Closure of a bronchopleural fistula using bronchoscopic placement of an endobronchial valve designed for the treatment of emphysema

Pneumothoraces are sometimes complicated by a persistent air leak or bronchopleural fistula requiring prolonged chest tube drainage. Non-surgical treatment of persistent bronchopleural fistulas is often performed in patients who are poor surgical candidates, but the ideal method of closure is not known. Here we report closure of a persistent distal bronchopleural fistula using a one-way endobronchial valve designed for the treatment of emphysema.     

Empyema necessitans in the setting of pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion

Empyema necessitans is a rare complication of pleural space infections and occurs when the infected fluid dissects spontaneously into the chest wall from the pleural space. This process may result from bronchopleural extension of a peripheral lung infection. These cases result from inadequate treatment of an empyema and usually occur after a necrotizing pneumonia or pulmonary abscess. We present two cases of empyema thoracic necessitans.     

胸腔冲洗在结核性支气管胸膜瘘术前治疗中的价值(附68例报告)

回顾性分析2010年1月至2016年12月河北省胸科医院胸外科收治的68例结核性支气管胸膜瘘患者的临床资料。68例患者均给予规律有效的抗结核药物治疗12~18个月,术前均通过胸腔冲洗(根据细菌培养情况给予生理盐水+异烟肼,或生理盐水+左氧氟沙星,或生理盐水+醋酸氯已定)治疗3~12个月,后经单纯胸腔冲洗、胸膜纤维板剥脱术、支气管胸膜瘘修补术、胸廓成形术等方法治疗。结果显示,68例患者经单纯胸腔冲洗瘘口闭合未行手术治疗治愈者7例;行胸膜纤维板剥脱及瘘口修补术治愈20例;行胸廓成形及瘘口修补术治愈38例;长期带管生存3例。对结核性支气管胸膜瘘患者术前应用胸腔冲洗可有效控制胸腔感染,为后期手术创造有利条件。     

Diagnostic problems in suppurative lung disease.

Eleven of 48 (23%) patients diagnosed as having lung abscess or empyema presented diagnostic problems in the localization of infected material. All 11 patients were found eventually to have empyemas, all but one of which was complicated by bronchopleural fistulas. Difficulty in distinguishing abscess from empyema on a chest roentgenogram delayed diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis from 1 to 12 days. Pleural effusions were noted in all but one of the patients who did not initially have a bronchopleural fistula. In addition, once the bronchopleural fistula became established, the extension of the air-fluid level to the chest wall, the tapered borders of the air-fluid pocket, and the extension of the lesion across fissure lines were noted, in retrospect, to be suggestive of pleural localization. Delay in the evacuation of empyema fluid can lead to chronic complications and increased morbidity. Early identification and treatment of pleural effusions may avoid these diagnostic and therapeutic problems.     

Pancreatic pleural effusion accompanied by bronchopleural fistula]

In recent years, chronic massive pleural effusions have been increasingly recognized as a serious complication of pancreatitis. We describe the third reported case of a pancreatic pleural effusion accompanied by bronchopleural fistula. A 49-year-old man suffering from chronic alcohol-related pancreatitis was admitted to our hospital complaining of cough and shortness of breath. A chest x-ray film disclosed a large right pleural effusion with an air-fluid level. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the upper abdomen demonstrated a giant pancreatic pseudocyst in the pancreatic tail and a fistulous tract reaching into the posterior mediastinum via the esophageal hiatus. Thoracentesis revealed sterile hemorrhagic fluid with markedly elevated amylase activity of 20,955 IU/l (pancreatic isozyme, 100%) and no malignant cells. A diagnosis of pancreatic pleural effusion was made. The therapy for pancreatic internal fistula is somewhat controversial. We employed conservative therapy, including hyperalimentation and chest tube drainage that successfully decreased the pleural effusion and closed the fistulous tract. Nonetheless, we were still troubled by a continuous air-leak via the drainage tube. Pleurodesis confirmed the tentative diagnosis of bronchopleural fistula and successfully stopped the air-leak. No re-accumulation of pleural effusion has been seen for 2 years. We concluded that pancreatic enzyme-rich effusions, if long-standing, may be complicated by bronchopleural fistula, thus underscoring the need for urgent drainage and initially conservative management.     

