Nil Intervention is at Times the Best Intervention: Benign emptying of pneumonectomy space.

A sudden drop of air-fluid level in the pneumonectomy space in the absence of a bronchopleural fistula and pleural infection is termed benign emptying of the pneumonectomy space (BEPS). We report a 28-year-old female patient who presented to a tertiary care referral centre, in Pondicherry, India in 2020 with multiple episodes of vomiting. Subsequent to a left-sided pneumonectomy due to tuberculosis, she was diagnosed with BEPS. Generally, patients with BEPS are clinically stable, afebrile with no fluid expectoration and have a normal white blood cell count. Bronchoscopy reveals an intact bronchial stump and pleural fluid cultures are often sterile. In terms of management, close monitoring and early detection of a bronchopleural fistula are the key points. BEPS should be a differential diagnosis in case of a drop in the air-fluid level of the post-pneumonectomy space. Awareness of this entity is crucial as it helps prevent unnecessary and morbid surgical interventions.

[Staged reconstructive surgery for bronchopleural fistula]. / Etapnaya rekonstruktivno-vosstanovitel'naya khirurgiya pri bronkhoplevral'nom svishche.

Treatment of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy is still an urgent problem for thoracic surgeons. Transsternal bronchial stump occlusion should be preferable if possible. However, this is not enough for curing in some cases. We present a patient with concomitant cancer and tuberculosis of lungs whose postoperative period was complicated by bronchial stump failure. Preoperative diagnostic data are presented. We describe the indications for surgeries and main surgical stages. Some interventions including reconstructive surgery using a muscle flap led to recovery. Latissimus dorsi muscle flap on thoracodorsal artery is the best option for reconstructive surgical treatment in patients with extensive chest wall defects and thoracostomy.

[Diagnosis and treatment of bronchopleural fistula after anatomical lung resections]. / Khirurgiya bronkhoplevral'nogo svishcha posle anatomicheskikh rezektsii legkikh.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the factors causing air leakage after anatomical lung resections and present a rational tactical approach for timely establishing the cause and level of bronchial fistula. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 723 patients who underwent anatomical lung resection (pneumonectomy - 136 patients, anatomical lobectomy and segmentectomy - 513, video-assisted anatomical resection - 74 patients). RESULTS: In 506 (69.9%) cases, complete lung inflation after surgery was observed within 24-48 hours. Persistent air discharge for more than 3 days was observed in 141 (19.5%) patients. Prolonged air leakage for more than 7 postoperative days occurred in 50 (6.9%) patients. Air discharge for more than 10 days was considered abnormal and observed in 20 (2.8%) patients. Redo surgeries were performed in 49 patients with bronchopleural fistula at the level of segmental bronchi. Forty-two patients after primary thoracoscopy and 6 ones after primary thoracotomy underwent video-assisted resection of the lung with bronchopleural fistula after previous surgery. In 11 patients, re-thoracotomy was performed: middle lobectomy after previous right-sided upper lobectomy in 2 patients, lung resection after previous segmentectomy in 8 cases and atypical resection of bulla after previous right-sided lower lobectomy in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Surgical approach for persistent postoperative air leakage involves various surgical interventions. The best option is minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedure. This method is valuable to visualize bronchopleural fistula, eliminate air leakage, additionally reinforce pulmonary suture and perform targeted adequate drainage of the pleural cavity.

Tubercular Bronchoesophageal Fistula in an Adolescent Girl.

Bronchoesophageal fistula is a rare complication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children. An adolescent girl who was diagnosed of tubercular mediastinal lymphadenopathy with associated bronchoesophageal fistula at presentation, is reported here. This 16-y-old girl presented with high-grade fever, cough, decreased appetite, weight loss for 3 mo, and breathlessness for 10 d. Chest radiograph revealed hilar lymphadenopathy with bilateral pleural effusion. GA GeneXpert was positive for mycobacterium and rifampicin sensitivity. Despite antitubercular therapy cough persisted and there was a history of dry cough with food intake, especially more on liquids. Bronchoscopy and CECT chest confirmed bronchoesophageal fistula in the right main bronchus just below the carina. Child continued on tube feeding and antitubercular therapy. After completion of intensive phase, child improved with resolution of clinical symptoms and scarring of tract on repeat bronchoscopy. It is concluded that in children with combination of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and persistent cough following intake of food needs careful evaluation for trachea/bronchoesophageal fistula.

