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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1999;16:181-186
© 1999 Elsevier Science NL

Closure of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy with a pedicled intercostal muscle flap

^a Department of Thoracic Surgery, Pulmologisches Zentrum, Sanatoriumstrasse 2, A-1145 Vienna, Austria
^b Department of Pathology, Psychiatrisches Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien, Vienna, Austria

Corresponding author. Tel.:+43-1-9106044008; fax:+43-1-9106049824
e-mail: peter.hollaus{at}pul.magwien.gv.at,

	Abstract

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
Objectives: The value of the pedicled intercostal muscle flap for the closure of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas was studied retrospectively. Methods: Bronchopleural fistula was suspected in case of fever, cough, putrid or haemorrhagic expectoration, in combination with a rise of WBC and CRP. Fistula diagnosis was established bronchoscopically. Two patients underwent an initial trial of bronchoscopic sealing, the rest were reoperated immediately after fistula diagnosis. Immediately after operation antibiotic irrigation according to culture sensitivity was started via a single chest tube drainage twice a day. After instillation of antibiotics the drain was kept clamped for 3 h. Culture samples were obtained twice a week. Empyema was considered eradicated, if three subsequent cultures showed no bacterial growth. After drain removal the patients were kept in hospital for another week and observed for clinical signs of infection, WBC and CRP were controlled. Age, side, sex, histology, TNM-stage, duration of hospital stay after fistula diagnosis (days), duration of treatment (defined as the duration of chest tube drainage in days after operation), total hospital stay (including the initial hospital stay for primary resection and the hospital stay for fistula treatment in case of readmission), fistula size (mm), interval (days) between primary operation and fistula formation, and bacteriology were recorded. Results: Eight patients (seven male) were treated. Age ranged from 46 to 70 years (mean 57.86). Six fistulas were located on the right side. All patients had non small cell lung cancer. Interval ranged from 2 to 72 days (mean 26.9 days). Fistula size ranged from 1 to 7 mm (mean 3.43). Seven fistulas were successfully closed. Duration of treatment lasted from 15 to 28 days in those patients treated successfully (mean 17). Hospital stay ranged from 15 to 31 days (mean 24.4). In one patient the flap became necrotic, he was successfully treated with total thoracoplasty. One patient died on the 38th day after rethoracotomy due to aspiration pneumonia. At postmortem examination the bronchial stump was closed. Conclusion: The use of the pedicled intercostal muscular flap is an efficient method for the closure of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy.

Key Words: Bronchopleural fistula • Pneumonectomy • Muscle flap • Intercostal • Empyema

	1. Introduction

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
Bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy is a formidable complication in thoracic surgery. Mortality ranges from 30 to 70% and is a result of delayed diagnosis and treatment. In the past closure of the bronchial stump with various muscular flaps has been reported. Another option is bronchoscopic treatment with fibrin sealant or the use of the greater omentum. The use of the intercostal muscle flap, although being regarded as an established operative technique for the treatment of bronchopleural fistula, has surprisingly been reported only rarely in the literature [1,18,19]. We report our experience in eight patients suffering from bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy, who were treated with pedicled intercostal muscle flaps.

	2. Patients and methods

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
Between 1995 and 1998 149 pneumonectomies (58 right sided, 91 left sided) were performed. Surgical access was gained via a posterolateral thoracotomy under antibiotic prophylaxis with a second generation cephalosporin. Depending on the surgeon's personal preference the 6th rib was removed at thoracotomy. After complete lymphadenectomy the bronchial stump was routinely resected tangentially to the trachea and closed with a mechanical stapling device or with interrupted sutures (vicryl 4.0). There was no routine coverage of the bronchial stump. Postoperative ventilation was not required. The chest tube was removed on the day following resection irrespective of the drainage volume.

Eight patients suffering from bronchopleural fistula were treated with an intercostal muscle flap and their hospital charts retrospectively reviewed. Age, side, sex, histology, TNM-stage, duration of hospital stay after fistula diagnosis (days), duration of treatment (defined as the duration of chest tube drainage in days after operation), fistula size (mm), interval between fistula formation and primary operation (days), and bacteriology were recorded.

