Bronchoplasty for bronchogenic carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract This report details our experience in 34 patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma who underwent broncho‐plastic lobectomy between 1969 and 1981. Twenty‐four had squamous cell carcinoma, 6 had adenocarcinonia, 2 large‐cell carcinoma, 1 small‐cell carcinoma, and 1 combined type. Twelve patients had no lymph node involvement, while 10 had hilar node metastasis and 12 had mediastinal node metastasis . Sleeve lobectomy was accomplished in 19 patients and wedge lobectomy in the remaining 15. Bronchoplasty was performed for direct tumorous invasion in 26 patients, whereas in 8 patients this procedure was done when metastatic cancer had involved the main bronchus . There were 3 operative deaths (8.8%). One was ascribed to tension pneumothorax, one to postoperative bleeding, and the other to myocardial infarction. One patient developed a bronchopleural fistula and died 44 days after completion pneumonectomy. Another died of massive hemorrhage from a bronchopulmonary artery fistula in the fourth postoperative month. Bronchial stenosis was observed in 4 patients: 3 granulation formation and 1 local recurrence . The 5‐year survival rate was 17%, which was higher than that of pneumonectomy. Early postoperative pulmonary function studies revealed good function of the reconstructed lung . Bronchoplasty for bronchogenic carcinoma is an effective procedure for preserving pulmonary parenchyma and controlling the disease .