bronchocutaneous fistula (BCF) is a pathologic communication between the bronchus and the subcutaneous tissue. Its diagnosis is made mainly by chest imaging, and bronchoscopy can help in accurately localizing the fistula. Treatment options include conservative and non-conservative approaches. We report a case of iatrogenic bronchocutaneous fistula occurring after traumatic chest tube placement in an 81-year-old man, treated efficiently with conservative management.

Conservative treatment of post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula

Post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula is a rare complication of lung resection surgery, and proper management is essential for its successful resolution. Most published papers deal with endoscopic and surgical treatment. We report our experience with conservative management. Data were collected by reviewing the clinical charts of patients diagnosed with post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula at the University Hospitals Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, and Puerta de Hierro, Majadahonda-Madrid, Spain, from June 2003 to December 2010. Bronchopleural fistula was diagnosed by means of endoscopic visualization. Treatment included the insertion of a thoracostomy drainage tube in the pleural cavity. In patients under mechanical ventilation, independent pulmonary ventilation was also applied. Seven cases of post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula were collected. Three of them occurred within the first week, another three within the first month and the remaining case after 10 months. The fistula size ranged between 6 mm and complete suture dehiscence. Two patients died due to causes unrelated to the treatment. The period of time elapsed for the resolution of this complication varied between 5 and 36 days. We conclude that conservative treatment of post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula is a safe and simple option that must be taken into account in the management of this problem.

Tratamento endoscópico de fístulas da árvore traqueobrônquica com dispositivos para a correção de defeitos do septo interatrial: resultados preliminares

As fístulas da árvore traqueobrônquica, sejam elas broncopleurais ou traqueoesofágicas, apresentam etiologia multifatorial, com incidência variável na literatura. Em geral, apresentam alta morbidade e mortalidade, com indicação formal de correção cirúrgica. Entretanto, a condição clínica dos pacientes muitas vezes não permite uma reintervenção cirúrgica de grande porte. Além disso, as tentativas de fechamento endoscópico raramente têm sucesso, principalmente em fístulas de grande diâmetro. Relatamos os casos de três pacientes submetidos ao fechamento endoscópico de fístulas, sendo duas maiores que 10 mm, com a aplicação de dispositivos oclusores utilizados na cardiologia intervencionista, de forma minimamente invasiva e com resultados iniciais positivos. Esses dados sinalizam que essa pode ser uma técnica promissora na resolução de fístulas da árvore traqueobrônquica.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator as a bridge to successful surgical repair of bronchopleural fistula following bilateral sequential lung transplantation: a case report and review of literature

Background

Lung transplantation (LTx) is widely accepted as a therapeutic option for end-stage respiratory failure in cystic fibrosis. However, airway complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, serious airway complications like bronchopleural fistula (BPF) are rare, and their management is very difficult.

Case presentation

A 47-year-old man with end-stage respiratory failure due to cystic fibrosis underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Severe post-operative bleeding occurred due to dense intrapleural adhesions of the native lungs. He was re-explored and packed leading to satisfactory haemostasis. He developed a bronchopleural fistula on the 14^th post-operative day. The fistula was successfully repaired using pericardial and intercostal vascular flaps with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (VV-ECMO) support. Subsequently his recovery was uneventful.

Conclusion

The combination of pedicled intercostal and pericardial flaps provide adequate vascular tissue for sealing a large BPF following LTx. Veno-venous ECMO allows a feasible bridge to recovery.