A case of postoperative bronchial fistula successfully treated by omentopexy assisted by thoracoscopy

Abstract

A 62-year-old woman suffered from prolonged bronchial fistula after resection of her right middle and lower lobes. She had received induction chemo-radiotherapy before the operation because of advanced-stage lung cancer. A bronchial fistula developed 14 months after the operation, and she underwent a muscle plombage operation, but eighteen months after the second operation, the bronchial fistula recurred. Closure of the bronchial fistula was attempted under bronchoscopy several times, but the fistula could not be closed. Therefore, omentopexy assisted by thoracoscopy was performed, and after the third operation she is free of fistula symptoms and well with no evidence of recurrence. Thoracoscopy was useful even in treatment of bronchial fistula.