In the period 1964-1988 there have been performed 3173 pulmonary resections of which 1261 pneumoectomies. In 952 patients the mechanical suture was placed in the main bronch and standard suture in 309 patients. For mechanical sutures the Soviet UKL-40 or 60 apparatus was used. The bronchial fistula occurred in 9.2% of surgical patients after using mechanical suture and in 36.5% after using standard suture.