Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula

A postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula is a life-threatening complication requiring aggressive treatment and early repair. Reoperations are common due to initial treatment failure. Advanced bronchoscopic techniques are rapidly evolving, but permanent results are questionable. We report the minim...

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Main Authors: Kostas Kostopanagiotou, Dimitrios Filippiadis, Efthimios Bakas, Costas Thomas, Andreas Kostroglou, Santaitidis Elias, Tatiana Sidiropoulou, Sotirios Tsiodras, Periklis Tomos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pulmonology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5513136
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author Kostas Kostopanagiotou
Dimitrios Filippiadis
Efthimios Bakas
Costas Thomas
Andreas Kostroglou
Santaitidis Elias
Tatiana Sidiropoulou
Sotirios Tsiodras
Periklis Tomos
author_facet Kostas Kostopanagiotou
Dimitrios Filippiadis
Efthimios Bakas
Costas Thomas
Andreas Kostroglou
Santaitidis Elias
Tatiana Sidiropoulou
Sotirios Tsiodras
Periklis Tomos
author_sort Kostas Kostopanagiotou
collection DOAJ
description A postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula is a life-threatening complication requiring aggressive treatment and early repair. Reoperations are common due to initial treatment failure. Advanced bronchoscopic techniques are rapidly evolving, but permanent results are questionable. We report the minimally invasive management of a frail 79-year-old patient with postpneumonectomy fistula in respiratory failure due to repeated infections. Previous bronchoscopic closure attempts with fibrin failed. The multistep interdisciplinary management included airway surveillance by virtual bronchoscopy, percutaneous fibrin glue instillation under computed tomography, and awake thoracoscopic surgery to achieve temporary closure. This provided an acceptable long period of symptomatic and physical improvement. The bronchial stump failed again four months later, and the patient succumbed to pneumonia. Pneumonectomy has to be avoided unless strongly indicated. Complications are best managed with surgery for definite treatment. We emphasize our approach only when a patient declines surgery or is medically unfit as a temporary time-buying strategy in view of definite surgery in a high-volume center.
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series Case Reports in Pulmonology
spelling doaj-art-82ecaf5afcc64c40b7a1235bc578e6fc2025-08-20T02:08:46ZengWileyCase Reports in Pulmonology2090-68462090-68542021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55131365513136Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural FistulaKostas Kostopanagiotou0Dimitrios Filippiadis1Efthimios Bakas2Costas Thomas3Andreas Kostroglou4Santaitidis Elias5Tatiana Sidiropoulou6Sotirios Tsiodras7Periklis Tomos8Thoracic Surgery Department, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Greece2nd Radiology Department, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, GreeceThoracic Surgery Department, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Greece4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Greece2nd Department of Anesthesiology, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, GreeceThoracic Surgery Department, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Greece2nd Department of Anesthesiology, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, GreeceDepartment of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Athens, GreeceThoracic Surgery Department, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, GreeceA postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula is a life-threatening complication requiring aggressive treatment and early repair. Reoperations are common due to initial treatment failure. Advanced bronchoscopic techniques are rapidly evolving, but permanent results are questionable. We report the minimally invasive management of a frail 79-year-old patient with postpneumonectomy fistula in respiratory failure due to repeated infections. Previous bronchoscopic closure attempts with fibrin failed. The multistep interdisciplinary management included airway surveillance by virtual bronchoscopy, percutaneous fibrin glue instillation under computed tomography, and awake thoracoscopic surgery to achieve temporary closure. This provided an acceptable long period of symptomatic and physical improvement. The bronchial stump failed again four months later, and the patient succumbed to pneumonia. Pneumonectomy has to be avoided unless strongly indicated. Complications are best managed with surgery for definite treatment. We emphasize our approach only when a patient declines surgery or is medically unfit as a temporary time-buying strategy in view of definite surgery in a high-volume center.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5513136
spellingShingle Kostas Kostopanagiotou
Dimitrios Filippiadis
Efthimios Bakas
Costas Thomas
Andreas Kostroglou
Santaitidis Elias
Tatiana Sidiropoulou
Sotirios Tsiodras
Periklis Tomos
Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
Case Reports in Pulmonology
title Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
title_full Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
title_fullStr Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
title_full_unstemmed Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
title_short Combining Minimally Invasive Techniques in Managing a Frail Patient with Postpneumonectomy Bronchopleural Fistula
title_sort combining minimally invasive techniques in managing a frail patient with postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5513136
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