A systematic review of therapies for aortobronchial fistulae.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to summarize epidemiologic data about aortobronchial fistulae and compare outcomes (mortality, recurrence, reoperation) of open, staged, and endovascular repair of aortobronchial fistula. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify eligible studies published between January 1999 and December 2019. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used as search engines. Eligible studies included articles reporting postoperative outcomes (death/follow-up). Literature review revealed only case reports and small case series, and thus, only descriptive data with data heterogeneity were available. The corresponding authors were contacted to provide additional information or outcome updates (recurrence/reoperation/death). RESULTS: Overall, 214 patients (90 studies) underwent 271 procedures (including redo procedures and staged procedures). Most of the patients were treated by endovascular means (72.42%). Open surgical repair was performed in 21.96% and staged procedures in 5.6%. Aortobronchial fistulae were located most often in the descending thoracic aorta (zone 3 or 4) (64.6%) and in zone 2 (23.8%). Fourteen percent of aortobronchial fistulae developed after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair. Recurrence or infection occurred in 20% (43) patients. Recurrences were, to some extent, associated with the presence of endoleak. Long-term antibiotic administration (>1 month) was instituted in 63 patients (29.4%), whereas 90 patients (42%) did not receive antibiotics beyond hospitalization. From the remaining 61 patients, 3 received lifelong antibiotics and for 58 patients data were not available. Considering outcomes, the mean follow-up was 25.1 months (0-188 months) and not significantly different among treatments. LIMITATIONS: Literature review has revealed only case reports and small case series, and thus, only descriptive data were available. Randomized controlled trials are not available due to the rarity of the disease, which significantly decreases the power of the present study. Also, this study reflects significant data heterogeneity due to the nature of the analyzed manuscripts and would benefit from large patient cohort studies that have not been conducted till today. CONCLUSIONS: Aortobronchial fistula is a complex disease. Endoleaks may be involved in the development and the recurrence process, and they should not be disregarded. Considering major outcomes (length of follow-up), the available treating strategies are equal, and thus, surgeons should feel confident to apply the treatment of their choice, keeping in mind their experience, patient's age, and clinical condition.

[Surgical treatment of bronchopleural complications after lung resection and pleurectomy in patients with tuberculosis]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie bronkhoplevral'nykh oslozhnenii posle rezektsii legkogo i plevrektomii u bol'nykh tuberkulezom.

OBJECTIVE: To increase an efficiency of surgical treatment of bronchopleural complications after lung resections and pleurectomies through the development of modern indications, treatment strategies, techniques and postoperative management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed data in 252 patients with bronchopleural complications after lung resections and pleurectomies. The study included patients who underwent treatment at the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis for the period 2004-2010, Clinical Hospital of Phthisiopulmonology of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University for the period 2011-2017 and Thoracic Center of the Republic of Ingushetia for the period 2015-2019. The study included patients with postoperative pleural empyema divided into two groups: group I - 138 patients with empyema and bronchial fistula; group II - 114 patients with empyema and no bronchial fistula. In the 1st group, 1 patient had bronchial and esophageal fistulas. RESULTS: At discharge, empyema and bronchial fistula were eliminated in 245 (97.2%) patients of both groups. Overall in-hospital mortality was 1.6% (4 cases). Two (1.4%) patients died within 30 days in group I and 1 (0.9%) patient died in group II. Within 90 days after surgery, another patient died from acute cerebrovascular accident in group I. In long-term period, overall effectiveness of treatment of bronchopleural complications was 97.2% (208 out of 214 cases). CONCLUSION: The original surgical approach for bronchopleural complications considers timing of postoperative empyema, its spread and duration. This method together with minimally invasive interventions reduces mortality and ensures stable recovery after bronchopleural complications in 97.2% of patients.

[Esophagotracheal and esophagobronchial fistulas]. / Ösophagotracheobronchiale Fisteln.

Esophagobronchial and esophagotracheal fistulas are rare but complex diseases with a heterogeneous spectrum of underlying etiologies. Common causes are locally advanced tumors of the esophagus and larynx, traumatic perforation from the esophageal or tracheal side as well as postoperative fistulas. The management of esophagotracheal and esophagobronchial fistulas always involves different health care providers and in most cases patients require a multidisciplinary treatment on the intensive care unit. The therapeutic concept primarily depends on the underlying cause, localization and size of the fistula but decision making is also influenced by the severity of the course of sepsis and the extent of the respiratory dysfunction. Endoscopic management with esophageal and/or tracheobronchial stenting is the most common treatment. Surgical reconstructive procedures are predominantly reserved for patients with a treatment refractory fistula or a septic multiple organ failure. The prognosis is particularly influenced by the underlying disease.

Bronchoscopic Treatment of Tracheobronchial Fistula With Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma.

