Impact of different coverage techniques on incidence of postpneumonectomy stump fistula

Objective: Postpneumonectomy bronchial stump fistula (PBSF) is a serious complication with a reported incidence between 0 and 12%. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effectiveness of different coverage techniques of the bronchial stump applied in a consecutive series of pneumonectomies in avoiding this particular problem. Methods: Between 1/87 and 10/97, 129 patients (90 male, 39 female, mean age 57.8 years, range: 15-78 years) underwent pneumonectomy by one surgeon (W.K.). In 14 patients, additional resection procedures were performed (aorta n = 6, vena cava n = 5, thoracic wall n = 3). In all patients with malignancies (n = 123), mediastinal lymphadenectomy was routinely added to the procedure. Bronchial stump closure was performed by means of stapling devices in all patients. Coverage of the bronchial stump was performed with a generous pedicled pericardial flap and concomitant reconstruction of the pericardium with Vicryl mesh (n = 50), with a portion of the posterior pericardium (n = 16), with the azygos vein (n = 12), with surrounding mediastinal tissue (n = 25), with pleura (n = 16), or with intercostal muscle flap (n = 3); no coverage at all was performed in seven patients. In all patients with high risk for development of PBSF, i.e. patients who received any form of neoadjuvant therapy or had extended resections, the pericardial flap technique was used. Results: Perioperative mortality was 5.4% (n = 7) and five patients (3.9%) experienced significant perioperative complications, with one of them directly related to the method of bronchial stump coverage (cardiac tamponade due to the use of a too small Vicryl mesh for reconstruction of the pericardium). Follow-up was 96.1% complete (five patients were lost to follow-up). Fourty-seven patients (36.4%) died late after operation (mean 19 +/- 13 months, median 17 months), mainly due to recurrence of their underlying malignant disease. PBSF occurred in one patient only (0.8%), 2 weeks after operation (coverage with pleura). No PBSF was seen in the long term follow-up period. Conclusion: Coverage of the bronchial stump contributes to a low incidence of PBSF. In view of the fact, that this serious complication was completely avoided in the pericardial flap group (used in patients with expected higher risk for PBSF), this particular technique seems to offer the best results. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.