Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is one of the most serious and rare postoperative complications, especially the bronchial stump fistula after lobectomy/pneumonectomy. Common treatment options include conservative medical treatment combined with surgery. However, due to the delayed healing of the fistula, the chest cavity continues to communicate with the outside world, and the patient is prone to complicated with severe thoracic infection and respiratory failure, so that the physical condition can hardly tolerate the second surgical procedure. Endoscopic treatment provides a new option for the treatment of this complication. METHODS: A case of right pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma was admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital in June 2016. The diagnosis and treatment was retrospectively analyzed, and the literature was reviewed. RESULTS: A 65 year old male patient was admitted to hospital because of "cough with blood in sputum for 3 months". Chest computed tomography (CT) showed soft tissue density mass shadow in the right lower lobe. A tumor could be seen in the opening of the right middle lobe and basal segment of lower lobe. Biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Diagnosis consideration: squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and lower lobe of the right lung (cT2aN2, IIIa). Patients received gemcitabine plus cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 2 cycles, and the effect of chemotherapy showed stable disease (SD). Four weeks after chemotherapy, the patient underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) assisted right middle and lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. On the 5th day after operation, the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and was transferred to intensive care unit (ICU) again after endotracheal intubation. On the 7th day after operation, the patient developed a right intermediate trunk bronchial stump fistula, but due to ARDS, the patient's physical condition could not tolerate the second operation. Under the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a membrane covered, expandable, hinged stent was inserted into the intermediate trunk bronchial stump through rigid bronchoscope, and was successfully blocked. Due to no improvement in ARDS and irreversible pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, the patient received double lung transplantation successfully after systemic anti-infection treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic implantation of covered stent is a simple, safe and effective method for closure of bronchial stump fistula. When the patient's clinical situation is not suitable for immediate surgery, endoscopic stent implantation can be used as a preferred treatment method to create opportunities for follow-up treatment.