Tracheobronchial fistula (TBF) is a challenging management condition. Several bronchoscopic procedures have been tried for fistula closure. However, none has been found to be superior to the others. We herein describe a novel technique involving the submucosal injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma (auto-PRP) around the fistula to close the TBF. After auto-PRP treatment, all 3 TBF patients have successfully healed. No treatment-related complications and fistula-related symptoms were detected. Thus, this application of auto-PRP for fistula closure is a feasible and cost-effective strategy and could be recommended as a valuable therapeutic alternative for repairing postoperative TBF.

Salvage Lobectomy to Treat Necrotizing SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia Complicated by a Bronchopleural Fistula.

We report a case of necrotizing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia complicated by a bronchopleural fistula and treated by decortication and salvage lobectomy. Owing to the unknown characteristics of the underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment of the abscess and bronchopleural fistula was delayed. This may have resulted in further deterioration of the patient, with ensuing multiple organ dysfunction. Complications of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, such as a bacterial abscess and a bronchopleural fistula, should be treated as if the patient were not infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Rare broncho-pulmonary arterial fistula in a healthy 9-year-old girl.

A 9-year-old previously well girl presented with multiple episodes of large volume haemoptysis and right sided consolidation. She continued to have haemoptysis despite intravenous antibiotics. CT chest suggested a right mainstem endobronchial lesion; this was not seen on bronchoscopy where an extensive blood clot was removed. Distal flexible bronchoscopy could not identify the source of bleeding. CT angiogram revealed a broncho-pulmonary arterial fistula, a rare cause of haemoptysis in children. Endovascular embolisation resulted in short-term symptom resolution; however, haemoptysis recurred months later, leading to re-embolisation. This case highlights a stepwise approach to the workup of large volume haemoptysis.

Death due to a bronchus-pulmonary artery fistula developed 19 years after radiotherapy: A forensic autopsy case report.

Radiotherapy, one of the standard therapies for lung cancer management, may cause severe late complications. In this case report, we describe the forensic autopsy report of a middle-aged man who died from a massive hemoptysis due to a bronchus-pulmonary artery fistula that developed 19 years after radiotherapy. The man, in his 50 s, suddenly developed hemoptysis at home and collapsed. He was in complete remission with no signs of recurrence. Autopsy revealed massive hemorrhage from the bronchus-pulmonary artery fistula, where radiotherapy had been focused. Histopathological findings showed chondronecrosis of the bronchus, disruption of elastic fibers of the pulmonary artery, and marked thickening of the intima of the small arteries around the fistula, which were compatible with radiation reaction. Neither cancer recurrence nor infection was evident. This case suggests that a late complication of radiotherapy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient who was previously received radiotherapy and presents with massive hemoptysis. In such cases, a detailed history on previous therapies and careful examination of the origin of hemorrhage are necessary to determine the cause of death.

Development of Bronchopleural Fistula Complicated by Empyema Fifteen Years After Right Lower Lobe Lobectomy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Bronchopleural fistula formation is a rare complication of lobectomy surgery, with a frequency reported ranging from 0.5% to 1%. A post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula usually presents within 14 days of surgery. To our knowledge, it is extremely rare for a bronchopleural fistula to develop many years after an operation. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 55-year-old male smoker with history of a right lower lobe lobectomy 15 years prior who presented to the Emergency Department with complaints of worsening back pain, shortness of breath, and cough productive of sputum. He was found to have a right bronchopleural fistula with right-sided empyema. He was taken to the operating room a few days after initial admission for right thoracoscopic chest exploration, right chest debridement, right chest wall resection, and window procedure with creation of pleurocutaneous fistula. Ultimately, he required a right completion pneumonectomy and buttress of bronchial stump with transdiaphragmatic omental flap. CONCLUSIONS We diagnosed a rare case of post-lobectomy bronchopleural fistula complicated by an empyema that demonstrates bronchopleural fistulas can appear 15 years postoperatively and present with subacute clinical signs and symptoms.

36-year-old man • persistent dry cough • frequent sinus congestion • hemoptysis • Dx?

► Persistent dry cough ► Frequent sinus congestion ► Hemoptysis.

A 21-Year-Old Immune-Competent Man With Recurrent Cough.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old Chinese man presented with a nonproductive cough for the past 5 months. He denied fevers, chills, night sweats, chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis, or weight loss. He was an undergraduate with an unremarkable medical history. He denied any sick contacts and he never smoked. Laboratory tests showed a leukocyte count of 11,200/µL (normal range, 3,500-9,500/µL) with a high neutrophil count and a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 81 mm/h. The purified protein derivative skin test result was positive, and a TB test (T.SPOT.TB; Oxford Immunotec) produced a positive result. The HIV test result was negative. The lung window of the patient's thoracic CT scan showed mottled, patchy opacification in the right lower lobe, and enlarged mediastinal and right hilar lymph nodes (Fig 1A). Bronchoscopy showed mucosal swelling and congestion (Fig 1B). A lymph node (station 11R) biopsy, obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) (Fig 1C), showed nonspecific necrosis. An acid-fast bacillus smear of bronchial secretion produced negative results. He was administered empiric anti-TB therapy (ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifapentine). But his cough had not improved by 4 months later. Thus he came to our hospital for a second opinion.