A pancreatico-bronchial fistula with right hydropneumothorax

A 39-year-old heavy drinker was admitted to Saga Medical School Hospital on February 21th, 1987. He had suffered from dyspnea, chest pain and lumbago three weeks prior to admission. His chest X-ray showed right hydropneumothorax and right lower lobe atelectasis and his CT scan showed a cystic lesion in the mediastinum. His laboratory data showed a high level of amylase in serum, urine and pleural effusion. A fistula connecting the pancreas to right pleural cavity was demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In addition, bronchoscopy showed complete obstruction of the right lower bronchus (B7). These bronchoscopic findings and hydropneumothorax on his chest X-ray suggested the leakage of pancreas juice through the pancreatico-pleural fistula injured the lung tissue directly and produced a bronchopleural fistula. In this case, hyperalimentation and drug therapy using protease inhibitor resulted in successful closure of the fistula and reexpansion of the collapsed lung.     

Triple reinforcement of bronchial stump

Various methods are used to prevent bronchopleural fistula following anatomical lung resection, as bronchopleural fistula constitutes a life-threatening complication. Pleural flaps are less vascularized, whereas an intercostal muscle flap, although well vascularized, does not offer enough strength for repair. We describe here the use of pleural flaps to strengthen a bronchial closure and cover the defect. Subsequently, an intercostal muscle flap is buttressed over the bronchial stump.     

Bronchopulmonary fistula closure with an Amplatzer Multi‐Fenestrated Septal Occluder

Bronchopulmonary fistula, a communication between the bronchial airway and the pleural space, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality often requiring surgical therapy. A successful closure of a fistula from the posterior trachea to the right apical pleural space in a 60‐year‐old man with a history of Barrett's esophagus, esophagectomy, multiple pulmonary infections, and right upper lobectomy using an Amplatzer Multi‐Fenestrated Septal Occluder via a transbronchial approach is reported. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Tuberculous empyema

Tuberculous empyema represents a chronic, active infection of the pleural space that contains a large number of tubercle bacilli. It is rare compared with tuberculous pleural effusions that result from an exaggerated inflammatory response to a localized paucibacillary pleural infection with tuberculosis. The inflammatory process may be present for years with a paucity of clinical symptoms. Patients often come to clinical attention at the time of a routine chest radiograph or after the development of bronchopleural fistula or empyema necessitatis. The diagnosis of tuberculous empyema is suspected on computed tomography imaging by finding a thick, calcific pleural rind and rib thickening surrounding loculated pleural fluid. The pleural fluid is grossly purulent and smear positive for acid-fast bacilli. Treatment consists of pleural space drainage and antituberculous chemotherapy. Problematic treatment issues include the inability to re-expand the trapped lung and difficulty in achieving therapeutic drug levels in pleural fluid, which can lead to drug resistance. Surgery, which is often challenging, should be undertaken by experienced thoracic surgeons.     

Bronchial stump coverage and postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula

To prevent postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula, coverage of the bronchial stump is recommended, especially for patients treated with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy. We compared outcomes after proximal pericardial fat pad coverage and coverage with pleura and surrounding tissues, by retrospective analysis of the records of 243 patients. Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula occurred in 7/143 (4.9%) patients who had pericardial fat pad coverage, and in 6/100 (6.0%) treated by pleural covering. Bronchopleural fistula occurred in 11 patients within 21 days, in one after 2 months, and one after 6 months. Univariate analysis of comorbidities and risk factors did not show any significant differences between the groups. Advanced T stage and carcinomatous lymphangiosis at the resection margin were associated with a higher risk of bronchopleural fistula development, independent of the technique. Reinforcement of the bronchial stump by proximal pericardial fat pad coverage appears to be safe and feasible. It is comparable to coverage with pleura and surrounding tissues.     

