Preventive Diaphragm Plasty after Pneumonectomy on Account of Lung Cancer

The use of diaphragmatic flap for the main bronchus stump reinforcement in right-sided pneumonectomy performed for destructive pulmonary tuberculosis with drug resistance of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>

INTRODUCTION. Drug-resistant tuberculosis with subtotal and total lesion of one of the lungs is the most common indication for pneumonectomy. This operation is accompanied by a high risk of postoperative complications, among which the most dangerous is pleural empyema with bronchopleural fistula. In this regard, the prevention of this complication is an extremely important task.The OBJECTIVE was to study the results of using a diaphragmatic flap to prevent the development of right main bronchus stump insufficiency with bronchopleural fistula in patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS AND MATERIALS. A retrospective study was carried out for the period from 2015 to 2019. The study included 13 patients who underwent right-sided pneumonectomy with diaphragmoplasty of the right main bronchus stump. Indications for diaphragmoplasty were: persistent bacterial excretion at the time of surgery, pre-existing bronchopleural fistula, intraoperative pleural contamination, progressive course of a specific process.RESULTS. The postoperative period was smooth in 10 (77 %) patients. Postoperative complications developed in 3 (23 %) patients: in 1 (7.7 %) case, there was right main bronchus stump insufficiency with bronchopleural fistula and in 2 (15.3 %) cases, there were right main bronchus stump insufficiency without bronchopleural fistula. A satisfactory immediate result was achieved in 12 (92.3 %) patients.CONCLUSION. The diaphragmatic flap is a reliable material for plasty of the right main bronchus stump in order to prevent the formation of bronchopleural fistula in destructive pulmonary tuberculosis.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic carinal resections: technical aspects and outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Important benefits in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer have recently been achieved. However, the use of this technique for complex sleeve procedures is limited. We describe the technical aspects of and patient outcomes following carinal resections using uniportal VATS.

METHODS

Since 2015, 16 sleeve carinal resections, including 11 right pneumonectomies, 4 right upper lobectomies and 1 lung-sparing carinal resection, have been performed at the Regional Clinic Hospital, Tyumen, Russia.

RESULTS

The mean surgical time was 215.9 ± 67.2 min (range 125-340 min). The mean blood loss volume was 256.3 ± 284.5 ml (range 50-1200 ml). There was 1 case of conversion to thoracotomy. The morbidity rate was 25%, and the mortality rate was 0%. The median overall survival was 38.6 ± 3.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of uniportal VATS for carinal resections in certain patients allows for radical resections with low rates of morbidity and mortality.

Repair of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula using pedicled pericardial flap supported by fibrin glue

Effective closure of the postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (PBF) with the use of different techniques still remains a challenge for thoracic surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified method of PBF closure using pedicled pericardial flap (PPF) supported by fibrin glue (FG). The efficacy of the late PBF closure with the use of two surgical methods was compared. In 10 patients, the edges of the PBF were covered with FG and PPF. In the second group of nine patients, myoplasty was used to close the bronchial fistula. Postsurgical follow-up was for 1 year. In the first group, the healing of the fistula was achieved in 100% of the cases, whereas in the second, myoplasty group, healing was achieved in only 66·67% of the cases. The number of complications was similar in both groups. Pericardial flap supported by fibrin glue can be an effective method adjunctive to the treatment of PBF in selected patients.

Pericardial flap: an effective method of surgical repair of late post-pneumonectomy fistula

BACKGROUND

We report our experience with the surgical closure of late post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (PBF) using our own method of coverage of the bronchial stump: Pedicled pericardial flap in combination with fibrin glue.

METHODS

We reviewed the surgical results of 33 patients who underwent surgical closure of PBF by thoracotomy access using three methods: Myoplasty (MYO)-12, omentoplasty (OMT)-10, and pedicled pericardial flap (PPF) with fibrin glue-11. Post-operative follow up was six months.

RESULTS

The patients' demography was comparable among the groups. The diameter of the fistulas ranged from 5 mm to total dehiscence. The mean time of the fistula manifestation (in weeks) was 21.5 in the MYO group, 19.50 in the OMT, and 20.1 in the PPF group. The shortest period of hospital drainage of the pleural space was noted in the PPF group. Healing of the fistula was obtained in 66.67% in the MYO group, 80% in the OMT, and 100% in the PPF group. The number of complications was similar in all groups. The hospitalization time was significantly shorter in the PPF group (13.00 d) versus the MYO group (19.58 d) and the OMT (20.01 d). Overall mortality rate was 18.18%; 33.33% of the patients in the MYO group and 20% in the OMT group died. There were no hospital deaths in the PPF group.

CONCLUSION

Pericardial flap supported by fibrin glue can be an effective method adjunctive to the treatment of postpneumonectomy PBF in selected patients. Compared with other methods of bronchial stump coverage (omentopasty and myoplasty), this one showed a higher percentage of healing of the fistulas and shorter duration of hospital drainage and hospitalization.