Bronchopleural fistula was suspected in the presence of fever, cough, putrid or hemorrhagic expectoration, in combination with a rise of WBC and CRP. Fistula diagnosis was achieved by bronchoscopy in combination with fistulography in all cases. As soon as a fistula was suspected, a chest tube was reinserted and samples were taken for bacteriological cultures. Immediately after the diagnosis was established, operation was performed except in two patients, who underwent an initial trial of unsuccessful bronchoscopic closure with fibrin sealant. The thorax was reopened through the original intercostal space with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The thoracic cavity was debrided, bacteriological cultures taken and the fistula dissected. On the right side the azygos vein was routinely dissected to gain a better access to the bronchial stump. Only in one case was the stump long enough to allow re-resection. In all other cases the leak was closed with interrupted sutures (vicryl 4.0). The closed stump was covered with saline and the endobronchial pressure increased to 40 cm PEEP to ensure air tightness.

Which intercostal space for the flap was chosen depended on the local situation resulting from rib resection, shrinkage of the chest cavity and reduction of the intercostal spaces due to scarring.

The periost was incised and separated in continuity with the underlying muscle along the rib margins. To preserve the intercostal neurovascular bundle, it was mobilised by blunt digital dissection from the posterior surface of the rib. The use of electrocautery was avoided. After separation the rib was resected. The remaining soft tissue plane filling the intercostal space was separated from the adjoining ribs en bloc with the adjacent pleura. After ligation of the intercostal flap at its anterior extremity it was wrapped in a moist warm gauze. The parietal pleura was removed from the chest wall along the intended course of the intercostal flap. The flap was now positioned along the pleural defect and adjusted over the bronchial stump without tension or torsion. It was fixed to the bronchial stump thereby covering it to its full extent and additionally attached to the thoracic wall with interrupted sutures (vicryl 3.0) to prevent the creation of dead space between flap and thorax wall.

At the end of the procedure the entire thoracic cavity was irrigated with 1000 ml of 0.1% Chloramin and a chest drain inserted at the most caudal point of the thoracic cavity. In the ward the empty hemithorax was irrigated with antibiotic solution via the chest tube according to culture results twice a day. After instillation the drain was clamped for 3 h and the patient, if capable, was encouraged to leave the bed. Cultures were obtained twice a week. After three consecutive negative cultures the infection was considered eradicated and the drain was removed. Thereafter the patients were kept in hospital for another week, CRP and WBC being controlled regularly. If there were no clinical signs of infection or fistula recurrence and the blood results were within the normal levels, the patient was discharged and the intervention considered successful.

One patient died on the 38th postoperative day due to aspiration pneumonia. At postmortem examination the bronchial stump was removed together with the adherent intercostal flap and fixed in formalin. For histological examination the region of interest was dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. The tissue sections (two micron thickness) were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE).

	3. Results

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
Eight patients (seven males) were treated. Their relevant data are shown in Table 1. Age ranged from 46 to70 years (mean 57.86), all suffered from non-small cell lung cancer, there were five squamous cell carcinomas, one large cell carcinoma and two adenocarcinomas. In four cases bronchial stump insufficiency occurred during the initial hospital stay. Their total hospital time was 33–114 days (mean 58) (Table 2). The other four patients were discharged from hospital after an uneventful postoperative course after 13–19 days (mean 17 days) and readmitted after 11–108 days (mean 53.5 days). Their total hospital time including fistula repair was 32–47 days (mean 38 days).

At the original operation the sixth rib had been removed in five patients, the bronchial stump had been closed with a mechanical stapling device in five cases, with interrupted sutures (vicryl 4.0) in three. Only in one patient was the bronchial stump still long enough to allow re-resection. In six cases the leak was closed with interrupted vicryl sutures (4.0) without refreshing the stump. In one patient the leak could not be closed successfully with sutures. It was directly covered with the muscle flap.

In five cases (three after resection of the 6th rib) the muscular flap was derived from two adjacent intercostal spaces. In the remaining three patients the muscles of a single intercostal space were used. Which flap was chosen in each patient is shown in Table 1.

One patient required four blood units during the first 3 postoperative weeks. Duration of treatment after operation ranged from 15 to 28 days in those patients treated successfully (mean 17). Their hospital stay ranged from 15 to 31 days (mean 24.4 days). Six patients were treated successfully. They had an uneventful postoperative course and were discharged from hospital with the fistula closed and the empyema eradicated. One of these patients (G.P.) suffering from a left sided fistula underwent two futile trials of bronchoscopic sealing before muscle flap closure took place. The fistula recurred 5 and 7 days after fibrin instillation finally making operative intervention eventually necessary. Reintervention thus took place 13 days after fistula diagnosis. However, during this time of temporary air tightness, postpneumonectomy empyema was successfully eradicated by pleural rinsing, allowing the chest tube to be removed eight days after reoperation.