Treatment of postpneumonectomy empyema

Postpneumonectomy empyema with or without (bronchopleural) fistula is an infrequent but serious, and often life-threatening complication. In 20 of our patients postpneumonectomy empyema was discovered. The time interval between original operation and discovery of the empyema varied from 9 days to 9 years. In two cases, the empyema had been found and treated initially at another hospital but not adequately, so that at the time of treatment by us the bronchopleural fistula had already been present for 8 and 19 years. In 13 cases a bronchial stump fistula was discovered. In five patients the fistula was successfully closed endoscopically with glue. In one patient closure was performed by transmediastinal stump resection, in three patients with a fistula thoracoplasty was performed. In three patients we achieved closure by transposition of pedicled muscle flaps. In one of these patients a septic condition could be mastered by performing window thoracotomy. Two patients without fistula were successfully treated with irrigation, and two further patients with thoracostomy. In one patient recovery was achieved by medication after puncture. Two patients died of sepsis and after thoracoplasty. If a fistula is present, drainage with irrigation and endoscopical glueing should be the initial treatment. This should be followed by resection of the bronchial stump. If there is no fistula or if the stump is too short thoracostomy is the treatment of choice. If it is not successful thoracoplasty has to be performed.     

Late esophagopleural fistula after left pneumonectomy: report on one case

Esophagopleural fistula is an uncommon complication of pneumonectomy. Late nonmalignant esophagopleural fistula after left pneumonectomy for lung cancer is exceedingly uncommon. We report on one patient who developed such a fistula 33 months after the operation. Signs and symptoms were first attributed to infection of the thoracotomy incision and diagnosis was made only after detection of some food coming from the pleural space. Thoracostomy, enteral feeding by a percutaneously placed gastrostomy tube and myoplasty allowed both closure of the fistula and obliteration of the pleural space.     

Omentoplasty in treatment of early bronchopleural fistulas after pneumonectomy

This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of omentoplasty in 12 cases of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy. All fistulas formed within 16 days after the primary operation (median, 7 days). In 10 cases, omentoplasty was performed within 10 hours of diagnosis; the other 2 cases were treated at 28 and 31 hours. The greater omentum was mobilized through a laparotomy and secured tightly around the bronchial stump using original principles of fixation. After omentoplasty, dehiscence of the bronchial stump was observed in 5 (42%) patients, but owing to reinforcement with greater omentum, recurrence of the fistula was observed in only one case. In 3 patients, recurrence of pleural empyema did not lead to the return of the bronchopleural fistula. Hospital mortality was 8.3% (one patient). In patients without bronchopleural fistula recurrence, the median postoperative hospital stay was 31 days. Early omentoplasty for bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy is an effective procedure that eliminates purulent bronchopleural complications completely within the shortest possible period of time.     

Postoperative residual pleural spaces: characteristics and natural history

This study was conducted in order to re-define the incidence and natural history of postresectional residual pleural spaces (PRS). From 1997 to 2005, 966 patients who were subjected to less than entire lung resections, were followed and any cases of PRS were recorded. The records of these patients were retrospectively analyzed for age, gender, type of resection, side, apical or basal location, size, PRS wall thickness, empyema as well as for bronchopleural fistula occurence, management, and outcome. Postresectional residual pleural spaces outcome was correlated with space characteristics. A total of 92 cases (9.5%) of PRS were documented which developed frequently ( p < 0.001) after upper lobectomies, malignant disease, at an apical location, and on the right side. Unfavorable outcome was strongly correlated with age > 70 years ( p < 0.001), air leak ( p < 0.001), empyema ( p < 0.001), and thickened pleura ( p < 0.001). Good prognosis of PRS was strongly correlated with male gender, apical location, right side, normal pleura thickness, and small size. Postresectional residual pleural spaces of small size without any associated complications should not prolong hospitalization time.     

Life-threatening complications associated with Bacillus cereus pneumonia

Bacillus species are identified as pathogens in lung and pleural space infections with increasing frequency. We report a patient who developed life-threatening complications of Bacillus cereus pneumonia, including massive hemoptysis, acute respiratory failure, tension pneumothorax, empyema, and bronchopleural fistula. We also review the pertinent literature concerning the associated underlying disorders, complications, and therapy of Bacillus species pulmonary infections.     

Fibrin glue closure of persistent bronchopleural fistula following pneumonectomy for post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis

We report a case of a persistent bronchopleural fistula following a pneumonectomy for post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis. The patient had two unsuccessful surgical attempts at closing of the fistula. Further surgical attempts were technically were not possible. Bronchoscopic closure was achieved by injecting human fibrin glue into the fistula via a catheter. Closure of the broncho-pleural fistula was confirmed by repeated ventilation scan over a period of 2 months. Endoscopic closure of small bronchopleural fistulae is an attractive option in children with significant underlying lung disease.     