Treat bronchopleural fistula after right lower lobectomy by extra right middle lobectomy-a neglected approach.

OBJECTIVES: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) after right lower lobectomy (RLL), although uncommon, is associated with high mortality rates. This study was aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effect of extra right middle lobectomy (ERML) in the management of BPF after RLL. METHODS: We investigated 12 consecutive patients who were treated at our hospital for BPF occurring after RLL. The diagnosis of BPF was established by bronchoscopy in all cases and BPFs were treated by ERML. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year after ERML to assess treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The severity of infection and malnutrition after BPF was different for different patients. All patients agreed to undergo ERML. The procedure was uneventful in all cases, and there were no cases of perioperative complications or death. The median duration of hospitalization after ERML was 10.5 (range 6-21) days. Postoperative pathological examination showed the presence of hyperaemia and oedema in the BPF stump, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the stroma. The fresh stump of the bronchus intermedius was well structured. Patients were followed up for a median duration of 27 (range 12-41) months. The BPFs were successfully treated in all patients, and a new BPF did not develop in the new fresh stump in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: ERML aimed at creating a fresh stump for quick healing could be alternative for treating BPF after RLL.

Combined Management of a Bronchial Artery Fistula After Lung Transplantation.

A 46-year-old female patient exhibited massive endobronchial bleeding after dilation of a left bronchial anastomotic stenosis after lung transplantation, consistent with a bronchopulmonary artery fistula (BPAF). The BPAF was treated with a bronchial covered self-expandable metallic stent and percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary artery stent placement. BPAF is rare and leads to death in most cases because of massive hemoptysis. We describe a case of successful combined management of BPAF using both bronchial and pulmonary stent placement.

Intermediate bronchial fistula caused by mediastinal drainage tube compression and fungal infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intermediate bronchial fistula formation caused by mediastinal drainage tube compression and fungal infection is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes was observed air filling in mediastinal drainage tube, 12 days after esophagectomy for esophageal squamous carcinoma. Based on the results of computed tomography, bronchoscopy and pathology, the diagnosis of intermediate bronchial fistula caused by mediastinal drainage tube compression and fungal infection was made. Anti-fungal drug and temporary covered metallic stent was used. After stent removed, the fistula was healed with some granulation hyperplasia. He was free from respiratory symptom during 1 year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intermediate bronchial fistula caused by the combination of mediastinal drainage tube compression and fungal infection is rare. Timely stenting could boost the healing of fistula via granulation tissue proliferation.

Benign Broncho-esophageal Fistula Presenting as Unresolved Pneumonia.

Benign acquired broncho-esophageal fistula (BEF) in adults is a very rare entity and has not been reported properly in the literature, compared to malignant BEF. Nonetheless, infection has predisposed most of the reported benign acquired BEF cases. We report here a case of tuberculous BEF, in a patient with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). He presented with recurrent chest infections, and choking. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy showed BEF due to tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and the patient was managed by surgery successfully. He was prepared for surgery for one month by nutritional support and anti-tuberculous treatment.

[Distal duodenectomy: a new option of surgical treatment for duodenal tumors]. / Distal'naya duodenal'naya rezektsiya: novyi sposob khirurgicheskogo lecheniya pri opukholevom porazhenii dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki.

OBJECTIVE: To assess severity, safety and functional advisability of distal pancreatectomy using original surgical technique developed in the Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 10 patients with duodenal malignancies who have undergone distal pancreatectomy in the Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology for the period 2006-2018. Distal pancreatectomy for primary duodenal tumors was performed in 8 patients, 2 patients underwent surgery for external invasion of the duodenum. RESULTS: Postoperative complications Clavien-Dindo grade 1 and 2 occurred in 4 (40%) patients. Surgical complication grade 2 occurred in 1 (10%) patient (pancreatic fistula with effective conservative management). There were no cases of leakage of duodenal stump and duodenojejunostomy, impaired bile flow and stenosis of anastomosis with delayed stomach emptying. CONCLUSION: Distal duodenectomyis associated with low postoperative morbidity, good functionality and quality of life. This procedure is preferred for non-epithelial and neuroendocrine tumors, as well as with secondary malignant duodenal invasion.