Background: Postoperative bronchopleural fistula represents a challenging issue for thoracic surgeons. The treatment options reported include bronchoscopic or surgical procedures but the method yielding the best results remains unclear.
Methods: In our thoracic surgery department, between January 2011 and June 2020, 11 patients treated conservatively for early bronchopleural fistula after lobectomy or bilobectomy were reviewed. The fistula size ranged between 2 and 3 mm and complete suture dehiscence.
Results: In all 11 patients favorable conditions such as clinical stability, complete expansion of the remaining lung, and resolution of the pleural infection allowed a successful conservative treatment with chest tube drainage.
Conclusion: In selected cases, conservative management of early bronchopleural fistula after lobectomy or bilobectomy may be an alternative therapeutic option to bronchoscopic or surgical procedures, regardless of the fistula size.
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