福建省高致病性禽流感A/H5N1病毒感染并支气管胸膜瘘患者的救治体会

目的 总结重症高致病性禽流感A/H5N1病毒感染(简称人禽流感)患者的临床特点、治疗经验以及合并支气管胸膜瘘的处理方法.方法 对2007年2月福建省建瓯市立医院成功救治的1例重症人禽流感并发右侧支气管胸膜瘘患者的临床资料和诊治过程进行回顾性分析.结果 患者女,44岁,发病前3 d有病死鸡接触史,以发热、气促为主要症状,经呼吸道分泌物检测A/H5N1病毒核酸阳性确诊.患者住院第7天发展为急性呼吸窘迫综合征,病情重、进展快,病程中出现呼吸机相关肺炎、双侧气胸、右侧支气管胸膜瘘等多种并发症.经奥司他韦抗病毒、糖皮质激素抗炎、输注康复期血浆、机械通气、抗感染等治疗,病情有所缓解,但支气管胸膜瘘持续存在并形成脓胸,导致脱机困难.经纤维支气管镜下气囊探查加选择性支气管封堵术、经纤维支气管镜右侧支气管胸膜瘘OB胶粘堵术等介入治疗,患者痊愈,发病第99天出院.结论 人禽流感并发难治性支气管胸膜瘘患者在采取抗病毒、抗感染、机械通气支持、输注康复期血浆等综合治疗的基础上结合介入治疗是可行的.     

Delayed closure of persistent postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula

A 73-year-old man with a history of postpneumonectomy empyema and a long-term chest tube since 1979 presented with fever, chills, leukocytosis, and purulent fluid from the left tube thoracostomy. CT scan and bronchoscopy demonstrated a right lower lobe pneumonia and a left mainstem dehiscence with direct communication to the left tube thoracostomy. He underwent primary closure of the bronchopleural fistula with latissimus dorsi muscle flap coverage after antibiotic therapy for right lower lobe pneumonia.     

Ceftazidime-avibactam and intrapleural amikacin therapy for extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa thoracic empyema: A case report

Introduction:Thoracic empyema and concomitant bronchopleural fistula are serious complications of pneumonia. The treatment of empyema caused by extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDR-PA) has become increasingly challenging.Patient''s concerns and important clinical findings:A 57-year-old woman with controlled schizophrenia developed hospital-associated bacterial pneumonia secondary to P. aeruginosa on day 13 of hospitalization for brain meningioma surgery.Diagnosis:Chest radiography and computed tomography revealed right-sided necrotizing pneumonia with pneumothorax, a focal soft tissue defect over the right lower chest wall, and a mild right-sided encapsulated pleural effusion with consolidation. XDR-PA was isolated on empyema cultures.Interventions:The patient was treated with intrapleural amikacin as a bridge to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, followed by novel ceftazidime-avibactam therapy.Outcomes:On the 104th day of admission, the patient underwent chest wall debridement and closure. The patient was discharged on day 111. Twenty-eight days after discharge, there were no observable sequelae of empyema.Conclusion:Although the minimum inhibitory concentration of ceftazidime-avibactam for XDR-PA is relatively high (8 mg/L), this report emphasizes the efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam treatment for XDR-PA empyema, as well as the importance of source control.     

Omental pedicle flap used to treat a bronchopleural fistula after diaphragma--pericardio-pleuropneumonectomy

In a 47-year-old male patient a bronchopleural fistula was apparent 22 days after extended right-sided diaphragma-pericardio-pleuro-pneumonectomy for pleuramesothelioma. The thoracic cavity was infected. Rethoracotomy was performed and the fistula was closed using an omental pedicle flap. The bronchial stump became tight and the cavity fluid became sterile. No abdominal complications were seen. The patient died 8 months later from malignant pericardial infiltration. The ability of greater omentum to revascularize ischemic tissue, to absorb fluid and to resist local infection is proved and used in several subspecialities of surgery. Nevertheless the use of the greater omentum in the management of bronchopleural fistula has been rarely published. The reported case shows that the closure of a large bronchopleural fistula is possible by using the attributes of the omental tissue.