Endobronchial-Guided Vascularized Tissue Flaps for a Bronchopleural Fistula

Abstract

The management of bronchopleural fistulas can be challenging. The initial treatment is usually conservative, but operative intervention with transposition of vascularized pedicled flaps may be required in refractory cases. We present the case of a 67-year-old man with stage IIIa squamous cell carcinoma of the lung who underwent a lower and middle bilobectomy after receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation. His postoperative course was complicated by empyema and a bronchopleural fistula. Because of difficulty accessing the fistula, endobronchial-guided vascularized tissue flaps were successfully used to close the fistula.