Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator as a bridge to successful surgical repair of bronchopleural fistula following bilateral sequential lung transplantation: a case report and review of literature
2007

Successful Repair of Bronchopleural Fistula After Lung Transplantation

Sample size: 1 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Khan Nouman U, Al-Aloul Mohamed, Khasati Noman, Machaal Ali, Leonard Colm T, Yonan Nizar

Primary Institution: Department of Cardiothoracic Transplant, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK

Conclusion

The combination of pedicled intercostal and pericardial flaps provides adequate vascular tissue for sealing a large bronchopleural fistula following lung transplantation, with veno-venous ECMO facilitating recovery.

Supporting Evidence

  • The patient developed a bronchopleural fistula on the 14th post-operative day.
  • Veno-venous ECMO was used to support the patient during the repair of the fistula.
  • The surgical repair involved using pericardial and intercostal flaps.

Takeaway

A man who had a lung transplant developed a serious problem called a bronchopleural fistula, but doctors were able to fix it using special tissue flaps and a machine that helped him breathe while he healed.

Methodology

The patient underwent bilateral sequential lung transplantation and was treated for a bronchopleural fistula using veno-venous ECMO and surgical repair with tissue flaps.

Limitations

The study is based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

A 47-year-old man with end-stage respiratory failure due to cystic fibrosis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1749-8090-2-28

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