Surgical treatment of bronchlectasis: clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes

Background: This study aims to determine the clinical characteristics of the patients with bronchiectasis and evaluate the long-term outcomes of surgery. Methods: Medical records of 39 patients (23 males and 16 females; mean age 25.6 years; range, 5 to 63 years) with bronchiectasis who underwent surgical resection at Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Thoracic Surgery Department between January 2001 and June 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term follow-up data of the patients were obtained by the letter, telephone or outpatient control visits. Patients were evaluated according to the age, sex, etiological factors, symptoms, diagnostic methods, localization of lesion, surgery performed, morbidity, duration of hospital stay and long-term outcomes. Results: The most frequent symptoms were cough and sputum, while the most frequent etiological factor was having infections since childhood era. Twenty-two patients (56%) had left lung involvement, 11 patients (28%) had right lung involvement, and six patients (15%) had bilateral lung involvement. There were multiple lobe involvement in 16 patients (41%) and single lobe involvement in 23 patients (59%). The most affected region by bronchiectasis was the left lower lobe in 13 patients (33%). Complete resection was applied to 31 patients (80%), while incomplete resection was applied to eight patients (20%). From 33 patients of whose follow-up data were obtained, 22 (67%) were completely recovered, nine (27%) had improved clinical symptoms, and in two (6%) treatment failed. Complete and partial recovery ratios were 73% and 23% in patients undergoing complete resection, respectively and 43% and 43% in patients undergoing incomplete resection, respectively. Conclusion: In patients of bronchiectasis, surgical resection is a good treatment option with a success rate more than 90%. Complete resection has better long-term outcomes. However, incomplete resection can be also applied to the patients who are ineligible for complete resection.