There were two treatment failures. One patient died from aspiration pneumonia acquired preoperatively, before fistula diagnosis was established, representing a mortality of 12%. Due to respiratory failure he underwent mechanical ventilation postoperatively and died on the 38th day after stump coverage. At autopsy the gross examination revealed chronic pleural empyema, pneumonia, signs of sepsis, and a closed bronchial stump although empyema was still active (Pseudomonas spp). Histology proved that the muscular tissue was viable and in tight contact (complete integration and healing) with the bronchial cartilage, thus covering the entire resection area of the stump (Fig. 1). The interface of the bronchial wall and the intercostal muscle was formed by reparative tissue with vascular colonisation (Fig. 1b, enlargement of the left upper corner of Fig. 1a). Areas of the skeletal muscle showed mild to moderate signs of atrophy with consecutive fibrosis and incipient scar formation. Inflammatory changes were within the normal range of reparative processes. Necrotic areas were not found. The histological changes described are confirmed in the literature [14].

View larger version (124K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Interface area of bronchial wall and intercostal muscular flap, low magnification (HE, 20x): (M) intercostal muscle flap; (I) interface; (B) bronchial wall, nerve; (S) suture: the marked area is shown in (b) with a higher magnification (250x).

During the observation period (245–1188 days, mean 590.6) one patient died of distant tumour recurrence on the 403th day after muscle flap closure. No fistula or empyema recurrence were observed.

	4. Discussion

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
The use of the intercostal muscle is an old and well tried surgical principle. It was first described by Penton et al. in 1951 based on animal experiments [2]. Their findings were confirmed by Michelson et al. [3] and later by Grillo [4,5].

Since then it has been successfully utilised in the treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas and esophageal perforations in adults [6], as well as in the paediatric age group [7,8], in plastic surgery for reconstruction of a wide variety of torso defects [9] and even for the closure of a persistent intrapleural-dural cerebrospinal fluid fistula in a child [10].

While the successful use for prophylaxis against bronchopleural fistula after pulmonary resections has been repeatedly reported [11,12], the closure of a bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy with a pedicled intercostal muscle flap still remains a controversial issue in the literature, although it appears to be an ideal flap for tracheobronchial reconstruction; the intercostal flap has the advantage of a multiplicity of uses and of considerable motility, reaching virtually every part of the thorax. The pleura covering of the intercostal muscle provides an epithelial surface at the site of the tracheal or bronchial repair. In an animal study the posterior wall of the trachea and the bronchi showed impermeability and rapid healing at bronchoscopy on the 10th day after reconstruction with an intercostal flap as well as regeneration of the ciliated epithelium [13]. Bronchial revascularisation by capillary ingrowth from the pedicle to the bronchial submucosal plexus was demonstrated in animals [14]. Rendina et al. [12] demonstrated by selective angiography that within 7 days after sleeve resection with the anastomosis reinforced by intercostal flaps, a fine vascular network surrounding the anastomosis had built up. Even in cases of anastomotic dehiscence the airway continuity was maintained by the flap, its pleural surface being visible endoscopically through the anastomotic leak [12]. Although it has been critically mentioned that bone formation originating from the periost of the flap with consecutive stenosis of the wrapped bronchial anastomoses can occur, only very few complications resulting from that biological behaviour have been reported [15].

The current literature simply favours omentoplasty or the use of extrathoracic muscles for the treatment of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula [16–18].

Although being an accepted surgical technique, the closure of postpneumonectomy BPF with intercostal flaps remains sparsely reported in the literature and the published results are frustrating. Mineo et al. [1] reported a recurrence rate of 66% in a series of six patients, concluding that a diaphragmatic flap was superior. Kalweit et al. [18] describe 25 patients treated with a pedicled intercostal muscular flap or pericardial tissue. Both operative techniques are summarised in one group. In five cases closure of the fistula was impossible, making an immediate switch to total thoracoplasty necessary. Of the remaining 20 cases, definitely treated with an intercostal or pericardial flap, eight died during the early postoperative period. Five patients developed a fistula recurrence, which was treated with total thoracoplasty. The overall mortality was 50%. Unfortunately the exact number of patients treated with an intercostal flap and their postoperative course is not mentioned separately [18]. Barker et al. [19] presented only one successful case and concluded that full thickness intercostal muscle grafts are ideal for early closure repair and support of fistulas following pneumonectomy. Other authors regard the dissection of the pedicled graft as difficult compared with other surgical options [20]. Michaels et al. [21] state that not only closure of the bronchial stump but additional reduction of the postpneumonectomy space are crucial for control of the concomitant postpneumonectomy empyema and thus prefer muscular flaps with a greater volume.

