OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluate in a retrospective study the incidence of bronchopleural fistulae after lung resections implemented in their department in the course of 12 years, and reflect on the causes of their development. METHOD: They compare their experience with mechanical and manual suture of the large bronchi in relation to the incidence of fistulae, with experience assembled by other departments. RESULTS: While preferring mechanical suture of the bronchus, they achieved in a group of 1601 pulmonary resections a 0.87% incidence of bronchopleural fistulae whereby after mechanical suture a fistula was recorded in 0.74% and after manual suture in 2.52%. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of their observations which they compare with work of others, the authors assume that if the department has adequate experience, impaired healing of the bronchus is rare regardless whether the manual or mechanical technique of suture is used.

Ustav tuberkulózy pĺúcnych chorôb a hrudníkovej chirurgie Centrum hrudníkovej chirurgie riaditeĺ a primár oddelenia