The Late Results of the Conservation of the Apical Segment of the Lower Lobe in Resections for Bronchiectasis

Abstract

In a number of cases where the presumably healthy apical segment of the lower lobe was preserved in resections for bronchiectasis a high incidence of persistent post-operative atelectasis and bronchiectasis was found. Because of this a series of cases was reviewed to find out whether conservation of the apical segment is likely to produce satisfactory results. In some of the cases the basal segments alone were removed, in others the basal segments together with other segments or lobes. As the post-operative follow-up for a period of six months gave very disappointing results, it was decided to reassess these cases after a period of at least two years after operation. Fifty-one patients in whom the apical segment was preserved were considered. In four of these the basal segmental resection was bilateral. These were compared with a group of 51 successive patients who had a resection of the lower lobe and lingula and another group of 51 patients who had had a lower lobectomy. All operations were carried out for bronchiectasis and were performed at the