In our experience the use of a pedicled intercostal flap has proven to be successful in the majority of cases. The mortality of 12% is acceptable and compares favourably with the literature. The death of one patient has to be attributed to delayed diagnosis with consecutive aspiration. Aspiration pneumonia remains the most dangerous complication in patients with early postpneumonectomy BPF, almost inevitably resulting in lethal ARDS if not prevented by immediate thoracic drainage, endoscopy or reoperation. Isolation of the intercostal muscle from the adjacent rib should be a standard procedure for the thoracic surgeon, since he is familiar with the technique of rib resection. The dissection of the flap proved to be rather simple, though care has to be taken not to injure the neurovascular bundle. However, the procedure can be technically demanding in the upper region of the thorax and in cases of a late fistula with extensive fibrosis of the hemithorax. If the thoracic wall is fibrotic the consistence of the flap is raised, resulting in reduced mobility and the shortest distance must be chosen. Thus in those cases the flap must be isolated from a rib at the same level as the fistula even if an adjacent rib has been resected at the initial operation. In our series the muscular flap was harvested from two adjacent intercostal spaces, when a rib had been removed at the primary operation. In these cases previous rib resection did not adversely affect the outcome.

We believe that the fixation of the entire flap to the thoracic wall is crucial. It allows vascularisation in both directions and prevents fluid collection between the flap and the chest wall, which could result in abscess formation.

In one case the flap turned necrotic. This patient was young and suffered from no additional risk factors or atherosclerosis, which could provide an explanation for an early occlusion of the intercostal artery.

During the postoperative hospital stay we did not observe any patient, in whom the pleural cavity became obliterated. Serothorax developed after discharge from hospital, leading in the majority of cases to fibrothorax. To date no fistula recurrence has been observed. We have confidence in the natural organising process of obliteration, which can be expected if the causative infection is eradicated. Therefore we refrain from surgical reduction of the postpneumonectomy space.

	5. Conclusion

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 
Closure of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy with a pedicled intercostal flap has proven to be a well tolerated procedure and is as efficient as any other muscular flap used for closure of bronchopleural fistulas. Thus the intercostal flap should become part of the basic repertoire of techniques used by every thoracic surgeon, who is required to face the problem of bronchopleural fistula as part of a daily routine.

	References

Top Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Patients and methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Conclusion References

 

1. Mineo T.C., Ambrogi V., Pompeo E., Cristino B., Natali G.L., Casciani C.U. Comparison between intercostal and diaphragmatic flap in surgical treatment of early bronchopleural fistula. Eur J Cardio-thorac Surg 1997;12:675-677.[Medline]
2. Penton R.S., Brantigan O.C. A viable pedicle graft for repairing intrathoracic structures: a prelimnary report on tracheal defects. Bull Med Univ Maryland 1951;36:152-156.
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4. Grillo H.C. Management of cervical and mediastinal lesions of the trachea. J Am Med Assoc 1966;197:1085-1090.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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7. Gustafson R.A., Hrabovsky E.E. Intercostal muscle and myo-osseus flaps in difficult pediatric thoracic problems. J Pediatr Surg 1982;17:541-545.[Medline]
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9. Kerrigan C.L., Rollin K.D. The intercostal flap: an anatomical and hemodynamic approach. Ann Plast Surg 1979;2:411-421.[Medline]
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11. Yamamoto R., Inoue K., Hori T., Takehara S., Kaji M., Kinoshita H. Intercostal muscle pedicle flap for prophylaxis against bronchopleural fistula after pulmonary resection. Osaka City Med J 1994;40:99-105.[Medline]
12. Rendina E.A., Venuta F., Ciriaco P., Ricci C. Bronchovascular sleeve resection. Technique, perioperative management, prevention and treatment of complications. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1993;106:73-79.
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16. Nomori H., Horio H., Kobayashi R., Hasegawa T. Intrathoracic transposition of the musculocutaneous flap in treating empyema. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995;43:171-175.[Medline]
17. Yokomise H., Takahashi Y., Inui K. Omentoplasty for postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistulas. Eur J Cardio-thorac Surg 1994;8:122-124.[Abstract]
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