BRONCHO-PLEURAL FISTULA AS A COMPLICATION OF A PNEUMONECTOMY AND ITS MANAGEMENT WITH A PECTORAL FLAP: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Broncho-pleural stula (BPF) is one of the most serious complications that can occur in patients undergoing lung resection surgery. Its incidence is estimated at 1.5-11.1%. A 55-CASE REPORT: year-old male patient was admitted to the internal medicine area of the hospital for presenting a chronic injury to the right chest, through which he expels air and mucous secretions. He does not report pain, difculty breathing, or fever; during examination, his vital signs are normal. He presents discrete right mid-basal hypoventilation, without dullness in the area; there is evidence of a wound dehiscence area from a probable mini-thoracotomy in the anterior region of the right chest, where it presents sero- purulent material at the site of insertion of the thoracic catheter 17 months ago, not fetid. ItDISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: is common practice in thoracic surgery to cover the bronchial stump in high-risk patients with viable tissue in an attempt to minimize the incidence of BPF. Some authors found that the pectoral ap is a viable option due to the scarcity of viable intrathoracic aps. The patient reported in this case had a bronchopleural stula, a complication of a pneumonectomy, for more than a year; in this particular case, surgery was considered necessary.